Art Basel Paris concluded its successful second edition at the Grand Palais, further deepening its ties with the city’s legacy and cross-disciplinary spirit. Bringing together 206 leading international galleries from 41 countries and territories — including 65 operating spaces in France — the show drew an enthusiastic response from galleries, collectors, and visitors from around the world, with total attendance surpassing 73,000 throughout its VIP and public days.
Exhibitors reported robust sales across every market segment, with standout works by Gerhard Richter, Amadeo Modigliani, Julie Mehretu, and Leiko Ikemura finding eager buyers. The fair also saw notable success in rediscoveries of Marie Bracquemond and Lee ShinJa, alongside rising talents such as Yu Nishimura and Özgür Kar — a great testament to the depth of the gallery programmes on display.
Leading art patrons and private collectors from France, Europe, the Americas, and Asia flocked to the fair. Art Basel Paris 2025 also drew representatives from more than 240 museums and foundations worldwide, among them the Centre Pompidou, Musée du Louvre, Fondation Beyeler, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Tate, Serpentine Galleries, Stedelijk Museum, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, M+ Hong Kong, He Art Museum, Tank Shanghai, Art Gallery of Ontario, SFMOMA, Aspen Art Museum, MCA Chicago, National Gallery of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, MoMA and MoMA PS1, Public Art Fund, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In other news, Art Basel revealed the appointment of Karim Crippa as Director of Art Basel Paris, taking up the role from the 1st of November, 2025. Crippa will lead the Paris show into its next chapter, working closely with participating galleries, collectors, and both private and public partners – including the Ministry of Culture, GrandPalaisRmn, and the City of Paris – to consolidate its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic platforms for modern and contemporary art.
Life at home is rarely picture-perfect. Between kids’ art projects that somehow escape onto the walls, pets who treat the sofa as their personal playground, and everyday spills that seem to appear out of nowhere, creating an interior looking stylish, tidy, and put-together seems to be impossible. And you don’t need a huge renovation or a brand-new furniture set to make your living area both beautiful and practical. Small, smart choices can transform your interiors while protecting the investment you’ve already made.
One of the easiest tricks? Sofa and chair covers. They’ve evolved from the oversized, wrinkled options of the past into sleek, tailored solutions that instantly refresh a room. For families, they’re not just a design upgrade but also a layer of defence against sticky fingers, spilled drinks, and even pet fur.
Simple Swaps That Make a Big Difference
Many women today are looking for ways to balance personal taste with practical living. After all, home isn’t meant to be admired from afar — it’s used every day. Children climb onto chairs with snacks in hand, pets jump up after a muddy walk, and life happens. By layering protection into your design choices, you create a space that welcomes real life without looking worn down.
Here are a few changes that can breathe new life into your home:
Slipcovers for Chairs and Sofas: They protect against stains and scratches, as well as let you experiment with colours and textures without committing to new furniture.
Washable Rugs: High-traffic areas stay fresh when rugs can be tossed in the washing machine after muddy paw prints or spilled juice.
Multifunctional Storage: Ottomans with hidden compartments or benches with baskets underneath help keep toys, shoes, and clutter out of sight.
Rounded-Edge Furniture: For families with younger children, swapping sharp-edged tables for rounder shapes makes playtime safer while still looking chic.
Why Furniture Covers Are a Game-Changer
Furniture often takes the brunt of family life, making it the first place to show wear. Replacing a sofa or dining set isn’t cheap, which is why furniture covers have become such a clever solution. They act as a shield against messes, but also as a style refresh.
For example, fitted chair covers instantly give the dining room a new look, whether you’re preparing for a dinner party or just want to brighten up the space for everyday gatherings. In the living room, a slipcover can turn a tired sofa into a statement piece, saving you hundreds of dollars compared to replacing it. Best of all, most modern covers are machine washable, meaning cleanup is simple and stress-free.
Choosing Covers That Work for Your Home
Not all furniture covers are created equal. When shopping for options that blend style with practicality, keep these points in mind:
Fit: Look for stretch fabrics or tailored designs that hug the shape of your furniture. A snug fit avoids the “sloppy” look that older slipcovers had.
Fabric: Durable, washable fabrics like microfiber, cotton blends, or velvet add both protection and elegance.
