Culture
How working with homeless people gave Kazuo Ishiguro an education in human nature
A crash course in compassion — Before he was a Booker Prize-winning author, Kazuo Ishiguro was a social worker in a London homeless shelter. He tells how a tough job taught him about the extremes of human nature and helped shape him as a writer.
Written by: D'Arcy Doran
Yasiin Bey, aka Mos Def, announces retirement in freestyle rap message
"No more parties in S.A." — The artist formerly known as Mos Def rounds off a week of bad headlines by releasing an audio message on Kanye West's official site where he announces his apparent retirement. Also plugs Swish.
Written by: Adam White
Video: The man who brought the internet to remote Nepal
Connecting the world, DIY-style — Hiking for Emails tells the story of Mahabir Pun, a Nepalese man who for six years trekked a two-day hike to the nearest village in order to check his emails. Realising there must be a simpler way to access the Internet, Mahabir began an incredible quest to bring the web to his remote community.
Written by: Adam White
Annie Leibovitz's 'Women' project is an almost-perfect study of humankind in 2016
Era-defining photography — The most recent project from masterful American photographer Annie Leibovitz is an incredible time capsule of contemporary society.
Written by: Shelley Jones
Radical counterculture and the artist you haven't heard of
"When words fail, use your teeth!" — Two new London exhibits showcase the work of British counterculture pioneer Jeff Keen, whose experimental short films meshed animation, culture, poetry and noise.
Written by: Adam White
In Pictures: Old school Mexican crime photographs from the archive of Stefan Ruiz
Why the history of photography matters when we look at pictures of criminals — Huck interviews Stefan Ruiz, the photographer behind a new book on Mexican crime photography, to talk about El Chapo, the celebrity cult, fashion, and fantasy.
Written by: Joshua Gabert-Doyon
The self-made Londoner helping working-class creatives realise their dreams
Bright Nails, Big City — With WAH Nails, Sharmadean Reid created much more than just a nail company. It's a creative hub where driven young women have the opportunity to realise their dreams.
Written by: Shelley Jones
Video: Pre-teen dance troupe perform pro-Trump jingle at Florida rally
Satirical gold — With choreography supplied by everyone's embarrassing mother, kid performers USA Freedom Kids sing and dance their own Donald Trump theme song at a Republican rally. Few could doubt their commitment to Sparkle Motion.
Written by: Adam White
The genius documentary filmmakers to watch out for in 2016
Winners of the MacArthur Foundation Documentary Film Grant — The Chicago-based foundation has funded 19 documentary films, with a particular focus on creative approaches to social and environmental issues. Huck looks at the sharp and energetic films that made this year's cut.
Written by: Josh Gabert-Doyon
In Pictures: The hidden communities of remote Vietnam
The cultures left out of the travel brochures — After quitting his job and settling in Vietnam, the photographer Réhahn set about documenting the nation's 56 different ethnic groups. Four years later, his resulting work has formed a striking new photo book.
Written by: Adam White
