ARTS

During the 1970s heady days of then President Idi Amin’s political upheavals, many artists of means fled into self-exile. Prof. Francis Xavier Nnaggenda, arguably the greatest sculptor Uganda has produced, moved in the opposite direction. After a stint in Indiana and Texas in USA and Nairobi in Kenya, Nnaggenda returned …

Paris, France | AFP | The alleged “sadistic” mistreatment of scores of models who were forced to wait in a dark, cramped staircase at a Paris fashion week casting has sparked fresh criticism of how the industry functions. With fashion already under intense scrutiny over under-age and overly thin models, …

Is funny art actually funny? The answer, as we see it, is a rousing chorus of “it depends” By Alicia Eler & Alex Huntsberger If you heard peals of laughter ringing out through the quiet, reverent halls of an art museum, what would your reaction be? Would you “tut-tut” in …

Hollywood, United States | AFP | Coming-of-age drama “Moonlight” won the best picture Oscar on Sunday, but not before the film industry’s biggest night was marred by one of the worst fiascos in its history, as “La La Land” was mistakenly handed the award first. Until the final minute the …

Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | The famous frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, whose ceiling was painted by Michelangelo, can now be examined in minute detail thanks to an unprecedented photographic venture, the Vatican Museums have said. By combining innovative digital technology and special LED lamps which aimed to …

Milan, Italy | AFP | Italy’s fashion queen Donatella Versace sent a message to women everywhere Friday with a show that screamed defiance at attempts to turn back the clock on feminism. Supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, Kendell Jenner and Behati Prinsloo strutted their stuff on a runway strong with …

Some people like to complain over everything, even at the slightest provocation. Anderu Immaculate aka Immy Mali prefers to seek solutions to problems. Any problem, that is. This includes complex social issues that many would rather keep under wraps or discuss in whispers and hushed tones. Unfortunately (or fortunately for …

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Here are the winners of the main prizes awarded Saturday at the 67th Berlin film festival: – Golden Bear for best film: “Testrol es lelekrol” (On Body and Soul), Ildiko Enyedi, Hungary – Jury Grand Prix Silver Bear: “Felicite”, Alain Gomis, France/Senegal/Belgium/Germany/Lebanon – Silver Bear …

“Learn to listen to silence, and you will discover it is music,” so goes an old African maxim. The statement connotes an oxymoron as listening to silent sound is inconceivable to many people. It is even more so with something as inanimate as colour. Yet some artists will attempt to …

There is something about Uganda that fascinates as well as it baffles, especially foreign eyes. It appears that the much touted mantra of “gifted by nature” strikes more of a chord among foreigners than Ugandans. Could it be that Ugandans are caught in the rut of the old adage, “familiarity …