This week posts by a practicing lawyer are taking Instagram by storm. Serge Najjar, a Lebanese photographer with a PhD in finance law, takes photographs on Instagram to look as though they are incredible works of art, when in fact they are nothing but quotidian life in Lebanon. Najjar discovered photography only four years ago when his mother enrolled himself and his brother in an art class her friend was teaching. The class needed another two students for it to go ahead and so she offered. “It’s very typical of the Lebanese mother, very present in her children’s lives. I was 37!” Najjar said but admitted he felt he had an inherent ability to “sense when an art piece is good.” Straight away he became obsessed with architecture and said he wanted his photographs to draw on constructivism, Parisienne avant-garde and MC Escher.

When the Lebanese photographer started posting on Instagram, the pictures caught the attention of one of the curators of Instagram who has used it online ever since. On a typical day he rises at 5am and drives to nondescript places to take pictures. He admitted he has to convince security guards he is not a spy as tensions rise in the Middle East.

Najjar wants the aim of his photographs to show that art is not about what you see but how you see it.

He admitted that architecture is not exciting in Lebanon but that he still wants his work to challenge his viewer’s assumptions and make interesting buildings look like art through Instagram. He said he wants to “examine the thin line between ugly and the beautiful; between ordinary and extraordinary, chaos and order and reality and abstraction.” When asked about the use of people in his photography, he said that it added “scale and warmth to the architecture” while hiding the context of the buildings helped emphasise the abstract qualities.

Instagram photographer posts Lebanese Architecture, made interesting by filtering.

Follow Serge Najjar on Instagram here.

Instagram: In April 2015 Serge Najjar posted this popular minimalism building.

Instagram: A man in full flight over floating buildings.

Instagram: The man on the move through floating buildings proved to be one of the popular photographs on Serge Najjar’s Instagram account.

Instagram: The hiding man on Instagram, Najjar shows the effects of shadowing and shading.  The contrast in this photography is simply amazing. He allows the light to lead you  

Instagram: Serge Najjar gets his viewers on Instagram to think about his photography, you do more than glance at his pictures.

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An Indian fashion advertisement has definitely got tongues wagging this week. Myntra’s video entitled ‘The Visit’ depicts a lesbian couple preparing to meet each other’s parents for the first time. It is the country’s first advertisement which openly depicts homosexuality in a positive manner. In just 10 days the video has earned over 200,000 views on YouTube and had 3 million hits on social media sites like Facebook.

Avishek Ghosh, co-partner of Hectic Content, who produced the advert said that they wanted to avoid any stereotypical behaviour associated with gay people. He said,”there was no one woman looking more masculine or feminine in the film.” Both women are equally feminine in the appearance and behaviour and exude beauty in their own way.

For years Indian media has paid little attention to homosexuality, particularly Bollywood where the focus is on melodramatic stories of star-crossed lovers and love triangles between poverty-stricken boys and wealthy girls.

LGBT rights activist Ashok Row Kavi said that lesbians are now being accepted around the world. They ‘have been in the news, they are getting married and fighting for their rights. This is what society sees, same-sex couples living happily, and there is a huge audience that accepts this.” It seems that more change is yet to come for India’s lesbian population and it is clear that Indian culture is finally accepting of them. For India, alternate sexuality is now bold and beautiful.

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A charity auction of art from some of the world’s leading creatives will take place tonight in honour of Elephant Haven. It’s aim is to raise £350,000 to establish the world’s first European elephant sanctuary.

Over 600 elephants in Europe are in need of a safe haven. Over the years the number of countries that have banned the use of elephants in circuses is rising, but one problem remains unsolved: the elephants have nowhere to go. This is what Elephant Haven aims to tackle by making sure that elephants have a safe place to retire.

The charity has recently found a perfect place for the sanctuary, in the South of France, but in order to resolve the elephants dilemma the project the association will need £350,000 in funding.

The full list of lots were announced on the 12th May, and will remain online until the live auction (9th June) at Library in Covent Garden. The online auction starts with reserve prices starting from £100 sitting alongside big ticket items including two original 1990 photograph prints of Kate Moss By Kate Garner, a Russell Young screen print of Marilyn Monroe adorned with Diamond dust, an Anita Klein original, and a print from Julian Lennon.

Roseberys London will manage the auction itself, with lots that reflect the worlds of art, fashion, music and design. Other pieces presented during the auction have been donated by Elephant Family, a charity  that protects endangered elephants in Asia. Other artworks include work from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, illustrator Quentin Blake, fine artist Sir Peter Blake,  sculptor Angela Connor, urban artist Dom Pattinson and many many more.

