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Metropolis Japan
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
Nakamura Keith Haring Collection
Credit: Takumi Ota Anyone wandering around the rural area of Kobuchizawa, Hokuto, in Yamanashi Prefecture might come across an unexpected sight: a modernist building of striking design nestled in the wilderness. Bold architecture is only the beginning, for inside awaits an extensive collection of pop art just as unlikely to be found in rural Japan. This is the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection, the only museum in the world dedicated to the trailblazing American artist and activist. Credit: Takumi Ota The gallery is the brainchild of Dr Kazuo Nakamura, CEO of CMIC Group. 'In the 1980s, I traveled to New York frequently for work. The first time I encountered Haring's work was at a small art shop there,' he recalls. 'It had such a striking impact that I couldn't ignore the pull I felt towards it. His art had a simplicity that made you smile, but also something deeper beneath the surface. That sense of depth compelled me to start collecting his works.' As his collection grew, the issue of where to display it came up. At first, he put up the pieces in his company's office, but some works had intimate themes that didn't fit well with the company's environment. Even so, he continued to expand the collection as a personal reward for the company's growth. Credit: Takumi Ota 'What fascinates me about Haring's work is its humanistic qualities,' Nakamura explains. 'Through his art, he expresses themes like peace and social issues in a way that is both simple and profoundly impactful.' 'Keith Haring was one of the leading artists of 1980s American modern art and one of the few openly gay and HIV-positive public figures,' explains Hiraku Morilla, museum director. 'At the time in the US, to be an openly queer person who made his HIV-positive status public was an unimaginably brave move. Society back then was unforgiving and discriminatory toward LGBTQ+ individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS. Against all odds, Haring used his platform and his art to stand up for those people and challenge injustices. He tragically passed away in 1990 at just 31 due to AIDS-related complications.' An icon of the graffiti subculture of the 1980s in New York City, Haring's colorful imagery and motifs evolved from impromptu street art into commissioned large-scale murals. His stylized iconography developed into social activism, particularly AIDS awareness and safe sex advocacy. 'While his artistic techniques and ideas were groundbreaking, what I find most impressive is Haring's ability to discover a universal language that spoke to people across the spectrum—beyond economic, social and racial divides,' says Morilla. 'He had a knack for finding the core of shared human experiences—what people are frustrated or happy about at a basic level. His art is still relevant today because of this simple yet effective messaging.' As a Bronx native, Morilla's path to museum director also began in New York. 'After moving to the East Village I ended up working for Patricia Field, the legendary costume designer best known for Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada . Patricia was a close friend of Keith Haring's, and in 2010, created a collection to honor him on the 10th anniversary of his passing. During that time, the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection became one of our clients. In 2014, when my mother passed away, I came to Japan and Patricia suggested I visit the museum. I went to visit and happened to run into Nakamura. We sat down and talked about the collection, Patricia and my life since my mother's passing. By the end of it, he offered me the position.' Just like Haring, Morilla is a gay man deeply committed to supporting social activism, particularly around the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV. 'Keith Haring has always felt close to me. Even though our timelines didn't overlap, we both lived the downtown life in the East Village and shared connections with the same people. I also relate to his perspective as a gay man, particularly in his exploration of homoeroticism and sex positivity. His works capture the duality of gay sexuality—the fun and artistry of eroticism and at times, the loneliness and inner struggle that comes with it. As museum director, he inspires me both professionally and as a curator. I'm dedicated to preserving and exhibiting his works, whether it's a drawing or his autograph on a pair of basketball shorts.' Credit: Takumi Ota At its core, that is the mission of the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection. As the only Keith Haring museum in the world—and the only LGBTQ+ museum in Japan—it holds a unique place in the cultural landscape. This is reflected in their extensive collection of over 800 works from the 1980s, including drawings, sculptures, lithographs, photographs, videos, merchandise and archival materials. However, the museum exists not only to showcase Haring's work but also to carry forward his commitment to advocacy and activism. The location was chosen by Dr. Nakamura, who grew up in Yamanashi Prefecture and was drawn to the region's natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere. Haring's works are often associated with lively urban settings, but Nakamura wanted to create a different experience. By removing the city backdrops and situating the museum in a serene, nature-rich environment, he aimed to offer a more intimate and focused way to engage with Haring's art. This approach lets visitors connect with the works on a deeper level, away from the distractions of their usual contexts. Credit: Takumi Ota The collection is housed in an award-winning building designed by Atsushi Kitagawara, whose works are often inspired by the arts. He became involved in the project after meeting Nakamura through a common friend in New York. 