In this week’s Our Take… a cheeky landing strip appears near Luton Airport, a war game emerges from real war, Transa is the new album breaking sound barriers, and an Art Rate Monitor is turning art appreciation into a personal, heart-pumping experience.
Landing Strips and Lasers
Laser Clinics UK is raising the bar—and the grooming stakes—with an installation that’s truly “above and beyond.” Unveiled beneath one of London’s busiest flight paths, “Crotch Circles” is an art installation cut into the fields, and featuring giant diagrams of the nation’s favourite bikini line styles: the Brazilian (aka the Landing Strip), the Hollywood, and the Bikini. It’s a fun, bold tribute to today’s diverse grooming trends, sparking conversations about how body confidence and personal choice are shaping beauty routines.
The art coincides with new research from Laser Clinics Canada, which surveyed 2,000 women across the country. The results revealed 32% of women are going for the full Hollywood—complete hair removal—while 10% are choosing the Brazilian style, leaving a perfectly trimmed “landing strip” or triangle. Meanwhile, 9% are keeping it classic with a tidy Bikini line. Whether you’re all about the Hollywood smoothness, trimming it down with the Brazilian, or just tidying up with the Bikini line, Laser Clinics has you covered—because when it comes to grooming, it’s your choice, and your body, and you deserve to feel fabulous.
WAR GAMES
When you think of badass game companies, few can rival GSC Game World, the Ukrainian game developer company behind ‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Heart of Chornobyl’. Not even the invasion of their country could stop them from finishing one of the most anticipated games of the year.
In just 48 hours after its launch, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 sold over 1 million copies, with critics praising its story and immersive world. However, this game isn’t just an amazing post-apocalyptic story set in the irradiated Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. It’s a reflection of the studio’s – and Ukraine’s – real life battle for survival.
While GSC had to relocate part of its team to Prague, most of its team members stayed in Ukraine, balancing game development with volunteering in the army or assisting in medical aid. And tragically one of their lead designers, Volodymyr Yezhov, lost his life in combat. Despite everything, GSC delivered a game that isn’t just a technical achievement, it’s a symbol of resilience, creativity, and passion.
The Sounds of Resilience
What happens when over 100 artists, including legends like Sade and André 3000, come together to celebrate trans and gender-diverse voices? You get Transa, a groundbreaking 46-track album that’s as much a cultural movement as it is a musical masterpiece.
This isn’t just a playlist—it’s a bold statement. Take Sade’s poignant contribution, “Young Lion,” inspired by her trans son, or the way the album fuses artistry with activism. It’s a deeply emotional, boundary-pushing collection that demands to be felt as much as heard.
Transa is the latest release by Red Hot, whose brilliant and inspiring ‘music meets activism’ projects date back to the glorious ‘Red Hot and Blue’ in 1990, which was a response to homophobia and the AIDS epidemic. Today, in a climate where anti-trans rhetoric is on the rise, this album isn’t just resistance—it’s a renaissance. Each track asserts that marginalised voices have a rightful place at the centre of culture, reshaping narratives one beat at a time.
“The power of Transa lies in its ability to connect us all through shared human emotion,” says one contributor. With its diverse mix of established legends and emerging talent, Transa proves that representation isn’t just a checkbox—it’s an evolution.
Whether you’re here for the music, the message, or both, Transa promises to leave you changed—bold, beautiful, and unapologetically human.
Raising your art-rate
Think art galleries are just for joyless, highbrow intellectuals? Think again. The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is turning that notion on its head with the Art Rate Monitor, making every visit personal, emotional, and a little bit fun.
Part of the AGO’s new Gallery of Us platform, the Art Rate Monitor blends technology and art to prove that everyone connects with art differently. Visitors wear heart rate monitors that tracks their reactions as they explore the gallery. At the end of their visit, they receive a personalised breakdown of their emotional journey—complete with a unique “art persona” and tailored exhibition recommendations.
The personas, like “The Powerhouse” (for those drawn to bold, sculptural pieces), reflect individual values, interests, and even colour palette preferences. Inspired by art’s power to move us, the experience shows that connecting with art doesn’t require a background in art history—just a heartbeat.
“The Art Rate Monitor brings a much-needed sense of playfulness to galleries,” says Kimber Slater, Director of Brand Marketing at the AGO. “It’s about showing how deeply personal—and fun—a gallery visit can be.”
Whether you’re a seasoned art lover or a first-time visitor, this free experience will leave you inspired.