Colour and Pattern: Neutrals blend seamlessly with most decor, bold colours highlight the centrepieces, and patterns disguise stains and bring character into the room.
Functionality: If you have pets, opt for covers with anti-slip backing or tighter weaves that resist claw pulls and fur buildup.
When your furniture is protected, you gain freedom to decorate without worry. Add lighter-colored throws and cushions without stressing over stains. Place a chic rug under the dining table without thinking about spaghetti night. Enjoy family movie nights on the sofa without cringing every time someone reaches for popcorn.
It’s about creating a home that feels lived-in, welcoming, and truly yours, without sacrificing the style you love.
Beyond Covers: Layering Protection
While sofa slipcovers and chair covers are at the heart of a practical interior makeover, other small steps can make your home chic and resilient:
Use washable slip-on pillow covers to extend the life of decorative cushions.
Add waterproof pet blankets in rooms for an easy extra layer of protection against pets.
Choose durable finishes like semi-gloss paint on walls in high-traffic areas so cleaning up fingerprints is a breeze.
Each layer may seem small on its own, but together they create a home that stands up beautifully to daily family life.
A Home That Works for You
Instead of worrying about messes or holding back from using your favourite spaces, furniture covers and other protective hacks let you enjoy your home to the fullest. A few intentional updates let you balance beauty with everyday use, reminding you that a lively home can still look polished and up-to-date.
By blending decor with function, you give yourself the freedom to relax, entertain, and create memories without the constant worry of wear and tear. After all, a truly stylish home isn’t the one that looks untouched — it’s the one that looks loved and lived in.
Life at home can be wonderfully full — kids running through the living room, pets snuggling on the couch, family movie nights with snacks that inevitably spill. All that activity leaves marks. From muddy paw prints to juice stains, sofas tend to bear the brunt of family life. Buying a new couch every few years isn’t realistic for most families, which is why more and more women are discovering the power of sofa covers.
These clever solutions do more than protect. They instantly refresh tired furniture, bring style back into your home, and make cleaning up after kids and pets much easier. For busy women juggling family life, they’re a practical, affordable hack to keep your home looking pulled together without the stress.
Why Sofa Covers Are a Game-Changer
Slipcovers used to have a reputation for being stiff, unattractive, or difficult to fit. Today’s sofa covers are a completely different story. They’re designed with stretch fabrics, modern colors and patterns, and secure fits that stay put. That means no more constant tucking or adjusting after every sit.
Beyond the look, their practical benefits are hard to beat:
Protection from everyday messes — spills, fur, and sticky fingers won’t reach your actual upholstery.
Affordable style updates — swap covers seasonally to give your room a fresh look without a renovation.
Kid- and pet-friendly durability — materials are washable and made to withstand daily use. Sustainability — extending the life of your sofa reduces waste and saves money.
For families who want both style and peace of mind, sofa covers deliver on every front.
Benefits for Families with Kids and Pets
For women managing busy homes, every detail matters. Here’s why sofa covers are especially helpful when children and pets are part of the picture. You don’t have to panic when your child drops a popsicle or the dog jumps on the couch with wet paws. One wash and the mess is gone.
Moreover, instead of spending thousands on a new sofa, a cover instantly makes old furniture look modern. Today’s options aren’t just practical — they’re chic. You can choose a deep velvet for a cozy winter vibe or a printed cotton blend for a fresh summer look. Many brands offer covers for sectionals, recliners, loveseats, and chairs, so your whole living area can match.
Styling Your Space with Sofa Covers
One of the best parts about using slipcovers is the design flexibility they offer. Want a cozy neutral look for the colder months? Go with a warm beige or charcoal tone. Craving something brighter in spring? Swap it for a pastel or floral pattern.
Because they’re easy to remove and switch out, you can treat sofa covers like seasonal decor — just like changing pillows, throws, or rugs. It’s a simple way to keep your space feeling fresh without buying new furniture or spending hours redecorating.
A Smarter Choice for Real Homes
Women often carry the responsibility of creating a home that feels both stylish and welcoming. Between balancing kids, pets, and everyday messes, practicality often wins over aesthetics. But with sofa covers, you don’t have to choose between the two.
They make life easier. Your sofa stays protected. Your home stays stylish. Your budget stays intact.
