Meer | English edition

Friday, July 10, 2026

Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the young United States faced the enormous task of building a safe and prosperous nation

Standing along rugged coastlines, rocky shores, and busy harbors, these towering beacons have protected generations of sailors while symbolizing hope, perseverance, and freedom

Like a lighthouse, an enduring light reaches across dark waters; the principles of liberty, opportunity, and unity continue to illuminate the American journey

Their lights represent guidance during uncertainty, much as the nation’s founding principles continue to guide future generations

Their responsibilities included cleaning the lens, trimming lamp wicks, polishing brass fixtures, monitoring weather conditions, and ensuring the light remained operational every night.

Architecture & Design

Lighthouses to guide the way

The making of lighthouses and their Fourth of July significance

The Nukus Museum of Art, officially known as the State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan named after I. V. Savitsky, Uzbekistan

The Savitsky State Museum of Art

Art, resistance, and cultural memory in the heart of the desert

Geisel Library is the main library at the University of California, San Diego. Designed by William Pereira, it opened in 1970 as the Central Library. After a renovation in 1993, it was rededicated as the University Library Building, and in 1995 it was renamed Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, the latter better known as the children’s author Dr. Seuss

Architecture & Design

Brutalist university buildings

When monumental architecture feels like a prison

The statue of Peter the Great framed by fireworks, representing the imperial legacy that continues to influence Russian leadership

Economy & Politics

Putin, in the shadow of Peter the Great

How centuries of Russian history continue to shape Vladimir Putin's geopolitical vision

On the Street

Different angles can create different perceptions

Depends on the angle

Understanding the viewpoint

Balina and Feza

Balina and Feza Riff at Babylon

Like a good beer at the old factory

Icelandic sheep

A deep Icelandic tradition

A man sits in quiet reflection, watching a public figure on screen—capturing the contrast between introspective thought and the spectacle of modern genius

Pop genius Musk, Nolan, Kojima: a recipe for fame

How we mistake loudness for brilliance and reverence for relevance

The Al-Nassr fans fill the King Fahd Stadium in Saudi Arabia, creating an electric atmosphere with their passionate support

The rise of football in Saudi Arabia

How Saudi Arabia is transforming its football landscape

La Boquerìa, food market in Barcelona

A journey from turrón to jamón

Architecture & Design

The world of one of America’s most prominent Gilded Age families is open to the viewing public at these homes

The grand Vanderbilt houses you can still visit today

From the Berkshires to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Vanderbilt legacy lives on through elaborate estates you can still visit today

A parametric architectural space where complex geometry shapes both form and experience

Parametric design and the question of function

Rethinking the balance between algorithmic aesthetics and human-centered performance in contemporary design

Art

The bottom tier depicts gods seated on their respective vahanas, while the upper tier features a band of musicians playing instruments, Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, India

The ceiling murals of Virupaksha Temple

How myth, kingship, and devotion were immortalized in Hampi’s 16th-century temple art

Sustainability Award for my final exhibition, photo by Denisa Ilie, featuring indigo-dyed, upcycled textile collections alongside Jade Guiraud’s guidebook Footprints in the Fells and Louise Keddy’s steel structures

The contemporary art market as oligopoly

Concentration, gatekeeping, and institutional power leave most artists subsidizing a system that rewards only a select few

Culture

In the forge of human imagination, metal waits patiently to speak—caught between ancient myth and modern reason

Golden maidens and silicon dreams

How humanity’s oldest myths continue to shape our understanding of artificial intelligence

Devotees releasing glowing plates of offerings into the Ganges at night, reflecting a timeless act of faith and reverence

India’s timeless spiritual journey

A look at ashrams, sacred sites, and soulful traditions

Economy & Politics

A high-tech visualization of global transportation flows, representing the interconnected nature of modern economies

Global conflicts and the strain on markets

Looking at how geopolitical crises are fuelling inflation and threatening global recovery

A scholar standing in a library overlooking the city, highlighting the bridge between human wisdom and technological transformation

The digital revolution’s next challenge

How digital technology, public knowledge, and democratic institutions can be redirected toward social and environmental well-being