'The museum's architecture is a collage of metaphors of Haring's ideas and natural characteristics, such as inverted cones, catenary roofs and jagged walls,' explains Kitagawara. 'I attempted to create a unique piece of architecture while imagining Haring's inner world.' Credit: Takumi Ota For Nakamura, it was a success. 'I find Kitagawara-sensei's approach to architecture incredibly inspiring. His perspective on how architecture interacts with nature is particularly fascinating. Kobuchizawa is steeped in the energy of the Jomon culture, which itself has a deep connection to art and, we felt, a natural affinity with Haring's style. That is why the museum had to be built there. I think the fusion of Kitagawara's artistry, the natural beauty of Kobuchizawa and Haring's work creates a harmony that leaves a deep impression on visitors.' Credit: Takumi Ota Credit: Takumi Ota Those visitors follow a carefully curated path. 'Upon the museum entrance, visitors will begin with the Slope into Darkness , then pass through the Giant Frame and finally arrive at the Dream exhibition room,' says Kitagawara. 'Haring is widely recognized for his pop art style, but behind his works are powerful messages to society. During his time in the 1980s, societal attitudes towards sex, religion and discrimination were different from today. Visitors may be able to relive Haring's life, who criticized society while carrying the darkness within him. Their perceptions of him will be completely changed.' Address: 10249-7 Kobuchisawacho, Hokuto, Yamanashi Opening times: Monday – Sunday: 9am – 5pm Price: ¥1,500 Website: Read more on influential Japanese artists: Kiyoshi Awazu and the Reinvention of Contemporary Japanese Aesthetics Ryushi Kawabata: Painting the Dragon
The Herald Scotland
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Legendary Arthur Ashe recognised at Tennis Black List Awards
Ashe ranks as one of the most legendary players in the history of the sport and was a tireless advocate for social justice, racial equality, and HIV/AIDS awareness, and was the first black man to win in the Men's Singles at The Championships at Wimbledon, doing so in 1975. Ashe who passed away in 1993 from AIDS-related pneumonia honoured with the Icon award at this year's edition of the Tennis Black List awards, presented in association with Dante Talent and held during the HSBC Championships at The Queen's Club, London on the 11th of June, supported by the LTA. The award is given to those who have storied individuals who have impacted tennis in a profound and global way and the Tennis Black List founders Anne-Marie Batson and Richard Sackey Addo revealed it was a no-brainer honouring Ashe's legacy this year. Sackey Addo said: 'Where do you start? It's an honour to be able to recognise someone who has had such a lasting impact on the sport. 'When we talk about his achievements on the court 50 years ago, winning Wimbledon as the first black man to win Wimbledon, no black man has done it since and to do that in an era where there were fantastic other players and players who didn't look like him is incredible.' 'It's a privilege to be able to honour him and it's a privilege to get to know the Arthur Ashe legacy foundation and the work that they do in honouring him and his work and using that to promote charitable causes. Batson added: 'There was only one person that could be the Icon winner, and it was unanimously decided that it would be Ashe. It's bittersweet in that it's sweet that he is our icon but sadly he isn't with us. 'I'd have loved for him to still be here and to see what his legacy has created not just here in the UK or in the US but throughout the world.' Tennis Black List is the global celebration of Black and mixed black excellence across the game — spotlighting the unsung, the visionary and the next generation of changemakers. Taking place in the run up to The Championships at Wimbledon, the Tennis Black List recognises the contributions of individuals and organisations from grassroots level up to the professional game in Britain and internationally. It follows the example set by the successful and respected Football Black List, created by Leon Mann MBE and Rodney Hinds, and Rugby Black List which have demonstrated the power that celebrating black excellence can achieve in sport. Awards were handed out in ten categories across the evening at the ceremony, with several recipients present at The Queen's Club. Batson and Sackey Addo said: 'This movement is about legacy. Tennis Black List is creating space for Black and mixed-black heritage excellence to be seen, honoured and remembered across all areas of tennis. We are building a global legacy that makes space for what is next.' Launched in 2022; Tennis Black List is the only global platform dedicated to celebrating and documenting Black and mixed-black impact in tennis — from grassroots organisers to elite players. A movement rooted in recognition, legacy, and cultural celebration.