Instead of constantly worrying about accidents or planning for the expense of new furniture, sofa covers give you the freedom to live comfortably.
What to Look for in a Sofa Cover
Choosing the right slipcover can feel overwhelming, but knowing what to focus on helps narrow the search:
Fit & Stretch: Look for premium stretchy fabrics that mold to different sofa shapes. A snug fit looks more like new upholstery than a temporary fix.
Fabric Quality: Durable yet soft fabrics are key. Microfiber, velvet, and cotton blends all provide comfort while standing up to daily messes.
Style Variety: From neutral shades to bold prints, the right color or pattern can transform your space.
Ease of Care: A machine-washable cover is a lifesaver. Quick wash cycles mean less worry about stains.
Secure Design: Non-slip features keep covers in place, even during family movie marathons.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, your living room is the heart of your home. It’s where family gathers, pets curl up, and you enjoy a moment of relaxation. That space deserves to feel inviting without demanding endless effort to maintain.
Sofa covers are the perfect blend of protection, practicality, and style. They extend the life of your furniture, keep your home looking fresh, and make day-to-day messes far less stressful. They’re more than a product — they’re a home hack that actually works.
So instead of covering stains with throws or worrying about the next spill, slip your sofa into a cover that reflects your style and makes your life easier. Because a beautiful home should feel lived-in, loved, and easy to care for.
Do you feel as though you want to improve your gaming experience? If so, then now is the time for you to take action. If you follow this guide, you will find it easier not only to improve your gaming experience but also to make sure that you’re not making some of the mistakes that many people make.
Choose the Best Server
One of the first things you need to do is try and choose the best server for your needs. At the end of the day, game servers tend to vary by region. It may be that the closest server to you isn’t actually the best one after all. This is especially the case if it is poorly managed or if it is crowded. If you feel as though you are dealing with things like high ping rates or if you are dealing with extended matchmaking times, then one of the best things you can do is try and swap to a different region. You can do this within your game’s settings a lot of the time, but either way, it’s a great way for you to boost your experience. If you want to help yourself, then looking up the best Minecraft server hosting in advance will help, as it allows you to find quality servers that can really help you to get a smooth gaming experience.
Go Wired if you Can
Another thing you can do is opt for a wired connection. This can really help you if you are playing demanding games. Signals can get interrupted by the walls inside your home, and they can also be affected by your furniture or even your microwave. If you want to help yourself here, then it may be that you need to look into other ways to try and get more consistent speeds, or that you try and find ways to get fewer random disconnects. If your gaming console is set up too far from your internet router, then you may end up with even more disconnects, which is the last thing you need. It may be that the outlets in your home turn into internet ports, which again can work against you.
In-Game Settings
You also need to make sure that you are looking at your in-game settings as well, if you can. Your gaming skills do matter, but at the same time, if you can look into things like this, then you can help your games run smoothly. Lower graphics settings can also help, so be sure to keep that in mind. Although you may not want to play with lower settings, reducing them even slightly can mean that you can make your game run smoothly, and that you can also make sure that you are not overlooking the small things that can make a big difference.
So as you can see, it’s very easy for you to get the experience you want, and if you follow this guide, you will notice your games run smoother and better overall.
I never knew how sensitive I was until I started to write. Anything less than 100% praise will send me off-kilter; someone I was dating at the time said an essay of mine was “insular,” and once, on a family vacation, my mother said that the characters in a short story were “unlikeable” and the whole thing was “trying too hard to be funny.” It would have been better for her to abandon me years earlier so I wouldn’t have to hear that. I sulked internally, lest I ruin the vacation — plus, you’re not allowed to be too mad at someone paying for your meals.
The narrator of Claire-Louise Bennett’s excellently earnest second novel Big Kiss, Bye-Bye, feels similarly — incensed by a former lover’s comment that reading her recent book was “some sort of HELL,” she spends most of the book (reasonably) holding a grudge and pacing back and forth, deciding whether or not she should email him. She’s just moved from the city to the country, and there’s something freeing in his not knowing her current location. Plus, they haven’t talked in months; when she read his critique, “My throat froze over.” No kidding.