Entertainment

Frieren from Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End drifting peacefully through still waters, symbolising the melancholic beauty that defines contemporary fantasy anime

Why 2026 could redefine anime forever

How reboots, long-awaited sequels and risky new adaptations are colliding to create one of anime’s most exciting years ever

The Pitt is an American medical drama created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by John Wells and Noah Wyle, reuniting the creative team behind ER

The best shows of early 2026

From animated heartbreak to hospital drama, these five series define the year so far

Fashion

Glenn Martens is a Belgian fashion designer who began his career as a junior designer at Jean Paul Gaultier, working on the women’s pre-collection and the menswear line G2

Diesel and the aesthetics of ruin

How shredded denim, industrial decay, and Glenn Martens redefine success, identity, and beauty in a post industrial fashion landscape

An Allegory of the Tudor Succession: The Family of Henry VIII

Power, spectacle, and the Tudor silhouette

How the theatrical fashion of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I continues to shape modern ideas of authority, excess, and visual dominance

Feature

A father and son sit across from each other in silence, their tension shaped by control, performance, and the unseen weight of being watched

Puppets without strings

In a world without scripts, the truth becomes the most dangerous act

Hands joined around a fresh coconut under sunlit palms, symbolising loyalty that survived time and separation

A story of how a Vietnamese refugee and a Filipino coconut seller find connection and hope in the unlikeliest of places

Food & Wine

Bariva wrapped in banana leaves, a cherished symbol of identity and heritage in Papua New Guinea's Rigo district, embodying centuries of tradition and community pride

Bariva: traditional dish of Papua New Guinea's Rigo district

Explore the heritage and preparation of Bariva, a symbol of unity and culinary artistry

Tongba is a millet-based alcoholic beverage found in the eastern mountainous region of Nepal

Tongba is not a drink

On warmth, patience, and the quiet ritual of fermented millet in the Himalayan cold

Science & Technology

An adult gently supports a sore knee, illustrating the everyday reality of joint strain and the growing interest in glucosamine for long-term joint support

The knees know: glucosamine explained

A practical and lightly humorous look at how this widely used supplement supports cartilage, mobility, and long-term knee comfort

White-breasted Waterhens preparing to fight (c) Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne

Morning voices at Diyasaru

An immersive journey through the layered calls and hidden lives of a tropical wetland

Sport

A clear view of AT&T Stadium, representing the benchmark for fan experience among 2026 FIFA World Cup venues

Top 10 World Cup venues for fan experience

Review-based rankings reveal which stadiums delight supporters and which face criticism

A young footballer silhouetted against the evening sky with a ball at their feet, representing dreams that reach far beyond the horizon

A 12-year-old's road to the World Cup

Your roadmap from wherever you are right now to the Saudi Arabia 2034 Football World Cup

Travel

A colorful sign stands prominently in front of the historic Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, showcasing the picturesque town that captivates visitors with its riotously colorful streets and rich history

Not your average pitstop: Valladolid, Mexico

Hidden depths and ancient wonders in the heart of Yucatan

Desroches Island, also known as Île Desroches, is the principal island of the Amirante group within the Outer Islands of Seychelles. Located approximately 227 kilometres southwest of the capital, Victoria, the coral island stretches about 5.5 kilometres in length and covers an area of roughly 4.027 square kilometres

Desroches Island and the architecture of remoteness

Isolation, repetition, and controlled paradise in the outer reaches of the Seychelles

Wellness

A man holding his head visibly stressed and panicked, representing the power of fear and the influence it has on people

Breaking free from fear

How fear limits potential and how courage can lead to personal freedom

Cooking together, these young chefs are discovering the joy of healthy eating one colorful ingredient at a time

Modern lifestyles and health: breaking harmful habits

Discover essential tips for a healthier life amidst busy schedules

Discover our authors

Valentina Rufus

Valentina Rufus

Emanuela Borgatta Dunnett

Emanuela Borgatta Dunnett

Jonathon Porritt

Jonathon Porritt

Kate Santos

Linda Etuk

Young Voices

Fernando Ayala

Alberto Carrer

Gilby Santos

Remy Blumenfeld

Remy Blumenfeld

Explore the Calendar

Worldwide Kobarid Madrid Québec Montreal Vilnius Bloomington St Petersburg Seoul Chicago Cambridge Singapore Lausanne Copenhagen Paris Rome Málaga Prague Honolulu Hong Kong Curitiba Ottawa Santiago

