Art News: May Edition
- Zarina Isakhodjaeva
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Just like the weather, the art world has been unpredictable this month.
Dive into the exciting pool of fascinating, or in contrast, disturbing events around the globe with this month's Art News!
A Guinean writer and ex-refugee was finally granted permission to attend his own play after the theatre expressed its outrage to the Home Office
The new production “Little Brother” by Timberlake Wertenbaker was brought to the stage for the first time last Thursday at The Jermyn Street theatre and was well received by the capital’s audience.
Based on a memoir written by Ibrahima Balde and Amets Arzallus Antia, this play tells a story of a migrant who drops everything and travels from West Africa to Europe in hopes of finding his little runaway brother.
While all the production team worked to make this play come true and could not wait to witness the fruits of their labour, some of them had it harder than others. The writer of the memoir, Ibrahima Balde, who currently lives in Madrid, could have missed his own premiere due to a refusal of a UK visa. According to the letter sent by the Home Office, the authorities “were not satisfied that Balde demonstrated his circumstances are as declared or are such that he intends to leave the UK at the end of his visit.”
However, thanks to the Jermyn Street theatre, which contacted the Home Office and demanded to reverse their decision, the writer was finally granted permission to come.
Executive Producer of the Jermyn Theatre, David Doyle, is now relieved that the issue has been resolved and feels sorry for all the stress Ibrahima Balde endured. He also says that if the United Kingdom is to remain the global leader in arts and culture, it has to spare foreign artists from unnecessary restrictions.
Edinburgh became the first city in Europe to open a museum dedicated to Palestinian contemporary art.
Soon enough, the public will have access to various paintings, sculptures and installations since the museum will feature work from a range of contemporary Palestinian artists aiming to “redefine the narrative around Palestinian identity”.
The museum is located in a historic Georgian New Town, and Faisal Saleh, the curator and director, says that the choice of the location in Edinburgh was not coincidental. Edinburgh's rich cultural landscape and commitment to artistic expression make it the perfect hub for the satellite museum. He explains that this central location demonstrates to the public that Palestinians are not just helpless victims but a talented nation with the richest culture. He hopes that the museum will become a huge step towards strengthening the Palestinian narrative and eliminating the continuous dehumanisation of the nation.
The museum’s inaugural exhibition will mark a vibrant retrospective of Palestinian art from the past decade. Featuring works by talented artists from Palestine and the diaspora, it showcases a rich tapestry of diverse media and generations. Notable contributions include works by Samia Halaby, Nabil Anani, and Sana Farah Bishara. Recent creations by Gazan artists such as Mohammed Alhaj and Maysara Baroud will be presented in their original forms or as digital reproductions, inviting viewers to delve deeply into the artistic spirit of the region.
Ancient Peruvian Site Chan Chan Vandalized With Graffiti
One of South America’s most valuable archaeological sites, the ancient city of Chan Chan, has been desecrated with graffiti in a shocking act of vandalism that has sparked public outrage and lawsuits.
Authorities found obscene symbols spray-painted on the walls of the Gran Chimu sector of the historic site, including a six-foot-tall phallic design. The vandalism in early May was captured on video and posted on a fake Instagram account, prompting swift condemnation from officials and heritage groups.
Located just off the northern coast of Peru, Chan Chan was once the capital of the Chimu civilisation and the largest adobe city in the Americas. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986 and is considered an architectural wonder of pre-Columbian America.
Peruvian police have identified four people believed to be responsible. Two adults and two minors could face up to six years in prison under the country’s cultural heritage protection laws if found guilty. The Culture Ministry confirmed that a team is already assessing and repairing the damage.
“This is not just an attack on bricks and mortar,” one official said. “This is an insult to centuries of history.”
The incident has reignited debate about site safety and cultural awareness, with many calling for better surveillance and education to prevent further damage to the country’s ancient sites.
