Baha Yetkin is best described as a 'Turkish master of the oud' Called the king of instruments, it's thought to date back to 3000 BC, making it one of the oldest ever created. And when played by the learned hands of Yetkin, the oud which has travelled throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia easily captivate listeners with its mystical, ethereal sound.
An art fair that is not snooty, but all-inclusive. This is what organisers of this year's Frieze New York have set out to achieve. Works from more than one hundred ninety global art galleries have been gathered in an attempt to challenge the usual art fair format. Here, the work of prominent names featured alongside artists just emerging into the cultural limelight. William Denselow visited the fair that promises visitors a little taste of everything.
He worked with figures as an accountant. Then he studied the human mind. And later took to words. Therefore, it is no surprise that Peter Stamm, who followed in his father's footsteps, has a reputation of being a writer of acute psychological perception. The Swiss author who not only enjoys commercial success but also critical acclaim worldwide sat down with Showcase's Sharaz Ali in Istanbul and the two talked about everything from his first book to his writing routine, and how he thinks books resemble soups.
In a floating village located near Inle Lake, Myanmar, lotus flowers are turned into luxurious garments. There is something whimsical about watching these artisans as they take plants. Extract a fine thread from the stem and then eventually weave it into a scarf or even a shirt. It's an art form which is even more intricate than working with silk.
How would we see our world if we could view it through the eyes of an animal who lives in the forest? Or even the smallest of microorganisms? And what does the future hold, in a time where new technologies are developing at such an alarming rate? These questions and more are being probed, as part of an exhibition, not far away from our studio.
This year's edition, of the Sony World Photography Awards, was bigger than ever. Each of the ten categories from documentary to architecture showcased the best in contemporary photography, shot over the last year. The jury has spoken, and this year's awards were handed out. But as Showcase's Miranda Atty discovered, one theme kept popping up again and again.
Anytime a museum smashes attendance records, it's usually for an exhibition of a well-known name, like Andy Warhol or Picasso. Which is why this exhibition at New York's Guggenheim Museum has become the talk of the art world. With more than six hundred thousand visitors, 'Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future' became the museum's most visited exhibition in its history. And also sold the most ever catalogues. So who is Hilma af Klint, and what did she paint that was so significant? Showcase's Hatice Meryem Gelgor explains.