This week’s editorial musings from magpie’s nest<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quote<\/mark><\/strong> The things you do badly are as much part of your style as the things you do well\u00a0Martin Scorsese<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Art Dubai detailed<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0Art Dubai<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0people have been outlining more of the programming for the fair\u2019s 2025 edition (18-20 April). Highlights include a series of performances and site-specific interventions by the Mexican artist\u00a0H\u00e9ctor Zamora<\/strong>, marking the start of a co-commissioning partnership with Alserkal Avenue; a major new digital commission by\u00a0Mohammed Kazem<\/strong>\u00a0for Julius Baer and a series of new site-specific\u00a0digital installations<\/strong>\u00a0for Art Dubai Digital; and the outline of \u00a0details of Art Dubai\u2019s flagship cross-disciplinary\u00a0Global Art Forum<\/strong><\/a>. Under the title \u2018The New New Normal\u2019, and commissioned as usual by Shumon Basar, the GAF will look at the way constant change makes everyday life feel often more unsettling and unpredictable than science fiction. Also as usual, the speakers will be a very diverse collection \u2013 among them architect\u00a0Rem Koolhaas<\/strong>, artist\u00a0Lawrence Abu Hamdan<\/strong>\u00a0and the achingly hip\u00a0Postpostpost<\/strong>\u00a0(\u201cthe internet\u2019s most unhinged meme account\u201d)\u00a0…\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meet in March<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Sharjah Art Foundation\u2019s annual\u00a0March Meeting<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is always interesting. This time it’s three evenings of conversations, performances and musical events under the title \u2018to carry songs\u2019 and posing the question: what is preserved and what is transmitted through the body, through voice, through the quiet solidarities of the everyday? March Meeting 2025 focuses on the power of community in preserving and passing on knowledge \u2013 usefully relevant during Ramadan. It runs 7\u20139 March at Al Qasimiyah School, Sharjah, from 9pm to 1am. Click\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0for more info and the complete programme; sign up\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opp extended<\/mark><\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0The deadline for applying to SAF’s\u00a0Sharjah Film Platform Feature Fund<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(get up to AED 500,000\u00a0to complete a narrative feature currently in production) has been extended to 31 May. It\u2019s open to UAE-based scriptwriters, directors and executive producers. Info is\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bybit bitten<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0$1.5bn has been stolen by North Korean hackers from Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange\u00a0Bybit<\/strong>, which contributed to a market fall of more than 20% for bitcoin. Bybit has pledged to compensate investors, but the breach raises concerns about security, regulation, and Dubai\u2019s ambition to become a global crypto hub\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Acting up<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0This weekend the Junction starts a six-week\u00a0acting workshop<\/strong>\u00a0for adults \u2013 two sessions per week (1-2.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays) culminating in the opportunity to perform at\u00a0Short+Sweet Theatre Festival<\/strong>. Learn acting techniques, stage presence and character building from experienced theatre people. Book a spot on\u00a0050 724 4823<\/strong>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes you just have to laugh<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0magpie came late to\u00a0Josh Johnson<\/strong>, but he\u2019s now our go-to among US club stand-ups who talk about the news. He\u2019s very good on Boeing, Diddy, Tiktok, and much more; but\u00a0here he is<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on Deepseek vs Open Ai\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mine is bigger than yours<\/mark><\/strong>\u00a0Saudi Arabia plans a Mercedes F1 experience centre to rival Abu Dhabi\u2019s\u00a0Ferrari World<\/strong><\/a>. The new attraction will have 60 simulators and straddle the Qiddiya Speed Park circuit, which is due to host future Saudi GPs; it will also have\u00a0Falcon\u2019s Flight<\/strong><\/a>, a roller coaster which promises to be taller, faster, and longer than any other \u2026 including of course Ferrari World\u2019s\u00a0Formula Rossa, currently the world\u2019s fastest roller coaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Efie moves<\/mark><\/strong> Next month\u00a0Efie Gallery<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is relocating from its current Al Khayat Art Avenue home to a new 4,400 sq ft space a couple of streets away in Alserkal Avenue. It will continue to show significant artists from Africa, but the new HQ will also house an expanded Rekord Gallery \u2013 \u201can immersive and exquisitely designed listening room showcasing a collection of over 2,000 original vinyl and shellac records from the 1940s to today\u201d\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram for Bluesky?<\/mark><\/strong> Flashes for Bluesky<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0reskins the app to be much more visual and image-oriented, giving a way to quickly post photos (with filters!) of your own\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n AUS goes back to L\u2019\u00c9COLE<\/mark><\/strong> American University of Sharjah\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0L\u2019\u00c9COLE Middle East School of Jewelry Arts<\/strong>\u00a0have signed a deal that will give AUS students special access L\u2019\u00c9COLE\u2019s expertise in the history of jewellery, the world of gemstones. and jewellery-making techniques. There will apparently be joint research projects, co-hosted events, guest lectures, and mentorship programmes \u2013 plus unspecified \u201cfuture initiatives ensuring a sustained exchange of knowledge and expertise. L\u2019\u00c9COLE is of course supported by Van Cleef & Arpels\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Something for the weekend<\/mark><\/strong> How fast can you click the \u2018pop the confetti\u2019 button? Mindless slightly competitive fun.\u00a0Try it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Things we didn\u2019t know no.94<\/mark><\/strong> Latest estimates say\u00a099% of livestock<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in the United States is factory-farmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earworm of the week<\/mark><\/strong> John Glacier : Home<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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