Xavier, the 75-year-old critic, is charming but controlling, a private banker who used to jet to the Caribbean and smuggle coke into Ibiza. His and the narrator’s relationship is chaste, unromantic but deep enough that her thoughts orbit around him. He urges her to cut off her friends, but opens an account at the florist so that she can order flowers on his dime whenever she’s on her period. “Something beautiful really makes a difference to how one feels,” he coos, calling her darling and kindly asking how her writing sessions goes. Toxic on paper, docile in person, they share kind correspondence and lovely dinners. “I’m the only one who sees you correctly,” he tells her, an idea that the narrator disagrees with, but enjoys the intimacy of. Bold to insult someone’s book, then allege it’s only because they know them completely.
Like her contemporaries Sheila Heti or Deborah Levy, Bennett is at her best when narrating the earthy rhythms of life, as trivial as email etiquette or flower bureaucracy. The bouquets he sends her are nice, yes, but they get delivered at an awfully inconvenient time, and his taste isn’t exactly excellent. Why doesn’t she go in and pick them herself? He agrees, and gives her a 50 euro limit, but she picks only a few delphiniums. Xavier calls the florist to ask why the purchase was so little, which she passes onto the narrator, urging her to spend more. Was there even a call, or is the shopkeeper just pretending, so that her regular client will spend more money? Now, kicking herself, she buys huge bouquets — perfect for hosting sometimes, yes — unable to appreciate the burst of life, lamenting the absence of a few stems’ beauty. How ridiculous! Larry David would kill to come up with something like this, and amongst Bennett’s calmer, more interior writing, this scene erupts with humor and life.
Big Kiss, Bye-Bye is more of a writing collage than a novel — apart from the regular narrative, it’s surrounded by around five loosely connected short stories and a short lecture the narrator gave in Montevideo about the final scene in Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher, integrating sexual liberation, self-harm, and Freud. Some work, like that speech, and others don’t, like the fictionalization (or maybe retelling from a different angle) of Xavier’s refusing to ask for things outright (“Some fresh air would be nice,” he’d say). It puts him — and the narrator — at a remove; when Bennett’s life writing is so candid to begin with, one wonders why include these asides at all.
It’s almost as if each section was written without looking back at the previous one, which, if true, is a thrilling way to approach the transitive act of writing. This births contradictions and shoddy memories; in the book’s first pages, the narrator mentions she’s never had sex with Xavier, then in its final ones, she breathily argues how the phrase “making love” grafts onto their partnership: “That’s why it feels so intense and incredible, and wonderfully exhausting.” She even re-explains why she likes smaller bouquets a couple more times after she initially wrote about the dilemma. Big Kiss, Bye-Bye loops back on itself, like a friend telling you a story you’ve heard before that you’d like to hear again because they’re an interesting speaker. It’s exciting to wonder if Bennett or the narrator has genuinely forgotten this is familiar material, taking a metafictional and outside approach to novel-writing.
If Checkout 19, her previous novel, was cerebral and heady, Big Kiss, Bye-Bye is intimately concerned with body politics, sex, and movement. The idea of taking a moment to catch one’s breath on a hike comes up so often it feels like another character; same with multiple men going out in the morning to bring the narrator coffee and croissants. When one spills the coffee, it’s an eruption of the rhythm so visceral you can feel the hot coffee burning your skin. She fantasizes about a kiss so horrible it will bring closure, not romance: “Walk across the room now old man and kiss me — let’s put an end to this,” she pleads. In another fantasy, or maybe recollection of her involvement with a former professor, she holds his erection in the cold rain of London “so the frigid air wouldn’t get at it and make the glorious thing fall to nothing.” She urges him to “go in and get as much of me as you can,” a quick dash against time in the form of a game. At some points it actively combats thought in favor of action — at a professional event, she takes a colleague’s cheek in her hand without thinking, then wonders if this was appropriate. “In the end I don’t care too much about getting carried away and making a fool of myself,” she justifies. “The alternative is to die of boredom, the alternative is to be genial and pass the time, the alternative is to take a spoon to my brain and scoop it out.”
That the narrator remains mad at Xavier was sort of a half-truth — by the middle of the novel, they’re emailing, and after he initially refuses to meet up, they do so. It’s strange; without wine or the promise of sex, both deflate. She insists he always insults her and he blames her writing for misplacing her thoughts. After the narrator attempts to dig deeper, he says, “Don’t take anything I say too seriously, love, I’m just talking.” Then why did you say writing distracts me? What was all that about calling my book “some sort of HELL?” Did you mean anything you said? What do you stand for? “I’m just talking.” Afterwards, he sends her flowers.
