Asian Art and Culture Designing for the Earth: Tracing the Roots of Bioregionalism in the V&A Collection September 22, 2026 rifanmuazin As the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Make Good programme prepares for its sixth iteration, the milestone invites more than just a celebration of its recent success; it offers a compelling…
Asian Art and Culture From Forest to Foundation: Rethinking the Future of Sustainable Construction at the Fifth Make Good Symposium September 22, 2026 rifanmuazin The challenge of building in an age of climate emergency requires a fundamental shift in how we perceive, harvest, and utilize our natural resources. This necessity served as the driving…
Asian Art and Culture Uncovering the Art of the Binding: How the National Art Library is Preserving the Legacy of Sarah Prideaux September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin The National Art Library, a sanctuary for bibliophiles and scholars, is renowned for its vast collection of beautifully bound volumes. Yet, beyond the finished works that grace the shelves, the…
Eastern Heritage and History The Gilded Cage: Remembering the Early Life and Untold Sorrows of Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin Shakespeare’s timeless observation from The Merchant of Venice—“All that glitters is not gold”—finds profound resonance in the extraordinary life of Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan. As a young American heiress born into…
Asian Art and Culture Beyond the Factory Floor: How Photography Reveals the Hidden Landscapes of Women’s Labour September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin During my tenure as a curatorial research fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), I have spent months navigating the institution’s vast and storied collection of photographs. My initial…
Eastern Heritage and History Behind Enemy Lines: How a U.S. Marine Led the French Resistance in the Heart of Nazi-Occupied France September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin While thousands of American soldiers fought bravely across the battlefields of Europe during World War II, only a select few were United States Marines. Among them was Major Pierre “Pete”…
Asian Art and Culture A Decade of Discovery: Reflecting on Ten Years of African Heritage Tours at the V&A September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin For the past ten years, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London has been the site of a profound cultural shift. What began as a pioneering project under the…
Eastern Heritage and History Unraveling a Century-Old Mystery: How a Shocking Everest Discovery Sparked a New Partnership and Book on George Mallory and Sandy Irvine September 21, 2026 rifanmuazin There is no mystery more compelling than the unsolved enigma of George Mallory, Sandy Irvine, and their legendary 1924 Everest expedition. For a century, mountaineers, historians, and enthusiasts have debated…
Asian Art and Culture The Reluctant Clerk: Uncovering the Early Artistic Life of Randolph Caldecott September 20, 2026 rifanmuazin For the past five months, I have been immersed in a unique project at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A): the meticulous cataloguing and research of works on paper by…
Eastern Heritage and History Armchair Adventure Recommendations for August 2026 September 20, 2026 rifanmuazin At the forefront of these historical explorations is an enduring mountaineering enigma that has captivated generations of adventurers and scholars alike. More than a century after their fateful disappearance close…