Drift and Drone Stories are completing some of the world’s most well-known buildings.
From Barcelona’s incomplete Sagrada Familia cathedral to the ruins of Rome’s Colosseum, perfectly choreographed, light-equipped drones have come together to restore the fully realized vision of lauded structures worldwide. These momentary architectural developments come courtesy of a collaboration between Amsterdam-based duo Drift and the light-show platform Drone Stories (a sister brand to the design studio). Both floating tribute and immersive artistic experience, the collaboration uses architectural data to offer a brief glimpse into the past, the future, or the unrealized.
Francesca Bellettini will replace Stefano Cantino as CEO of Gucci.
Francesca Bellettini has been appointed president and CEO of Gucci, succeeding Stefano Cantino after his brief tenure at the brand. The move comes as Kering’s new chief executive Luca de Meo restructures the group’s leadership, eliminating the co-deputy CEO model to streamline decision-making. Bellettini, who transformed Saint Laurent into a multibillion-euro business, has past experience at Gucci and has been involved in onboarding new creative director Demna. Her appointment underscores Kering’s urgent push to revive Gucci, which has faced steep sales declines over the past two years.
After 77 years, scientists have identified the elusive turquoise paint in this Jackson Pollock painting.
Researchers have identified the turquoise pigment in Jackson Pollock’s Number 1A, 1948 as manganese blue, solving a 77-year-old mystery about the source of its striking color. Using laser-based analysis, they examined paint scrapings to determine the pigment’s unique chemical signature. Manganese blue, once commonly used by artists, had been phased out by the 1990s due to environmental concerns. The discovery not only confirms Pollock’s use of this synthetic pigment but also provides insights into the chemical properties behind the painting’s vivid hue.
The U.S. and China have reached an agreement to keep TikTok accessible in the U.S.
The U.S. and China have agreed on a deal that will allow TikTok to remain accessible in the United States. Under the arrangement, TikTok’s American assets will shift to a U.S.-controlled entity, while ByteDance will retain a 19.9 percent stake. The new company will have a board dominated by American members, with one seat appointed by the U.S. government, and Oracle will continue to handle TikTok’s cloud services. The agreement, expected to close within 30 to 45 days, aims to balance U.S. national security concerns with China’s interests while keeping the app available to its 170 million American users.
Russia has sentenced five Pussy Riot members to prison—in absentia.
A Moscow court has sentenced five Pussy Riot members—Maria Alekhina, Olga Borisova, Diana Burkot, Alina Petrova, and Taso Pletner—to prison terms ranging from eight to thirteen years. The charges stem from a 2022 antiwar video referencing Mariupol and the group’s earlier protests against Vladimir Putin. Burkot denounced the ruling, contrasting the severe punishment of activists with lighter sentences for violent offenders in Russia. The convictions come as international monitors continue to document mass civilian deaths and cultural losses tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Today’s attractive distractions:
There’s basically an Aesop store on every corner—and that’s the point.
Sabrina Carpenter, Karol G, and Justin Bieber are headlining next Coachella.
This artist is also a collector—of wood-carved duck decoys.
For its Paris edition, Art Basel is deepening its fashion ties.