Business Insider
14-06-2025
- Health
- Business Insider
After U.S. cuts billions, East African countries steps up to plug budget gaps
Finance ministers across East Africa have increased health spending following U.S. President Donald Trump's sudden withdrawal of billions of dollars in aid earlier this year. East African finance ministers have increased health expenditure due to a significant withdrawal of U.S. aid. Uganda announced an allocation of $32 million for antiretroviral medication to address the issue. Tanzania committed $31.8 million to cover immediate funding gaps resulting from aid withdrawal. Finance ministers across East Africa have increased health spending following U.S. President Donald Trump's sudden withdrawal of billions of dollars in aid earlier this year. The move, along with his protectionist policies that sparked tit-for-tat trade wars, sent shockwaves around the world, but nowhere has the impact been more deeply felt than in Africa. Already, tens of thousands of healthcare workers across the continent have lost their jobs. And for many of the 17 million Africans living with HIV, two-thirds of all cases globally, access to life-saving treatment is now slipping out of reach, according to Bloomberg. Sub-Saharan Africa remains at the heart of the global HIV crisis. According to Statista, millions across the region live with the virus, with thousands more newly infected each year, a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustained support and investment. Emergency budget plans Health advocates like Vincent Bagambe, Planning Director at the Uganda AIDS Commission, have raised the alarm that without swift action, recent funding cuts could undermine years of progress in reducing new HIV infections and curbing AIDS-related deaths. In response, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya announced new plans in their 2025–26 budgets, delivered on Thursday, to fill the growing funding gap. The U.S. had allocated $200 million in aid for these countries this year, support that has now been withdrawn. Uganda, often praised as one of Africa's success stories in tackling HIV and AIDS, is stepping up its response. The country plans to spend an additional 116.8 billion shillings ($32 million) on antiretroviral medication, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija announced. Uganda currently has about 1.5 million people living with HIV, with a national prevalence rate of 5.1%, according to the Uganda AIDS Commission. In 2024, it received $194 million in HIV/AIDS assistance from the United States, the fifth-highest allocation globally, according to Statista. Next door in Tanzania, which received $166 million in U.S. HIV/AIDS assistance in 2024, the government has already disbursed over 82 billion shillings ($31.8 million) to help cover funding shortfalls caused by the abrupt withdrawal, according to Finance Minister Mwigulu Nchemba. Kenya, East Africa's biggest economy and a recipient of $187 million in U.S. aid, is also responding. Treasury Secretary John Mbadi announced plans to allocate 17.3 billion shillings ($134 million) to the Global Fund, which supports efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Another 4.6 billion shillings will go toward vaccines and immunization programs.
Euronews
13-06-2025
- General
- Euronews
Rare display for UK AIDS Memorial Quilt amid Trump HIV funding cuts
Each stitched panel honours someone who died from AIDS-related illness, forming part of a vast global project that began in the 1980s at the height of the epidemic. Created by loved ones, the quilt is both a tribute and a protest. The project was started by American activist Cleve Jones, who began sewing panels after losing dozens of friends and witnessing government inaction. Speaking at the Tate, Jones condemned recent cuts to global HIV funding by the Trump administration, calling them 'unconscionable.' Campaigners warn the loss of U.S. aid will cost hundreds of thousands of lives, especially in vulnerable regions. Do you suffer from Friggatriskaidekaphobia, the fear of Friday 13th? You're not alone. It's one of the most pervasive superstitions in Western culture, alongside crossing a black cat or walking under a ladder. It's estimated between 17 and 21 million people in the United States are actively affected by Friggatriskaidekaphobia – named after Frigga, the Norse goddess after whom 'Friday' is named in English – or 'triskaidekaphobia', the fear of the number 13. Some people refuse to fly, or close a business deal on this date, while others refuse to leave the house. Some buildings skip the 13th floor, going from 12 straight to 14, there are dinner guests who refuse to eat at a table with 13 guests, and there are airlines which do not have a row 13. But why is the number and date considered so unlucky? The origins of Friggatriskaidekaphobia (or paraskevidekatriaphobia in some quarters), as with most superstitions, are tough to pinpoint. The concept of the cursed number can go back to Norse mythology. According to Viking myth, 12 gods were having a banquet in Valhalla. A 13th, uninvited guest known as Loki – the god of mischief – arrived, and deceived Hodr, the blind god of darkness, into shooting Balder the Beautiful, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. The superstition then spread south throughout Europe, becoming established by the start of the Christian era. Then came the story of another dinner party: the Last Supper, which was attended by Jesus Christ and his disciples. The 13th guest was none other than Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, leading to his crucifixion on Good Friday. Going back even further in Biblical tradition, Friday is said to be the day that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, as well as the day Cain murdered his brother, Abel. Beyond myth and religion, for many the number 13 suffers simply because it comes after the number 12. Numerologists consider 12 a 'complete number': there are 12 months in the year; 12 hours of the clock; and 