
-
Data shows patchy Chinese economy in first two months of the year
-
Starmer, Macron work 'hand in glove' amid revived UK-French ties
-
'Dark oxygen': a deep-sea discovery that has split scientists
-
Peru farmer in German court battle with energy giant
-
Race to name creatures of the deep as mining interest grows
-
Yemen's Huthis claim attacks on carrier group after US strikes
-
Asian markets start week on front foot as China unveils consumer plan
-
Japan cult widow speaks 30 years after subway attack
-
Wind-powered mast to cut emissions sets sail to Canada
-
Giant mine machine swallowing up Senegal's fertile coast
-
UK energy minister in Beijing to press China on emissions
-
Trump admin begins mass layoffs at Voice of America
-
Ovechkin set to achieve the 'impossible'
-
Colombia's 'Lord of the Fruit' fighting for native species
-
Why are proposed deep-sea mining rules so contentious?
-
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America
-
Stranded US astronauts to return to Earth on Tuesday: NASA
-
McIlroy and Spaun battle into Monday playoff at storm-hit Players
-
'I like it' - Russian teen Andreeva relishes quick rise in WTA's ranks
-
Quantum Kinetics' Safe Nuclear Fusion Sustains Plasma Temperatures for 86,400 Seconds - 24hrs
-
Newcastle revel in 'strange smell' of success after League Cup glory
-
Bullish Martinez eyeing treble for Inter after statement win at Atalanta
-
Draper powers past Rune to win Indian Wells ATP Masters
-
Belgian actress Emilie Dequenne dead at 43: family, agent
-
Colombia warns Trump against drug blacklisting
-
PSG beat Marseille as Montpellier game abandoned due to crowd trouble
-
Barca mount late comeback to stun Atletico in thriller
-
Inter on course to retain Serie A title with win at Atalanta
-
Amorim welcomes break despite Man Utd upturn
-
'Magic moment' to inspire Bayern chase, says Leverkusen boss Alonso
-
McIlroy leads as final round resumes at storm-hit Players
-
Arsenal edge out Chelsea, Man Utd beat Leicester
-
Schick late show caps Leverkusen fightback to close gap on Bayern
-
Israel's Netanyahu seeks to fire internal security agency chief
-
Andreeva, 17, tops world No. 1 Sabalenka for Indian Wells title
-
Defiant Slot focuses on Liverpool Premier League push after League Cup woe
-
'I feel like I'm dreaming', says Newcastle's League Cup hero Burn
-
Cavs win streak halted after Magic comeback
-
Quick Mofokeng brace helps Pirates sink leaders Sundowns
-
Marquez show rolls on with Marc beating Alex in Argentina
-
Howe joy as Newcastle end 'years of hurt'
-
Pope seen celebrating mass in first photo since hospitalisation
-
Montpellier Ligue 1 clash abandoned after crowd trouble
-
Freeman says England rising star Pollock knew he'd score a Six Nations debut try against Wales
-
Napoli miss out on Serie A summit, troubled Juve hammered by Fiorentina
-
Cuba gradually turning lights back on after island-wide blackout
-
Frankfurt beat Bochum and 50-minute delay to boost Champions League bid
-
Iran-backed Yemen rebels say attacked US carrier after air strikes
-
Newcastle stun Liverpool in League Cup final to end 56-year trophy drought
-
Olympic badminton champion An Se-young wins All England Open

'Rigid' Hong Kong office turned into artists' satire
At first glance, the office desk could belong to any Chinese executive -- an ashtray, mini-flags, a golden sculpture inscribed with the character for "integrity", and a picture of a local celebrity.
Instead, it is part of a defiant art show challenging Hong Kong's stuffy power structures, held in an office tower at the heart of a finance district famous for its long hours and cut-throat competition.
The group exhibition -- named "RE:URGENT" in mockery of corporate-speak -- is meant to "subvert the office space that we are working in every day", said curator Renee Lui, managing director of Young Soy Gallery.
The exhibition mirrors a workspace, with four artists given a standard office cubicle to present their work in, and one displaying in the boss' office.
"This is sort of a really rigid space that people (wouldn't normally) see as being able to contain creative ideas," Lui told AFP.
The main office is occupied by artist Dominic Johnson-Hill, whose idiosyncratic desktop was inspired by his 28 years doing business in Beijing.
"I went to a lot of bosses' offices," he said. "I really wanted to sort of copy a lot of that paraphernalia."
His displayed pieces include a surreal digital wall clock, which tells time in an eerie, robotic voice.
Next to its numbers is a picture of people looking down at their phones whilst queuing to enter a coffin store.
Johnson-Hill came across such traditional shops in a Hong Kong neighbourhood and was inspired to create the piece, which he said poked fun at aimless work culture.
"I thought how wonderful it would be to see people dressed in office attire queuing... (it's) a ridiculous idea that was quite playful," he said.
In another cubicle, artist Riya Chandiramani sits role-playing as an "unpaid intern" who dreams of starting a feminist revolution.
In a painting, she imagines herself as the Hindu goddess Kali, forced into a treacherous game of snakes and ladders set in the workplace.
"The numbers also represent ages, and so there is also that aspect of women not being allowed to age," Chandiramani said.
- 'Rebels still allowed' -
The show is taking place during Hong Kong's "Art Month", headlined by art fairs which draw wealthy buyers from around the world.
But gallery co-founder Shivang Jhunjhnuwala said he decided to ditch the fairs after two years because of high exhibition costs and "a lack of confidence in the art market".
The show is pushing against the mainstream in its thematic matter too.
In one corner, almost unnoticed, is a palm-sized paper cutout of Chinese President Xi Jinping, trapped within multiple frames, by pseudonymous artist Louie Jaubere.
"The people are not in control of what the state dictates," the artist said.
"But it is not targeted at China; it generally represents government or state control."
Hong Kong's freedom of expression and political rights have been whittled away since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after large and sometimes violent protests the year before.
At the show's opening, retired architect Serena Chan said she appreciated the show's sense of humour.
"The other rebels are all gone," she said.
"Rebels in art are probably still allowed, so let's have more of that."
D.Cunningha--AMWN