Ailsa Wong, The tides of night (detail). Courtesy of Sin Sin Fine Art

10 Jul — 12 Sep 2026 at the Sin Sin Fine Art in Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Anna Maria Tsakali, Eden (detail), 2025. Courtesy of Kalfayan Galleries

From chaos to cosmos

10 Jul — 23 Aug 2026 at the Cultural Foundation of Tinos in Tinos, Greece

Stuart Elliott, Mauve dump D (detail), 2025. Courtesy of Art Collective WA

11 Jul — 8 Aug 2026 at the Art Collective WA in Perth, Australia

Rachel Coad, Super eighteen (detail), 2026. Courtesy of Art Collective WA

Rachel Coad. Time

11 Jul — 8 Aug 2026 at the Art Collective WA in Perth, Australia

Laura Caetano, altarpiece (Santa Lúcia e São Sebastião), 2026. Courtesy of Balcony Contemporary Art Gallery

11 Jul — 19 Sep 2026 at the Balcony Contemporary Art Gallery in Lisbon, Portugal

Printer: Brüder Kohn, designer: Martha Alber, New year greeting (detail), c. 1910–11. Courtesy of the Jewish Museum

Modernity and opulence: women of the Wiener Werkstätte

17 Jul — 15 Nov 2026 at The Jewish Museum in New York, United States

Raymundo Munoz, Intersections (detail). Courtesy of Bitfactory Galler

Flipping scripts 2: an exhibition of Colorado curators

17 Jul — 8 Aug 2026 at the Bitfactory Gallery in Denver, United States

Lambda members and allies perform a skit based on
the popular TV quiz show, Hollywood Squares, at the
2002 Lambda Network at Kodak's Annual Education
Event with Management (detail). Courtesy of George Eastman Museum

Picturing equality: the Lambda Network at Kodak

27 Jul — 8 Nov 2026 at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, United States

Farah Billah, The table, with friends (detail), 2026. Courtesy of Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Louisiana contemporary

1 Aug 2026 — 14 Feb 2027 at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans, United States

Billy Schenck, Gratuitous violence (detail). Courtesy of JoAnne Artman Gallery

Technicolor west

1 Sep — 31 Oct 2026 at the JoAnne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach, United States

Ellen Bradshaw, Spring fever, 10th Ave and 25th Sta (detail). Courtesy of Pleiades Gallery

Every street has a story

8 Sep — 3 Oct 2026 at the Pleiades Gallery in New York, United States

Trompe-l’oeil knowledge, Korea (18th-20th century), exhibition view. Courtesy of Musée Guimet

Trompe-l’oeil knowledge, Korea (18th-20th century)

16 Sep 2026 — 4 Jan 2027 at the Musée Guimet in Paris, France

Keerthana Kunnath, Not what you saw. Courtesy of Foam

Not what you saw

18 Sep — 27 Nov 2026 at the Foam in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Relic of the so-called staff of Moses, mediterranean region. Courtesy of the Jewish Museum

Sacred splendor

18 Sep 2026 — 7 Feb 2027 at The Jewish Museum in New York, United States

Franz Gertsch, Patti Smith I (detail), 1978. Courtesy of Museum Franz Gertsch

Franz Gertsch. Blow-up (Part II)

19 Sep 2026 — 28 Feb 2027 at the Museum Franz Gertsch in Burgdorf, Switzerland

Lucas Blalock, Film-object (Mouth) (detail), 2025, from
Tête-à-tête-à-tête-à-tête-à-tête. Courtesy of the artist and George Eastman Museum

2 Oct 2026 — 11 Apr 2027 at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester, United States

Swab’s 2025 edition, exhibition view. Courtesy of Swab

Swab’s 19th edition

8 — 11 Oct 2026 at Swab in Barcelona, Spain

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