“I’m interested to see how human consciousness will evolve when freedom and respect for other animals is achieved. Sanctuaries for refugee elephants such as Elephant Haven are the brick and mortar for what is a fundamental rights issue.”  – Julian Lennon

Preserving elephants and their way of life for centuries to come is a indeed a worthy cause.

Cover picture: Patti Smith, I Saw Elephants

Pictured, top to bottom: Angela Conner,  Gone; Patti Smith, I Saw Elephants (cover); Corinne Day, Kate Moss Nude; Yoko Ono, Ask the Clouds to Remember; Julian Lennon, Cotton Cloud; Jewellery from Dinny Hall.

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On May 29, Jennifer Lopez (also known as “J.Lo”) performed in front of 160,000 aweing fans at the Mawazine Festival in Rabat, Morocco. This was also the first year that the festival aired on widespread television. However, a Moroccan educational group is suing the singer claiming she “disturbed public order and tarnished women’s honour and respect” by wearing a revealing outfit and dancing in a risqué manner.

Twitter instantly erupted with praises like “PERFECT SHOW” and “You killed it on Mawazine Fest Jen” after the concert. But Mustapha El Khalfi, Morocco’s Communication Minister, is already coming under fire in relation to the performance. Khalfi opposed the performance after the festival, but some viewers were upset that the video of a scantily clad J.Lo made its way to public television in the first place.

Members of the Justice and Development Party have denounced the performance, and Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane has demanded an investigation into the issue. Some Moroccans have even called for Khalfi’s resignation via Twitter.

Others disagree with Khalfi’s stance. Khalfi’s tweets – for example, “What was broadcast is unacceptable and goes against broadcasting law” – have sparked backlash from Mawazine and J.Lo fans.

The J.Lo performance has added fuel to the fire of recent media-related controversy in Morocco. Nabil Ayouch’s film about Moroccan prostitutes, Much Loved, was banned by the government after previewing at Cannes; the country remains deeply divided about the decision.

Amidst all the disagreement, the internet saw its fair share of comedic takes on the issue as well.

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The new Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes will be run for prize money of £1million making it a highlight race of the festival www.goodwood.com

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‘Berlin Carnival of Culture: Chinese Style’

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Within the wonderful medley of talent were Elena Gorokovha, reading from her memoir Russian Tatoo; Katherine Dovlatov, reading from Pushkin Hills, the beloved novel by Sergei Dovlatov that she translated; Rebecca Baldridge, reading from her forthcoming novel, Moscow to the End of the Line; and the evening hostess, Vica Miller, who read a passage from her debut novel, Inga’s Zigzags.

Vica Miller: Inga’s Zigzags

What an enchanting and memorable evening, rich in Russian colloquialisms and exhilarating experiences in pre-millenial Moscow! Recently, Vica gifted me a copy of Inga’s Zigzags, and what a delight it was to peel through such a witty, memorable and intelligently written novel. The reader follows the protagonist, Inga Belova, as she zigzags her way from New York, to Moscow, to London with an incalculable rhythm, all the while witnessing the emotional evolution that accompanies this transcontinental journey.

As a young, female entrepreneur who’s trotted the globe and travailed in some of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, I found Inga’s trials, trepidation and triumphs to be relatable and palpable. Her uncertainty of career, nationality, and sexuality enhances the cultural/generational relevancy of the story line, while heightening one’s intrigue of the author.

Luckily, I had a few moments to chat with Vica Miller in between champagne toasts and congratulatory chatter. When asked what she believes is the most important aspect of Inga Belova’s character development, she gazed pensively into the distance and replied “The most important character development is that she [Inga] stopped doubting herself …and feeling second class [as an immigrant]. She sheds that immigrant identity – during her presentation in London – and evolves as a self-reliant woman, who no longer needs to depend on endorsements or approval of others.” Well said, Vica!

This is certainly something Vica Miller can relate to. Born in St. Petersburg, Vica has spent the last two decades in New York. Browsing through old issues of Vogue Russia and Tennis Week, one will also find the name Vica Miller. An expert in the fields of New Media, ICT and PR. Oh yes, Vica Miller is also an emerging name for her short story work.

What a pleasure and privilege to attend such a dynamic gathering of contemporary Russian talent in a rich cultural hub as New York. While I may sometimes question life’s inexplicable calculations, there’s no disputing my new found loyalty to Vica Miller’s Literary Salons!