12 signs of the Zodiac; 12 labors of Hercules; 12 gods of Olympus… The number 13 is irregular by comparison. As for Friday, many believe that it has been an unlucky day since the 14th-century publication of Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales": 'And on a Friday fell all this mischance.' Fast forward a few millennia and popular culture has not helped in any way: Thomas William Lawson's 1907 novel "Friday, the Thirteenth" tells the story of a stockbroker who creates chaos on Wall Street; the German bombing of Buckingham Palace took place on Friday 13 September 1940; the ill-fated Apollo 13 moon mission; the Friday 13th films, with hockey-masked killer Jason Voorhees slashing to his heart's content… All have contributed to giving the date a bad rep. But some countries would disagree. In Hispanic and Greek culture, Tuesday 13th is traditionally considered an unlucky day. In Greece, Tuesday is the day associated with Ares the god of war, and Greek name for 'Tuesday' is 'Triti', or 'third', heightening the superstition, since bad luck supposedly comes in groups of three. Add the fact that Constantinople fell both times on a Tuesday - in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade, and in 1453 to the Ottomans - and you've got yourself a cursed day. In Italy, the number 13 is actually considered lucky, and it's Friday 17th that has the bad reputation. The connection between the number 17 and bad luck is goes back to the Roman numerals for 17, XVII. When rearranged, it creates the word VIXI, which translates as 'I have lived', the past tense which implies death. Consequently, Alitalia, the country's airline, does not feature row 17 on its planes. Both Fridays and the number 13 haven't always been unlucky. Organised religions and misogyny silenced paganism and the celebration of women throughout the centuries, thereby leading to the narrative of Friday 13th as an unlucky date. In pagan times, Friday was believed to have a unique association with the divine feminine – which loops us back to Friggatriskaidekaphobia. As any discerning mythology expert or Marvel fan will tell you, Frigga was the Queen of Asgard and a powerful sky goddess, one who was associated with love and motherhood and who could prophesize fertility. Therefore, Friday was considered a lucky day for marriage by Norse and Teutonic people. Regarding the number 13, it was a harbinger of good fortune for pre-Christian and goddess-worshipping cultures because of its link to the number of lunar and menstrual cycles that occur in a calendar year. And then comes US national treasure Taylor Swift, who ended 2024 on a high after her record-smashing global tour brought in $2.2 billion in its nearly two-year run, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time for a second year in a row. Doesn't sound very unlucky, does it? Be we digress... Swift considers 13 her lucky number and, early in her career, often performed with the number written on her hand. "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first No. 1 one song had a 13-second intro," she told MTV in 2009. "Every time I've won an award I've been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter. Basically, whenever a 13 comes up in my life, it's a good thing." Maybe the legacy of Friday 13th can be rewritten… Just follow TayTay's example and laugh in the face of danger. After all, it beats trying to pronounce Friggatriskaidekaphobia. Good luck with that.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Trump admin set to destroy vital HIV meds and contraceptives worth $12 million following closure of USAID
The Trump administration may destroy $12 million worth of HIV and birth control medicines. These medicines were bought by USAID, a U.S. government group that helps people in poor countries. Trump closed USAID in January, and since then, the medicine has been left unused in warehouses in Belgium and the UAE, according to The Washington Post. Now, officials are being told: 'Sell the medicine or trash it', according to someone familiar with the case. The supplies have 26 million condoms, 2 million birth control shots, millions of birth control pills, hundreds of thousands of implants, and over 50,000 bottles of HIV-prevention medicine., as per reports. These were supposed to go to 18 different countries, but now they may never get them. A senior U.S. State Department official told The Independent the story is 'fake news' and full of errors. But Dr. Atul Gawande, who worked at USAID before, said destroying the medicine is something he just can't imagine. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Man Revealing His Strategy To Earn Upto 3K-5K Daily Income thefutureuniversity Learn More Andrew Natsios, a former USAID head, called the idea 'crazy' and said, 'Why not just give the medicine to people instead of throwing it away?' Trump stopped USAID's spending because he said it was 'not in line with American interests.' The Trump team also plans to ask Congress to cut $8.3 billion from global aid programs, including for climate and LGBTQ+ support, as per the report by The Independent. Big consequences Experts say ending USAID could stop progress on fighting AIDS. AIDS-related deaths could rise from 6 million to 10 million in the next 5 years. 3.4 million more kids could lose a parent to AIDS. 600,000 more babies could be born with HIV by 2030. Live Events Prof. Francois Venter, a top HIV doctor from South Africa, said, 'The progress we made in 20 years will be reversed.' Hadja, a 27-year-old mom in Uganda, told The Independent she already lost access to her HIV medicine. She said, 'Without medicine, our lives become shorter. If I die, my children will suffer,' according to The Independent. FAQs Q1. Why might HIV and birth control medicines be destroyed? Because USAID was shut down and the medicines are stored with no plan to send them out. Q2. What could happen if these medicines are not used? More people could get sick and die from AIDS, and many children could lose their parents.