With almost every industry finding a way to somehow integrate AI into its products or workflow, it was only a matter of time before gaming studios followed suit. Now, in a (not so) surprising move, Electronic Arts or EA, the studio behind juggernauts like FIFA and Battlefield, has joined forces with the creators of Stable Diffusion to shape AI’s role in the next era of gaming. The two companies aim to “co-develop transformative generative AI models, tools, and workflows that empower EA’s artists, designers, and developers to reimagine how games are made.”
Despite the ongoing pushback and debate surrounding the use of AI, it looks like companies are in no mood to slow down. From Google cramming AI-powered summaries into its search results to AI-powered wearables, companies have been doubling down on putting AI into everyday experiences. The latest to join that wave is EA, teaming up with Stability AI to rethink how games are made. This new partnership between the two will explore how generative tools can help streamline EA’s creative workflows and “open new doors for rapid prototyping and visual storytelling, allowing artists and developers to ideate, visualize, and refine gameplay experiences faster and at greater scale.”
Stability AI, best known for its Stable Diffusion text-to-image model, has already demonstrated how generative technology can help generate vivid, photorealistic art. The company also has an array of 3D models, like the Stable Fast 3D model, which can produce high-quality 3D assets from just one image. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the two companies are joining hands to make game development a bit easier. Stability AI and EA’s early efforts will focus on using AI to create accurate “Physically Based Rendering materials” via tools “that generate 2D textures that maintain exact colour and light accuracy across any environment.” Per the press release, “The partnership will also pursue developing AI systems capable of pre-visualizing entire 3D environments from a series of intentional prompts, allowing artists to creatively direct the generation of game content with unmatched speed and precision.”
While it remains unclear how much time this will truly save or how refined the AI-generated in-game assets will look in production, it is still a major step toward AI-assisted mainstream game development. “Creativity has always been at the heart of everything our teams do,” said Kallol Mitra, EA’s VP of Creative Innovation, during the announcement. “Together with Stability AI, we’re amplifying that creativity. Giving artists, designers, and developers the power to dream bigger and build more.”
Growing artist Laxmi Priya (Little Stone Mosaics) creates truly beautiful glass works using hand-cut stained glass mosaics. Her glass works demonstrate an unusually refined understanding of light and form – a sensitivity that marks her out as one of the most thoughtful voices in contemporary mosaic art. Her work includes flowers, animals, people and scenes inspired by memory creating contemporary interpretations with the minutest of details .
In creating her work, Priya uses a tactile and intuitive process that encourages her to be present and open to the creative flow. She finds inspiration in nature and sees her mosaics as a way of sharing a deeper connection with others – a connection that, in her practice, translates into luminous, deeply contemplative compositions. Her journey into mosaic art began in 2019, when stumbled upon an image of a vibrant floral mosaic. Captivated by the intricacy and vitality of the medium, she immersed herself in learning its techniques, guided by the generosity of fellow mosaic artists who shared their knowledge. Leaving behind her corporate career as an equity analyst, she embraced this artistic path, finding a profound sense of fulfillment in the quiet, meditative nature of mosaic work.
Priya begins each mosaic by studying how light reflects off the sheets of coloured glass, observing how every fragment changes tone at different times of the day. Her attention to this natural shift reveals an almost scientific curiosity about colour and perception.
She selects her palette based not only on hue but on the emotional temperature of the glass – the way cobalt can deepen into shadow or how amber seems to capture warmth within itself. This nuanced understanding of glass as both pigment and structure gives her mosaic an expressive depth rarely seen in small – scale works.
Once the composition is loosely sketched on the board, she begins cutting the glass by hand using a Glass Nipper, carefully shaping each shard until it finds its natural place within the design. For Priya, the process is both technical and meditative – an act of patience, precision, and devotion through scattered fragments are transformed into a living harmony of colour and luminosity. Her control of line and rhythm recalls classical mosaic traditions, yet her execution feels distinctly modern, freed from ornamental constraints.
