AI-Generated Images Mimicking Studio Ghibli May Be Banned by Japanese Lawmakers

These debates have intensified so much that Japanese lawmakers are now considering making such Ghiblified content illegal. Under the current interpretation of the law, just how legal is it? ImaiaskedHirohika Nakahara, the director-general for Japans Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Strategy. Ultimately, that is something for courts to decide, Nakahara replied. But copyright infringement is only one dimension to these rising criticisms. More potent are Hayao Miyazakis own principles, which have guided Studio Ghiblis artistic ethos for decades....

April 28, 2025 · 1 min · 199 words · Janet Gardner

At a Church in Naples, There’s a Secret Fresco Hidden Behind a 16th-Century Painting

St. George and the Dragon, the fresco hidden behind Alessio DElias swinging painting. In the background is the kings daughter, fleeing for fear of being sacrificed to the ferocious creature. Thanks to St. Georges valiance, however, she is saved from her fate. “St. George and the Dragon,” the fresco hidden behind Alessio D’Elia’s swinging painting. (Photo: Giuseppe Guida, viaWikimedia Commons,CC 2.0) George and the Dragonremains exceptionally well-preserved, perhaps because it was tucked away for nearly 400 years....

April 28, 2025 · 1 min · 151 words · Frederick Morales

Can You Guess Which Year a Photo Is From? This Daily Photo Challenge Puts You to the Test

The closer your guess is to the correct year, the more points youll earn. For example, revealing the second digit shows the century, while the third can help pinpoint the decade. The photos can be just about anythingfrom a quiet street in Hamburg to a riot scene in Seoul. Even the photo itself can be a hint, whether its grainy and analog or crisp and digital. Ready to put your history knowledge to the test?...

April 28, 2025 · 1 min · 121 words · Laurie Whitaker

“Hyperlong Exposure” Photos Poetically Weave the Past and Present Together

Compared to other artistic media,photographyis far more capable of time travel. This is whyGarry Pycroftis drawn to the medium, and also why he feels compelled to reinvent it. The cards are primarily sepia and of course thats not how we see life. Its almost like Im giving these people a second life. To learn more about the artist, visitGarry Pycrofts website. These hyperlong exposure photographs unveil both the similarities and differences between past and present....

April 28, 2025 · 1 min · 98 words · Maria Watson

Expressive Seascape Paintings Capture the Fleeting Moods of the Open Waters

Like many things in nature, the sea is far from constant. Its temperamental, its moods sometimes shifting within the same hour, but thats precisely whatScott Laurensonis drawn to. At times, his compositions radiate serenity, each ocean wave a translucent blue beneath a clear sky. Other times, his paintings are explosive, sea mist flying into the air as waves crash into themselves. Thats where I find my inspiration. These paintings are not just exercises in realism, but in texture....

April 27, 2025 · 1 min · 115 words · Natasha Wilson

Iridescent Installation Catches the Shifting Light of the Californian Desert

Installation view of To Breathe Coachella Valley at this years Desert X exhibition. Like other works by Kimsooja,To Breatheis utterly iridescent, featuring a glass surface clad in diffraction film. Its a sentiment that Kimsooja herself echoes. Installation view of “To Breathe – Coachella Valley” at this year’s Desert X exhibition. (Photo: Lance Gerber) To learn more about the artist, visitKimsoojas website. More information aboutTo Breathecan be found on theDesert X website....

April 27, 2025 · 2 min · 224 words · Grace Hurley

New ‘Little Beasts’ Exhibition Explores the Intersections of Natural History and Art

The result is an intriguing and interdisciplinary conversation, emphasizing how animals were translated into representational art. This curiosity manifests itself in the exhibitions impressive range of featured animals and artistic media. Little Beastswill be on-view at the National Gallery from May 18 through November 2, 2025. Jan van Kessel the Elder, “Study of Insects and Reptiles [center],” c. 1660 To learn more about the exhibition, visit theNational Gallery website. Marmota monax (marmot/woodchuck)...

April 27, 2025 · 1 min · 176 words · Preston Pratt

Striking Jinling Art Museum Lined With a Pixelated Gradient Pattern of 139,900 Ceramic Bricks

The city of Nanjing, China, traditionally known as Jinling, has a unique place in history. The firm completed the building in 2024. The upper portion rotates towards the bordering road. One of the most alluring elements of the Jinling Art Museum is its ceramic brick facade. AZL Architects also relied on a 1:1 physical model constructed on-site to corroborate the precision of the design. As the latest addition to the cityscape, it perfectly represents the thriving yet ever-changing spirit of Nanjing....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 139 words · Maria Clark

This Art Nouveau Hotel in Mexico City Has One of the Most Beautiful Lobbies in the World

Photo: Nan Palmero viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 2.0) Art Nouveauis alive and well in Mexico City. The building is full of history and boasts one of the most beautiful hotel lobbies in the world. However, this is just one of the many features that makes this place so special. Photo: Nan Palmero viaWikimedia Commons(CC BY 2.0) Once inside, visitors can take in many of the originalArt Nouveaudetails. Photo: izanbar/Depositphotos The facade on the side of the main entrance has a Neoclassical design....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 129 words · Theresa Cummings

Untethered Astronaut Spacewalks Are Some of the Most Unnerving Space Footage Out There

Astronaut Dale Gardner recovering a satellite during an untethered space walk. And yet, it’s these leaps of faith that keep space exploration goingand the ones that make history. The pair leaped out of the Space Shuttle Challenger aided by their Manned Manoeuvring Unit (MMU). Astronaut Dale Gardner recovering a satellite during an untethered space walk. (Photo: NASA) At his maximum distance, McCandless flew 300ft from the Challenger while testing the MMU for the first time....

April 26, 2025 · 1 min · 196 words · Sherry Romero

Colorful Handblown Glass Table Lamps Honor the Tradition of Chinese Lanterns

They light our way home, literally and figuratively. This stayed with me. Check out the Lantern Collection below and explore more of their artistic lighting onThe Goodman Studios website. They’re created from colored handblown glass thats double sandblasted to reveal intricate lattice and woven patterns. Each lantern emits a warm light that brings a cozy, comforting glow to any space. They light our way home, literally and figuratively. The Goodman Studio:Website|Facebook|Instagram...

April 25, 2025 · 1 min · 78 words · Thomas Smith

LEGO F1 Racing Cars Come to Life on Photographer’s Handcrafted Track [Interview]

At first glance, these photos look like they could be actual cars. Lamperts collaboration with LEGO stretches many years. In 2017, he embarked on his first project with the company and has remained in contact since then. He has been anticipating the F1-themed products since last year and was eager to begin this project. The F1 project has come full circle, too. Lampert recently had the opportunity to photograph real race cars....

April 25, 2025 · 3 min · 530 words · Joshua Atkinson

Paralyzed Man Is Able To Stand on His Own Again Thanks to Breakthrough Stem Cell Trials

This unprecedentedstudysought to treat four paralyzed individuals using reprogrammed stem cells. The Keio University trials used reprogrammed, or induced pluripotent (iPS) stem cells. Patients in the study received an injection of 2 million iPS-turned-neural precursor cells into their injury site. Photo: Daniel Soñé Photography, LLC viaWikimedia Commons(Public domain) The first surgery occurred in December 2021, and the remaining three were performed between 2022 and 2023. Recipients were prescribed immune-suppressing drugs for six months after their surgeries to prevent their bodies from rejecting the cells....

April 25, 2025 · 1 min · 130 words · Dr. Donna Jackson MD