South African photographer wins Deutsche Börse prize with his work that explores family ties
South African photographer Lindokuhle Sobekwa has been awarded the 2025 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize for his poignant project “I Carry Her Photograph With Me”. The £30,000 prize was presented at The Photographers’ Gallery in London in recognition of Sobekwa’s deeply personal exploration of loss and memory.
The project focuses on Sobekwa’s half-sister Ziyanda, who disappeared after an incident as a child and reappeared more than a decade later, ill. Through a combination of photographs, handwritten notes and family snapshots, Sobekwa constructs a narrative that delves into their fragile relationship and her death at the age of 22. The absence of a photograph of Ziyanda becomes a focal point, symbolising the gaps in memory and history.
The judges praised the work's emotional depth and simplicity, highlighting its ability to convey complex themes of family, grief and the lingering effects of apartheid in South Africa. Anne-Marie Beckmann, director of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, noted that personal stories also reflect broader societal narratives.
Sobekwa’s work is on display alongside fellow shortlisted artists Christina De Middel, Rahim Fortune and Tarra Kraynak, who each received £5,000. The exhibition runs at The Photographers’ Gallery until 15 June.
Istanbul authorities are on the course to protect the city’s 1,500-year-old Unesco landmark with the most extensive works in years
The aim of the current work, according to architect Hasana Fırat Diker, is to restore and strengthen the most vulnerable areas of buildings that were identified during the study of a possible strong earthquake, as well as to conduct a scientific analysis of the consequences caused by natural disasters and catastrophes.
Diker oversees the restoration and maintenance of individual parts of the Hagia Sophia, including the main one. He thinks the project, like this, is the greatest responsibility that could be entrusted to him and his team.
“We are responsible not only for this building, but also for the entire world community,” he said and shared his concerns about the preservation of the gold mosaics and blue frescoes in the central dome, which he called some of the most difficult architectural challenges.
During the work, specialists will also study four load-bearing columns and parts of the foundation underground.
The need for urgent reconstruction became especially obvious after the recent magnitude 6.2 earthquake that occurred in the Istanbul area.
Although the exact completion date of the restoration has not yet been determined, the work inside the cathedral will be organised in such a way as not to interfere with the reception of visitors. Temporary structures and protective screens will be installed so that tourists can still enjoy the beauty of Hagia Sophia.
This project will probably become one of the largest restorations carried out in modern Turkey.
References
Bakare, L. (2025). Power and simplicity: South African photographer wins Deutsche Börse prize. The Guardian. Available from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2025/may/15/power-and-simplicity-south-african-photographer-wins-deutsche-borse-prize [Accessed May 18 2025].
PA News Agency (2025). Europe’s first museum of contemporary Palestinian art opens in Edinburgh. White Haven News. Available from
https://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news/national/25170738.europes-first-museum-contemporary-palestinian-art-opens-edinburgh/ [Accessed May 18 2025].
Robinson, M. (2025). Home Office decision to stop ex-refugee writer from attending play premiere is overturned. The Standard. Available from https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/jermyn-street-theatre-refugee-writer-ibrahima-balde-b1228156.html [Accessed May 18 2025].
Ditmars, H. (2025). ‘First Museum in Europe dedicated to contemporary Palestinian art’ to open in Edinburgh. The Art Newspaper. AVailable from
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/03/26/first-museum-europe-dedicated-contemporary-palestinian-art-edinburgh [Accessed May 18 2025].
Karen K. Ho (2025). Archaeological Site in Peru Vandalized with Lewd Graffiti. The Art News. Available from https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/ancient-archeology-site-chan-chan-peru-vandalized-graffiti-1234742398/ [Accessed May 18 2025].
Michaelson, R. (2025). Hagia Sophia restoration to protect 1,500-year-old Unesco ‘masterpiece. The Guardian. Available from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/14/hagia-sophia-restoration-works-istanbul-earthquakes [Accessed May 18 2025].
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