SM—Round Up: 2025-15-06
Remembering Sly Stone
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V&A East Storehouse Opens
The V&A East Storehouse officially opened to the public on 31 May 2025, nestled within the vibrant Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as part of the East Bank cultural quarter. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Austin‑Smith:Lord, the repurposed former Olympic media centre spans over 16,000 m² (equivalent to more than 30 basketball courts) across four levels. Unlike traditional museums, it functions as a working, open-access archive, housing more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives right where visitors can walk among them. Think of it as a cultural Ikea—replete with industrial shelving, curated mini-exhibits, and even an “Order an Object” service that lets visitors request up-close viewing of chosen artefacts.
This radical new model breaks down barriers between public and behind-the-scenes museum areas, enabling a self-guided journey through conservation labs, handling spaces, and storytelling installations . Visitors can encounter iconic treasures built into the fabric of the Storehouse — from the 15th‑century Torrijos ceiling and the Agra Colonnade to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kaufmann Office, Robin Hood Gardens facade, Ballets Russes stage cloth, and the Frankfurt Kitchen. Free and open daily (10am–6pm, with late openings on Thursdays and Saturdays), the Storehouse aims to engage a young, diverse audience and set a precedent for transparency and access in the museum world .
Wu-Tang Clan Announces First Video Game in 26 Years, 'Rise of the Deceiver'
Brass Lion Entertainment officially announced the newest Wu-Tang Clan game, Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver.
As per IGN, the co-op action RPG will allow up to four players to defeat the Deceiver and save the Wu’s home of Shaolin. Players can expect a design that fuses Afro-surrealism and anime, as well as a soundtrack composed of the Wu-Tang Clan’s discography and new offerings from Just Blaze.
The video game was initially developed as a tie-in with Ghostface Killah and RZA‘s upcoming horror film, Angel of Dust. “Creating Angel of Dust has been an incredible journey,” said Ghostface Killah in a statement. “Bringing the story to life through film was just the beginning. Now, with the development of the video game, we are immersing fans even deeper into this supernatural thriller universe. It’s about blending music, storytelling, and interactive experience. I can’t wait for fans to step into the darkness and discover what lies beneath.”
Rise of the Deceiver marks the second game from the Wu following 1999’s PlayStation title, Wu-Tang: Shaolin Style. It featured characters based on the group themselves and follows them as martial artists studying under Master Xin.
Remembering Sly Stone
Sly Stone, the legendary funk-rock pioneer who led the groundbreaking group Sly and the Family Stone, has died at the age of 82 after a prolonged battle with COPD and other health issues, according to a statement from his family. Born Sylvester Stewart, Stone began his musical journey singing gospel with his siblings and later worked as a DJ in California. He formed Sly and the Family Stone in the 1960s, a racially and gender-integrated band that would go on to revolutionize American music. Their eclectic mix of gospel, funk, rock, and psychedelia—coupled with socially conscious lyrics—made them icons of the era. Hits like “Dance to the Music” catapulted them to fame, and their electrifying performances at events like Woodstock and the Summer of Soul in Harlem became defining moments in music history.
Despite their success, the band faced internal tensions and drug issues in the 1970s, leading to their gradual dissolution. While Stone occasionally performed solo, he largely withdrew from public life in later years. Still, his influence remained potent, and in 1993, Sly and the Family Stone were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Stone made a brief but memorable return to the stage at the 2005 Grammy Awards, though appearances after that were rare. Before his death, he had completed a screenplay based on his life—a project his family hopes to share with the world. Remembered as a true innovator, Sly Stone left behind a legacy that helped shape the sound and spirit of modern music.
Centre Pompidou Bows Out With Major Wolfgang Tillmans Retrospective
As the Centre Pompidou prepares to close for its five-year hibernation, the museum is handing over the reins to Wolfgang Tillmans for an exciting send-off. For his first major Parisian show in 23 years, the German photographer is opening the vault for an expansive curatorial project, unraveling across 6,000-square-meters of the Public Information Library.
Titled Nothing could have prepared us – Everything could have prepared us, the exhibition brings together work from Tillman’s 35-year oeuvre in a showcase of photography, video, sound, text and performance. Drawing cues from the surrounding architecture, the artist transforms the library into a stage for dialogue between his work and the concept of knowledge itself.
Shaped by a ‘90s countercultural high, Tillmans’ works have always challenged the limits of visual representation, capturing moments that expose the delicate beauty of the everyday. “What interests me is making images, making art — as a translation of the world I see. I’ve often thought an artwork is just as interesting as the thoughts it provokes,” he noted.
The exhibition invites visitors to trace connections across time: “Lacanau (self)” (1986), his first work, sits beside storied works like “Frank, in the shower” (2015), the cover art for Frank Ocean’s Blonde, with works created for the exhibition peppered in-between. Evident through all is a keen attention to the cultural and political shifts that have defined our era — from the collapse of certainties to emerging visions of community and identity.
Nothing could have prepared us – Everything could have prepared us will be on view in Paris from June 13 through September 22. Presented in partnership with Celine, the Centre Pompidou is offering select days of free admission. Check out the museum’s website to book tickets today.
ETERNO Launches in Lisbon with Vhils' 'Threshold' Exhibition
ETERNO is the latest digital-first art addition to Lisbon’s up-and-coming Marvila district, and to celebrate the gallery is playing host to a new phygital exhibition by the acclaimed Alexandre Farto, better known as Vhils.
Titled Threshold, the exhibition marks a new chapter in the Portuguese artist’s ongoing “LAYERS” project. Unfolding across two floors, the exhibition toes the line between destruction and creation, visibility and erasures – just a few of the tensions that undergird the artist’s practice. On the upper floor, viewers will encounter a blend of billboard-based works, prints and generative pieces, while video projections downstairs stage a more immersive experience.
In addition to viewing physical artworks, Threshold offers the opportunity to digitally collect works through the ETERNO’s online platform. Supported by Cultural Affairs and VIC Properties, ETERNO was founded in 2021 to explore the evolving relationship between art and technology – from curating exhibitions to hosting NFT drops and immersive experiences.
Threshold is now on view in Lisbon through August 2. Head to the platform’s website for more information.
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