The use of stained glass, and ceramics allows her to express herself in a way that is both personal and symbolic. She cuts the glass and places it into patterns that reflect her vision. For the intricate sections, Priya uses a pair of medical tweezers that belong to her mother’s home – a tool she found about a decade ago. This inherited instrument has become an extension of her hand, carrying with it a quiet sense of lineage and continuity. Each piece is fixed with a slow – setting adhesive that allows her to adjust and refine the rhythm of the arrangement.
Priya’s philosophy behind her art is based on the belief that all things are connected. Nature, emotion, memory and creativity are all linked together. When looking at her mosaics,one encounters not only imagery but sensation; the works seem to breathe with the emotions that shaped them.
Priya’s latest project is called Hope – The Living Underwater World (2025) , her largest and most ambitious to date. It measures 1200mm x 600mm and features a variety of marine creatures including koi fish, coral, water lilies and schools of fish designed entirely out of hand-cut glass pieces. The result is a composition that is not just decorative but conceptually intricate – an immersive vision that draws the viewer into an environment of layered light and symbolism.
A view of the complete framed work reveals a complexity reminiscent of large – scale environmental installations. The full composition runs vertically and simulates the density of a forest viewed under the surface of the water. Light scattering across the work animates the glass into a dynamic play of iridescent tones. The use of optical movement distinguishes Priya’s approach from many of her contemporaries; her work is less about representation than transformation – glass becoming emotion, reflection becoming memory.
The glass coral resembles flowers and stems appear like aquatic plants rising from the sea bottom. The light scattering on the surface of the work activates the iridescent glass into a dynamic flickering of colors. When viewed in person, the impact is quite immersive; you feel as if you are being drawn into the secret garden submerged in time.
Hope – The Living Underwater World, the title of the work, clearly defines its emotional foundation. Hope, for Priya, is not a great or general concept, but rather an organic process- a quiet endurance present in both nature and the creative process itself. The underwater world is metaphorically representative of resilience, interconnection and the unseen life that supports existence. Every fragment of glass represents a choice to notice, to honor, to continue on.
The thematic content of the work aligns perfectly with the ‘The Four Seasons’ exhibition Priya is participating from Sep to Nov 2025 by the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) and Pyramid Gallery in York as a tribute to Vivaldi’s concertos. Just as Vivaldi’s movements move through cycles of growth, decay and rebirth, Priya’s mosaic captures a visual rhythmic cycle of change. The koi fish symbolize travel and continuity; the corals and lily pads represent birth and blooming. The mosaic’s surface is alive with light, creating its own type of music- silent, but pulsating with internal rhythmic activity. Her underwater world becomes a metaphor for resilience and unseen endurance, themes that recur throughout her glass practice.
Priya’s use of color is a major factor in creating this symphonic quality. She does not just use stained glass as a coloring agent, but as a collaborator – an active participant in telling her stories. Since glass has a built-in translucent property, no color is ever static; all colors will change as the light changes and as the viewer’s position changes. With her underwater compositions, the blue tones darken into shadow while the green tones radiate light from their interior, creating the feeling of observing the sun’s rays rippling on the surface of a pond. This is a dynamic quality that turns the act of looking at the mosaic into a form of contemplation.
It is Priya’s refusal to divide material from meaning that makes her distinct from many contemporary mosaic artists. To Priya, the creative process is poetic. The repetitive act of cutting and placing each tile in her mosaic is analogous to the rhythmic breathing and thinking patterns she experiences. As Priya describes the process, “it was intuitive,” she felt directed by an inner pulse rather than any external design. This meditative quality imbues each piece of hers with presence; you can almost feel the time that has gone into each piece. Few artists working in the medium manage to balance such technical control with intuitive spontaneity.
This combination of precision and intuition also positions her practice within a larger continuum of mosaic art history. Historically, mosaics have been used in sacred and public spaces including Byzantine churches and mosques. However, in Priya’s hands, the medium becomes personal, home-based and distinctly contemporary. While her pieces are not monumental, they are intimate and are meant to be experienced in a home setting rather than a place to look upon. She chooses to use tile insulation backer boards and mesh as the base for her pieces; a practical and modern choice that highlights her independence from historical precedents.
