Certain tracks, such as Cry Wolf, could form a fitting soundtrack to a grand and intense piece of performance art.

Challenging the notion that Oceanic art consists essentially of masks and sculptures, this book exposes how the peoples of Oceania created an incredible range of art forms and great art traditions.

In A Simple Life, the aloof movie producer Roger treats his live-in servant Ah Tao with dismissiveness, until illness upsets the balance of their shared existence.

Yes To A Rosy Future is a collection of unsettling photographs that cast new light on the conflict in Syria. Nicolas Righetti arrived in Damascus when preparations for the Syrian election were under way.

Light from the Middle East: New Photography is an intriguing show currently on display at the V&A. Curated by Marta Weiss it showcases 30 artists from 13 Middle Eastern countries.

Valentino the man and Valentino the fashion brand are inseparable. In recognition of this Somerset House presents Valentino: Master of Couture, a celebration of the designer’s life and work.

Jo Longhurst’s exhibition Other Spaces at Ffotogallery looks at the concept of perfection and the social, physical and psychological undertones of a culturally bound and highly codified performance.

Bloomberg New Contemporaries opened this week at the ICA for the third year running. Independent of place and democratic to the core, New Contemporaries is open to all.

Taking place across London at Riverside Studios, Ciné lumière, and Prince Charles Cinema, Nordic Film Festival aims to celebrate the best in regional filmmaking, both past and present.

In his first large-scale solo exhibition in Britain, Ivan Seal presents a collection of paintings exploring his take on the still life genre. On view as part of In Here Stands It, until 9 December in Bristol.

The world is always in need of a good story, and one of the most popular ways to digest stories is via film. In acknowledgement of this, ÉCU searches to uncover talented story tellers.

Later this month, an all-female version of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar opens at London’s Donmar Warehouse, under the direction of the acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!).

An artist on the fringe, Edvard Munch’s life experiences as well as natural setting, contribute to the manifestation of art work that explores themes of emotional turbulence and anguished silence.

Following on from a Tracey Emin solo show that tore in two the views of locals and critics alike, Alex Katz’s exhibition, Give Me Tomorrow, has a lot (or little, depending) to live up to.

Produced by performance group, Forced Entertainment, artistic director, Tim Etchells, speaks to Aesthetica about his approach to theatre and his soon to be released book, Vacuum Days.

Considered a protagonist of Arte Povera, an art movement that emerged in Italy during the 1960s, Jannis Kounellis embarked on his career by creating some of the most radical art works of the time.

In his new show at Lisson, Lawrence Weiner focuses on the concept of truncation, a mathematical term referring to the discarding of unnecessary digits, as an inherent meaning and material reality.

Mannequins and prosthetics provide a new way for us to view the human body. The Vivisector investigates this idea through two bodies of work by Cindy Sherman; Sex Pictures and Broken Dolls.

Cutting edge work will be available to both view and purchase tomorrow as The Other Art Fair opens it’s second exhibition this year, following the success of it’s earlier May edition. From 22 November.

When the printing press was invented in the 15th century by Johannes Gutenberg, it was a scandal. The source of the scandal was the replacement of hand-made works with thoughtless reproductions.

Throwing out the provocative question of, “when is your best friend not your best friend?”, Straight is a play that deals with the intriguing topic of friendship and age. From 28 November until 22 December.

Abstract Possible revisits a quintessential 20th century movement that was also to produce the backbone to many more subsequent movements, but has since taken intriguing routes in the 21st century.

It’s been just over a week since ASFF closed, hosting its annual Closing Night and Awards Ceremony at which The Sugar Bowl took Best of Fest and Hollow scooped up the People’s Choice award.

100 artists including Jeremy Deller and Roger Hiorns have taken it upon themselves to redesign an iconic image in the newly published The Roundel: 100 Artists remake a London Icon.

Inside Chanel, is a retrospective website that is dedicated to rediscovering the history of Chanel. Featuring a timeline of Chanel’s development, the site’s latest release is a glamorous short film.

Recently releasing Botanica, a book of stunning photography by Sander Meisner, editor Éanna de Fréine talks to Aesthetica about the ideas and collaborations behind Meisner’s latest works.

