Arts
Stunning shots of world’s biggest-ever land art project
An army of sand artists have created the world's largest-ever land art project - by carving intricate Hindu symbols into beaches across the globe. The attempt began on September 2 when artist Julian Richardson carved a 400ft-wide mosaic into Brean beach in Somerset. It took seven hours for Julian and his six helpers to create the enormous figure of the 'Sri Yantra' - an ancient symbol representing balance between opposing forces. Since then a further 15 artists have created similar...
Small Chinese dish sells for world record £28 MILLION at auction
A small but highly-important ceramic dish from Imperial China sold for a world record £28 MILLION. The "virtually unobtainable" brush washer is around 1,000 years old and was commissioned by the imperial court during the Song dynasty. It was made by Ru guanyao, which is one of the most revered of the Five Great Kilns used during this period. The dish, which has a diameter of just 13cm and would have been used to clean brushes, has a glowing, intense...
Long-lost painting by Rubens has gone on public display in Scotland
A long-lost painting by one of history's most influential painters, the Flemish artist Sir Peter Paul Rubens, has gone on public display in Scotland. The portrait, thought to be a copy of a lost original, was previously on show at Pollok House, Glasgow when it was identified by art historian Dr Bendor Grosvenor. The rare 17th-century portrait of the Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers, featured on BBC Four's Britain's Lost Masterpieces. Conservation work carried out on behalf of the programme...
In Pics – Hilarious expressions on dogs’ faces as they try to catch a treat
An animal loving photographer has captured a hilarious set of pictures showing dogs leaping for treats with their eyes and mouths wide open. The ingenious snaps were taken using a technique which catches the dogs' faces a split-second before they munch down on tasty biscuits. Paws for the camera - The hilarious expressions on dogs' faces as they try to catch a treat can now be seen in one book. The photos show the dogs being excited, surprised and even...
Theatre Review: The Wipers Times
"Sometimes you get the impression that nobody ever laughed during the period between 1914 and 1918", Ian Hislop said ahead of the opening night of the Wipers Times at Richmond Theatre. To some extent that would be true - the war was no laughing matter, after all. But in other ways it would be very un-British not to laugh in the face of adversity, and in 1916 in a bunker outside Ypres (mispronounced Wipers by British soldiers) that is precisely what...
Playwright slams “dangerous” attempts to ban her work featuring a transgender Jesus
An acclaimed playwright has hit out at "dangerous" attempts to ban performances of one of her most celebrated works featuring a transgender Jesus. A Brazilian judge has shut down a performance of Jo Clifford's The Gospel According To Jesus, Queen Of Heaven. And a prominent Catholic bishop has been calling for the play, which depicts Jesus as a transgender woman, to be banned altogether. They argue the groundbreaking work is offensive to Christians with cast and crew of the Brazilian...
Naked ‘human canvases’ spotted in London today
A troupe of naked ‘human canvases’ has been spotted in London today. The human canvases, created by award-winning body paint artist Sarah Attwell, were commissioned to highlight Britain’s disconnect with the art world. According to new research one in six Brits say they have never set foot in an art gallery, with half of those polled saying they haven't visited one in the last two years. Nearly a quarter of Brits were unable to name Van Gogh as the artist who painted...
Artist uses thousands of screws to create stunning masterpieces
A quirky artist has created stunning three-dimensional masterpieces - using more than 30,000 screws. Bruce Mackley, 54, uses painted screws to build stunning works of 'scrap art', which he also calls 'industrial mosaics'. The pieces can contain up to 30,000 screws, weigh up to 350lbs, and are up to seven feet tall. Bruce, from East Lansing, Michigan, has had no formal training in fine art and says he has spent the past 35 years working as an illustrator, graphic designer...
1,000-year-old Chinese dish set to sell for more than £10 MILLION!
A small but highly-important ceramic dish from Imperial China is expected to sell for more than £10 MILLION next month. The brush washer is around 1,000 years old and was commissioned by the imperial court during the Song dynasty. And it was made by Ru guanyao, which is one of the most revered of the Five Great Kilns used during this period. The dish, which has a diameter of just 13cm and would have been used to clean brushes, has...