Shakespeare and Donne created thousands of words between them - its a British trait that we can be proud of. Let's find new words for our time . This government’s war on woke includes opposing the ‘decolonisation’ of museums, history
Weimin says ‘I spent an hour and a half in the print room to study Raphael’s original drawing. I tried to draw the same size as the original and I presume Raphael might have spent no more than 1.5 hours
A brilliant,compelling read. Shrenik Rao Editor of the Madras Courier Whether describing how students were ‘sent to the countryside’ or how, after Mao died, young artists hung their experimental work outside the national art gallery, Vetta is always
This film about the courageous Stars artists will come to the UK soon. I’m delighted because I wrote Brushstrokes in Time to tell the story of the Stars – it’s the ONLY novel inspired by them. I’ve had more good
Through never-before-seen footage which had been hidden from the authorities for thirty-five years, Beijing Spring chronicles China’s first democracy movement and forgotten struggle for freedom of expression especially the brave Stars Artists who risked their freedom . Andy Cohen has
32 years ago on May 28, 1989 more than 1.5 million Hong Kongers took to the streets in support of the Tiananmen Movement in China, 8 days after the Chinese Communist Party declared Martial Law in Beijing. Every June 4
For German readers of Pinselstriche and for those of you who have read Brushstrokes in Time and are interested in the background, Little Winter’s father is inspired by Qu Bo the famous father of the Stars artist Qu Leilei. Leilei,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/06/dozens-of-hong-kong-pro-democracy-figures-arrested-in-sweeping-crackdown This is so sad because the political pendulum is swinging back towards Mao’s Cultural Revolution. I have been interested in China from childhood and studied some modules of Chinese history at college when that was rare. When I met
https://www.guernicamag.com/shamsie_02_01_2012/? I hate stereotypes and dislike of them is I believe the motivation for the sad ‘appropriation ‘saga. The wonderful Kamila Shamsi rightly wonders in this link - why there should be obstacles to telling peoples stories. For 18
When I read about Ashoka the 3rd century BC ruler of much of India, my curiosity was aroused. Ashoka began as a warlord but felt remorse at the waste of life on the battlefield. He invited followers of the Buddha