Blank You Very Much is a platform for designers to take iconic brands and redesign them. The concept of “blank” is the space where designers are able to make their mark on an established brand.

This year’s Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize has been awarded to Jordi Ruiz Cirera. The winning photograph captures a Bolivian woman who was clearly reluctant to sit for the camera.

Turner Contemporary Gallery, Margate, from the 6 October 2012 to the 13 January 2013, will be home to an exhibition of works by acclaimed American painter Alex Katz. From 6 October – 13 January.

Taking 200 short films from over 25 different countries, the ASFF is set to launch tomorrow. Aesthetica speaks to the directors and writers of The Sugar Bowl, Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson.

Opening on the 14 November at Robin Rice Gallery, Cig Harvey will be launching her exhibition, You Look at me Like an Emergency, based around her best selling photographic book of the same name.

ASFF opens in just three days. The City of York will be alight with 200 short films across 15 different venues. Aesthetica has a quick fire interview with Anya Camilleri, director of ASFF thriller, Perfect.

Located up several flights of carpeted steps in a Dean Street townhouse is Southard Reid. A single room facing out towards the plush bars and restaurants that now populate the heart of Soho.

Arriving at Sadler’s Wells for the first time, Geneva based dance group Alias performs Sideways Rain. Directed and choreographed by Guilherme Botelho, Alias have produced more than 20 works.

Myles McLeod of winning animation company, The Brothers McLeod will be leading a masterclass on how to create an animated world and explore the process of shaping characters.

Artist and designer Stuart Semple has utilised his artistic eye to create a cardigan, in collaboration with Aubin & Wills. Semple’s project has history and thought sewn into each seam of the item.

Sharon Lockhart engages the legacy of Noa Eshkol, the Israeli dance composer and artist who created an innovative notation system that describes virtually every perceptible movement of the body.

It is now exactly a week until the Aesthetica Short Film Festival opens at City Screen in York. Aesthetica speaks to film director Nicholas Paton about drama, photography and his future plans.

Karl Largerfeld is a strange icon. He appears, complete with his metal-adorned knuckles, his silvery hair combed neatly like a fashion-conscious, aristocratic angel from a bizarre monochrome future.

The winner of this year’s prestigious Film London Jarman Award is to be announced on 5 November. Launched in 2008, the award supports and applauds artists working with moving image.

ASFF opens in just over a week. As the festival is the brainchild of our fabulous editor, Cherie, we’re extremely proud of how many great female filmmakers will be screening at the festival.

The Wapping Project Bankside’s latest show features artist Nelli Palomäki’s series Sons of Nakhimov for the first time in the UK, following recent exhibitions at Les Rencontres d’Arles and Kulturhuset.

There are still tickets available for ASFF, and out of the 200 short films lined up to be screened across the City of York, Screening 13 is set to be on the more experimental side of the Drama genre.

Hollywood Costume explores the central role costume design plays in cinema storytelling. In collaboration with the BFI, the collection brings together over 500 iconic movie costumes.

Arte Povera, formed in Italy with famous artists such as Alighiero Boetti, Jannis Kounellis, Mario Merz and Michelangelo Pistoletto. It is characterised by the use of simple means and ‘poorer’ materials.

It’s just 10 days to go until ASFF opens. The City of York is gearing up to present a celebration of short film and the genius filmmakers behind them. The four day festival is one of a kind within the UK.

Running for the next three days until 29 October, Toronto will be submerged in art as it opens it’s premiere art fair. Art Toronto is Canada’s only contemporary and modern international art fair.

Featuring in ASFF 2012, Mark Davenport’s Photoshopping is a film about fame, obession and cynicism. From 9 – 11 November Photoshopping will be screened with 22 other comedies at 1331.

The Smalls, a short film community that supports and advocates independent filmmaking, and filmmaker, Ben Charles Edwards have teamed up to collaborate on a short film starring Sadie Frost.

William Klein, an American who has spent most of his life in Paris, can be compared to the Lost Generation expatriate artists and writers such as Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Man Ray.