Each week, we'll share a variety of videos, articles, webcasts, and more from around the web — all curated by the Asia Society Texas Center staff to reflect the broad interests and goals of our mission. In this digest, connect with art online and get a closer look at the exhibitions at Asia Society and elsewhere.

'Aleph is for Aam,' Words in Urdu with Printmaker Sunbul Akhtar

Sunbul Akhtar, a UK-based artist, uses linoleum blocks to create prints that combine image and text in her series Words in Urdu, which she began in December 2019. She states, "It has become important to me to create a visual story of the language, one that is as colourful as the land it comes from, and engages the audience in a way that truly reflects the spirit of the language. This project is a love letter to all the words in Urdu."

Learn about the series »
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Artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen on the Environment, Consumption, and Politics

Inspired by the Javan rhinoceros, Tuan Andrew Nguyen talks in this short interview about his research and art projects involving animals in Vietnam as a way of looking at larger environmental questions and cultural practices internationally. His installation My Ailing Beliefs Can Cure Your Wretched Desires employs the symbolic use of animal imagery to reflect on the human condition.

Learn more about the artist »
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Spooky Season with Kaiju Artist and Toymaker Mark Nagata

Mark Nagata is renowned for his creativity in the world of kaiju (giant monsters). The Japanese American National Museum celebrated his work with a recent exhibition that featured his roles as both maker and collector. In this interview, Nagata shares his sources of inspiration and the connection to his Japanese heritage that kaiju made possible. Don't miss his Incredible Hulk cat!

Watch Mark Nagata's live painting demo at Kaiju-Con »
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Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and United Airlines, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsor of Education & Outreach; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearst Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

We are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.