Priya is a professional member of International Mosaic Organizations like the British Association for Modern Mosaic (BAMM), The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS), Contemporary Mosaic Art 2 (CMA2),and Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand (MAANZ) and also mosaic groups – Mosaic India and Mosaic Mentoring. These associations allow her to hone her skills as well as connect with other artists around the world. However, Priya’s voice is always unique and recognizable. At a time when digital perfection dominates over craftsmanship, Priya’s mosaics illustrate the importance of physical contact- the human, imperfect gesture that lends substance to light.
One of the most powerful aspects of Priya’s work is the emotionally realistic context of that work. The images come from the natural world, but they are not simply representational. The glass fish, the corals, the lilies in Hope – The Living Underwater World, become symbols of emotion: movement becomes longing, blossomings signify new beginnings, water signifies memory. The glass surface becomes a symbol of the thin wall which separates two realms from each other, the visible from the invisible, the conscious from the unconscious. Viewing the finished mosaic, full of the warm wood frame which contrasts with its glories of luminous iridescence, gives an impression that the mosaic is alive. The glass absorbs the light of the day, gives it out again to the space as a soft reflection on the adjacent walls. The space of the mosaic metamorphoses itself from that of an object to that of an environment. The spectator no longer finds himself out-side the picture, rather he becomes a part of it, immersed in its calm natural cycle of light and colour.
Ultimately, Hope – The Living Underwater World is more than a mosaic-it is a reflection on resilience. The beauty of this mosaic lies in both its composition and the time and devotion that went into creating it. Each fragment of glass bears the mark of human contact and the passage of time. Working together, these fragments create an image that shines with life, reminding us that hope, like light, is never static- it moves, breaks, and returns, quietly and constantly, through the things we chose to see.
Hope – The Living Underwater world glass mosaic is on display at Pyramid Gallery, 43 Stonegate, York from September to November 2025.
More of Priya’s glass works can be seen in her Facebook and Instagram page, named ‘Little Stone Mosaics’.
Political thrillers aren’t in danger of falling out of style anytime soon. The Diplomat is currently the third most-watched English show on Netflix, gathering 4.8 million views this week alone. With season 3 in the rearview mirror, fans are already asking for more.
Add in the fact that the explosive finale delivered a bunch of cliffhangers, and it’s natural to worry about whether you’ll find out what happens next. No need to fret, as we actually have excellent news.
The Diplomat Season 4 Release Date
Netflix has renewed the series for additional episodes, so The Diplomat season 4 is definitely happening.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun. We get to the end of a season, and I always think, Well, there’s no way that we can do this again. And then we dig back into it, and it’s like, Oh my God, we have to keep going,” series creator Debora Cahn teased when asked about season 4.
There’s no official premiere date just yet. Given that the production was set to begin this fall, however, we expect new episodes to arrive sometime in late 2025.
The Diplomat Cast
Keri Russell as Kate Wyler
Rufus Sewell as Hal Wyler
David Gyasi as Austin Dennison
Ali Ahn as Eidra Park
Rory Kinnear as Nicol Trowbridge
Ato Essandoh as Stuart Hayford
Allison Janney as Grace Hagen Penn
Bradley Whitford as Todd Penn
What Could Happen in The Diplomat Season 4?
The Diplomat revolves around Kate Wyler, a veteran US diplomat appointed Ambassador to the United Kingdom. We follow her as she navigates high-stakes international crises and public scrutiny. All the while, she’s also grappling with her personal life, including her marriage to fellow career diplomat Hal.
The show blends global politics with intimate dramas, which makes it particularly addictive. The narrative also evolves with each season and sees Kate deal with increasingly complicated issues, which is part of the fun.
Season 3 significantly raises the stakes, both personally and geopolitically. By the time the end credits roll, the riveting finale hints that The Diplomat season 4 might tackle a global political fallout. Needless to say, you’ll want to tune in for that.
Are There Other Shows Like The Diplomat?
If you enjoy The Diplomat, we can almost guarantee that you will like The West Wing and Madam Secretary, since the shows boast similar themes.
Netflix has an unexpected hit on its hands. Boots, which debuted with little fanfare in early October, has gathered mostly positive reviews from critics. Not only that, but it’s currently the second most-watched English show on the platform, with 9.4 million views this week alone.
The dramedy also doubled its audience in the second week available, proving that good word-of-mouth is still effective. That said, will it return for more?
Boots Season 2 Release Date
At the time of writing, Netflix hasn’t officially renewed Boots for more episodes. That doesn’t necessarily mean that bad news is on the horizon.