Photos courtesy of Nikita Yurenev

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Out on a bail, convicted Bollywood star Salman Khan is all set to appear at an awards show in Dubai next week, reveal the organisers of the Arab Indo Bollywood Awards (AIBA) awards.

Khan was convicted of culpable homicide in the 2002 hit-and-run case. He was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on May 6, but was later released on bail. The actor himself appears to be in relaxed mood following his bail and clearly doesn’t see the conviction as a potential thaw in his Dubai appearance.

Although he still awaits the court permission to travel, the organisers have confirmed the superstar’s presence at the show, reported the Press Trust of India. Varun from Al Bustan Group, the organisers of the show, said to BBC that Salman Khan has confirmed his attendance stating “there is no legal problem for him to travel abroad”. It’s important to state that conditions of bail can be different, however booking the Dubai appearance before notifying the courts will not please the authorities.

He is expected to arrive in Dubai on 28 May and perform at the event, says the event website. He is an integral part of Friday’s finale in which he is expected to perform two dances.

Salman Khan is one of the most recognisable Bollywood stars with a gigantic fan-base. He has appeared in over 80 Hindi films and has over 25 million followers on Facebook alone.

Salman Khan has also started working on his unfinished project, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, in which he stars opposite Kareena Kapoor. Directed by Kabir Khan, the drama will explore the life of a lost 6-year old Pakistani girl in overwhelming India. Despite being both deaf and mute, the girl finds solace in Salman Khan who takes off on a determined mission to reunite the girl with her family in Pakistan. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is due for release later this year.

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Automated musical devices have been around for quite some time now. So the idea of a self-playing piano may not surprise anyone. However what most of these pianos lack is the feel of the notes and the subtle transitions. The mood that a pianist can create often cannot be replicated by an automatic player.

This is the hurdle that Steinway, one of the giants in piano manufacturing, had always wanted to overcome. Finally with its latest innovation Spirio, it has.

Earlier this week, BRIC Plus attended the launch of the Spirio; a luxurious and glamorous event in which the air was filled with precise tinkling piano. You see, Spirio comes with sophisticated hardware and software systems embedded into the piano. The system keeps a track of every bit of change in the velocity of the hammer and pedal.

This data helps to capture the nuances of a real pianist playing the songs. It’s pitch perfect, auditorium-worthy music. It also has an iPad fitted to it which has a specific app that stores the songs. This app directs the piano via Bluetooth. Impressive, we know.

We arrive at this stage in musical development largely thanks to a successful partnership between Steinway & Sons and Wayne Stahnke. The latter is largely considered the greatest innovator of modern pianos. Steinway have also announced the firm are recording an entirely new catalog of music for the ingenious device.

With the introduction of the Spirio piano, Steinway has indeed added another feather onto its already loaded cap. It has long been regarded as the peak of piano manufacturing and is without doubt the connoisseurs choice. In the words of their CEO Michael Sweeney “In today’s marketplace, brands like ours must continue to innovate in order to remain relevant to the world around us”. We cannot wait to see what they do next…

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Following on from his impressive solo exhibition spread across two floors of Halcyon Gallery on New Bond Street in November 2014, She Guardian effortlessly dwarfs Namdakov’s indoor bronze works. Depicted protecting her young, the foreboding creature with powerful reared wings and sharpened claws adds to the impressive list of sculptural artworks around Marble Arch.

Dashi Namdakov commented “it took me more than 2 years to create She Guardian and I wanted to push the boundaries both in scale, material and movement, her ferocity also revealing the maternal protectiveness toward her young.”

Marble Arch certainly now appears safe. The feline sculpture, commonly found in Shamanism and Buddhism, as a symbol protects life and despite it’s wrathful appearance serves only to deter approaching marauders. Westminster Council may have over 300 public artworks but few can match ‘She Guardian‘ for it’s fury. Westminster Council almost in tune has developed an app to guide visitors round the borough’s contemporary public artworks for those who are not exactly specialists in Namdakov sculptures.

Dashi Namdakov

The area of Buryatia on the Russian-Mongolian border where Namdakov was born is still a land of mysticism, legend and spirituality.  A deeply mystical and fantastical sculpture She Guardian pays homage to the warrior traditions of the Buryat people and clear veneration of nature. As with most of his female characters, ‘She Guardian‘ contains sleeker lines and more polished bronze whose calm exteriors mask formidable warrioresses.

In addition to She Guardian, further examples of Namdakov’s work from his 2014 exhibition ‘Between Heaven and Earth’ are still available to view at Halcyon Gallery.

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