SanjitChudha

Turbulent times make simplistic solutions tempting. We see that across the world. The finger is pointed at others, ‘them’. It’s designed to baffle us in the slipstream of battles which aren’t ours. As we hurtle into a spiral, so we cease to look at the people pointing the finger. At times like this, we need romance more than ever. I’m not referring to a Valentine’s Night supper awash with…

Nature moves in rhythms, and winter is one of its most profound. Winter arrives without asking, reminding us that change is inevitable and that there is wisdom in surrendering to it. Winter teaches us that obstacles aren’t barriers, but invitations to bend, adapt, and grow. If we choose to listen, time and patience can become our quiet mentors. Yet in our modern lives, winter often loses its…

Fairfield House in Bath was once the residence of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. Growing up in Kenya in the 1970s I couldn’t help but be touched by the history of Ethiopia. Kenya shares a direct border with Ethiopia to its north. During the 1970s, it became a place of refuge for many Ethiopians escaping the fallout from the change of regime. 50 years later, I live in a…

Audiences are Changing A thread ⬇️ #SocialChange #Demographics

Audiences for cultural and artistic endeavours are changing just as their attitudes are. The reasons for these changes are multiple and include shifts in tastes, income, and demographics. Let’s look at the how the data identifies trends which cut through the noise. How and why audiences are changing Outside of wars, famines, natural disasters and pandemics, births and deaths are relatively…

Pudina is a green chutney made with fresh coriander, mint, green chilli, and garlic. It includes tamarind, lime or lemon juice, a touch of sugar, salt, and smoky cumin. It's a joyful addition to a meal. Find out how you can bring this joy into your life.

Pudina is a green chutney made with fresh coriander, mint, green chilli, and garlic. It includes tamarind, lime or lemon juice, a touch of sugar, salt, and smoky cumin. It’s a joyful addition to a meal, is intensely moreish, and incredibly good for you. In winter especially, it adds a welcome blast of summer to your life. Let’s explore this North Indian delight. Mint is a prolific grower, and…

Frank Auerbach was one of Britain's pre-eminent post-war painters. I'm lucky enough to be quite close to one of his works.

One of Britain’s pre-eminent post-war painters, Frank Auerbach was born in Berlin, Germany in 1931. Auerbach arrived in England as a Jewish refugee in 1939. His parents sent letters and messages, until one day they stopped; they never made it out of Nazi Germany. Auerbach attended a boarding school in Kent and was fostered to a British family. Later in life, he attended St Martin’s School of…

What is the function of Art? In a museum context, what can Art do for people? These are big questions which merit discussion. ‘A Ton of Tea’ by Ai Weiwei has clear links with Bristol Museum and Art Gallery’s Designated collections of Chinese glass and ceramics. It also illuminates international trade and the historic exploitation which underpin Bristol’s history as a mercantile port.  Bristol…

Here's a recipe inspired by the season, and to mark the welcome return of the sun.

I rose early, as I usually do. Low light revealed a painterly metal bowl with organic swirls, set against a low wooden table. Within sat a pear, two plums, an apple and a pomegranate. The autumnal shades shared a harmony. Poetry in the prosaic. A recipe suggested itself. Autumn fruit compote I roughly chopped plums, pear, and apple into equal sized pieces in a pan, adding a little butter. Use…

Arts and Culture in the UK are in crisis. Arts education has been decimated, with students numbers showing steep decline. Funding, especially outside London, has dried up. Brexit has affected tourism and tourist spend, especially outside London. Deep cuts are leading to museums and arts spaces closing. Senior, experienced, and inventive leaders in the cultural space are leaving their profession.…

Kedgeree is a variant of an Indian dish, Khichdi, which has been developed to suit British tastes and is influenced by geography, social change, and the tides of history.

Kedgeree is a variant of an Indian dish, Khichdi, which has been developed to suit British tastes and is influenced by geography, social change, and the tides of history. Unpacking this is a fascinating exercise. A tale of two dishes Kedgeree is an Anglo-Indian dish, derived from Kichdi, an Indian breakfast dish which is sometimes also made as a restorative for poorly tummies. I alternate…

John Constable’s The Hay Wain is a national treasure, an icon of the English landscape. But it is also revolutionary, ushering a naturalism not seen in landscape painting before then. As Constable’s picture comes to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (till 1 September 2024), this is a good time to take stock of the painting, and what it can tell us about landscapes. Constable’s Hay Wain When…

Some musings on arts and culture funding in the wake of those 100% cuts to arts funding in Birmingham, and the larger scale cut backs to arts funding since 2010.

Arts and Culture in Britain have been subsidised since at least the end of WW2. It appears that the sun is rapidly setting on that golden era, with a sluggish economy putting the brakes on private or corporate philanthropy. The oft-cited entrepreneurialism of the V&A is always instructive. But is it a model that most museums or cultural spaces without the same global name recognition can…