The streaming service sometimes waits a bit before making an announcement either way, and viewership numbers are solid. Moreover, star Miles Heizer has already expressed the desire to reprise the role.
“There are a lot of stories to tell, from more of Greg’s different experiences in the Marines to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to when it was repealed,” Heizer told Variety. “I would do it for 10 seasons if they let us.”
We hope he gets to see his wish come true. As long as Netflix gives the green light, Boots season 2 could hit streaming sometime in late 2026.
Boots Cast
Miles Heizer as Cameron Cope
Max Parker as Sergeant Liam Robert Sullivan
Vera Farmiga as Barbara Cope
Liam Oh as Ray McAffey
Cedrick Cooper as Staff Sergeant Marcus McKinnon
Ana Ayora as Captain Denise Fajardo
Angus O’Brien as Thaddeus Beau Sterling Hicks
Dominic Goodman as Isaiah Nash
Kieron Moore as Nicholas Slovacek
What Could Happen in Boots Season 2?
Set in the 1990s, Boots follows Cameron, a directionless teen who impulsively enlists in the United States Marine Corps. Alongside his best friend Ray, he enters boot camp seeking to escape his chaotic life.
As the two navigate the physical and mental trials of training, Cameron is also grappling with his identity as a closeted gay man. All this at a time when being openly gay in the military was banned.
The show is loosely based on the memoir The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White, so it offers authentic insights into the experience of a gay Marine recruit. However, it focuses not just on physical toughness but on emotional survival and identity, which makes it refreshing.
The first season ends with the recruits undergoing a difficult final test in boot camp. Then, the newly minted Marines watch on TV as the president announces the start of a war.
Boots season 2 could pick up in the aftermath of graduation, following Cameron and his fellow Marines as they prepare for deployment. We’re definitely curious about what might happen next.
Are There Other Shows Like Boots?
If you liked Boots, you might also enjoy shows with similar themes like Band of Brothers, Enlisted, or SEAL Team.
People can’t resist a good story, especially when it’s based on true events. Case in point: No One Saw Us Leave, currently the #1 show in 20 countries where Netflix is available.
The Mexican drama is also the most-watched non-English series globally, with 8 million views this week. Does that mean we can expect more episodes? Here’s what we know so far.
No One Saw Us Leave Season 2 Release Date
At the time of writing, Netflix hasn’t officially renewed No One Saw Us Leave for more episodes. Additionally, it describes it as a limited series, given that it tells a pretty self-contained story. In other words, this is probably all we get.
But while No One Saw Us Leave season 2 is unlikely, the series offers closure, so you don’t have to worry about unresolved cliffhangers. At least there’s that.
No One Saw Us Leave Cast
Tessa Ia as Valeria
Emiliano Zurita as Leo
Natasha Dupeyrón as Gabriela
Gustavo Bassani as Carlos
Juan Manuel Bernal as Samuel
Flavio Medina as Moishe
Alexander Varela Pavlov as Isaac
Caro Darman as Sara
What Is No One Saw Us Leave About?
How far would a mother go to reclaim her children? That’s the question at the heart of No One Saw Us Leave, a poignant and captivating drama/thriller that will stay with you for a long time.
Set in the ‘60s, the series follows Valeria, a young wife and mother trapped in an arranged marriage to Leo, the son of a powerful businessman. When Leo takes their two young children abroad behind her back, Valeria is left devastated. The distance, however, won’t stop her from getting her kids back.
Determined to reach her family, Valeria enlists the help of a former Mossad agent. Together, they embark on a perilous journey across Europe, tracking Leo while also contending with the challenges posed by Valeria’s in-laws.
The series is based on the real-life experiences of Tamara Trottner, one of Valeria’s children. She and her brother were taken across various countries, while their mother tirelessly searched for them. If you’re eager for more details, Trottner’s memoir, Nadie nos vio partir, provides a first-hand account of the ordeal.
By the time the five episodes wrap up, viewers learn whether or not Valeria’s efforts pay off. We won’t spoil the ending, but there’s a sense of finality. That makes No One Saw Us Leave season 2 a long shot.
Are There Other Shows Like No One Saw Us Leave?
If you enjoyed No One Saw Us Leave, you might like The Stolen Girl, which also revolves around a missing child.
