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China’s first aquatic biennial exhibition with the art of light as its medium cohosted by China Academy of Art opens

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HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The opening ceremony of the second Illuminate the World: Qiandao Lake International Biennale of Light Art and Qiandao Lake Tunnel Art Museum took place at Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang Province, China on September 21, 2024. The event marks another collaboration between China Academy of Art (CAA) and Qiandao Lake, Chun’an County that resulted in their second rendition of China’s first aquatic biennial exhibition with the art of light as its medium.

The theme of the biennial exhibition is “How Is Light?” It reflects how the exhibition takes into account the forms of light in the evolution of industrial technology, foundation of civilization and innovation through the ages and a call to expand our understanding of light beyond the constraints of existing forms, into greater imaginative spaces with greater possibilities. Thus, the focus of the exhibition leans towards artworks that explore technology, interaction and ecosystems.

The second Qiandao Lake International Biennale of Light Art adopted a selection process that combined open submissions and special invitations. Over 200 submissions from eight countries were received and reviewed by an expert panel before the final submissions were selected. The selected artworks will be showcased at Yueguang Island, Qiandao Lake in two phases alongside those from the first biennale in a multilayered approach that will enrich Qiandao Lake’s artistic ecosystem. This approach highlights the biennale’s core objectives of promoting local economy through art and cultural tourism while paving the way for green and ecological development. Cross-disciplinary creators such as renowned rock musician Cui Jian have also been invited to the biennale, expanding the potential for experimentation at an event distinguished by its focus on the art of light as a medium, public art and aquatic spaces.

The Qiandao Lake Tunnel Art Museum was inaugurated on the same day. The art museum is a cluster of art galleries that comprises nearly 100 tunnels. Qiandao Lake Tunnel Art Museum NO. 001, which is presently located at Xialanwu Tunnel and stretches across 209 meters, was designed by CAA’s School of Painting. As China’s first tunnel art museum, it bears contemporary elements that target the international audience, and aims to create spatial aesthetics with contemporary art. The space is an open “unwalled art museum”. Besides serving as an urban tourist attraction and a jogging trail, it is also an exhibition space for international artists where the public may enjoy public art.

Qiandao Lake Tunnel Art Museum’s opening exhibition showcases artworks of international residents centered around the theme of “Echo”. Beyond the mirroring and repetition of voices in space, “Echo” symbolizes the spatial and temporal synergies of Qiandao Lake’s natural landscape, cultural heritage and ecological preservation. Through murals and public art, the exhibition showcases the scenes of Qiandao Lake’s past and present and reflects the dialogue between humankind and nature as well as the connection between the past and future. The curvature of the tunnel amplifies the sense of being enclosed while symbolizing the persistence of echoes through time. Standing in the tunnel, one feels as if they are standing in the heart of Qiandao Lake, feeling the heartbeat and breathing of its artworks.

Qiandao Lake is the apple of the Chinese local cultural tourism industry’s eye while CAA is the engine driving Chinese contemporary art. Their continual partnership to develop social aesthetic education through the use of public spaces and nature has led to the creation of a vibrant Qiandao with local features and Chinese cultural characteristics.

About the Theme of the Second Qiandao Lake International Biennale of Light Art: How Is Light?

The biennale goes beyond the exploration of the traditional definition of light as “natural light”, “artificial light” and their contemporary evolutionary product “digital light” to showcase the changing forms, technical foundations and applications of light. When it comes to technology and industries − from the Fourier transform to the design of a chip, from color management to the conversion of vector graphics to numbers and formulas, from LED screens to image processing software, from handheld devices to screens at stadiums and plazas − light plays a role in our everyday life. It dominates our visual culture.

On the front of science, the scientific community has known about light for a very long time. Yet there was no consensus on what light is until the mid-19th century. The British physicist James Clerk Maxwell discovered that all forms of electromagnetic radiation come together to form a continuous spectrum and that they travel through vacuum at the same speed. The German physicist Philipp Lenard discovered the photoelectric effect. In the early 20th century, Albert Einstein hypothesized that light might possess properties we associate with particles. Einstein’s theory was validated by experiments conducted by the American physicist Arthur H. Compton, who proved that photons have momentum, an essential condition supporting the theory that matter and energy can be interchangeable. The French scientist Louis-Victor de Broglie drew the relationship between wavelength and particle mass and energy. His discovery explained how light possesses both properties of a wave and particle.

Nevertheless, light isn’t simply the basis for modern vision. It is also closely linked to the foundation of civilization. The ancient Greek philosopher Plato came up with the allegory of the cave through the description of fire, natural light and shadow. The allegory is a philosophical, epistemological and ethical meditation on the existence of the world, an expression of one’s views on art, and a story of enlightenment. In ancient China, light is emphasized in a holistic theory on the creation of the universe. In the Canon of Yao in the Book of Documents, it was written, “to calculate and delineate (the movements and appearances of) the sun, the moon, the stars, and the zodiacal spaces, and so to deliver respectfully the seasons to be observed by the people.” This suggests that the observation of the celestial bodies through the use of light has not only affected the way we perceive spaces but also led to the establishment of rites and rituals.

The theme of the second Qiandao Lake International Biennale of Light Art is thus set as “How Is Light?” to take into account the forms of light in the evolution of industrial technology, foundation of civilization and innovation through the ages. It is also a call to expand our understanding of light beyond the constraints of existing forms, into greater imaginative spaces with greater possibilities. We hope that these new possibilities may lead to more ideas in the realms of technology, interaction and ecosystems.

“How Is Light?” is a description and a question—how does an artist preserve tradition and innovate while contending with what we know about light and shadow? This is not just an epistemological challenge, it is a question about methodology and artistic intervention. Importantly, it is a test of the imagination. When we ask “How Is Light?”, we are asking what else there is beyond what we already know.

About the Theme of the Qiandao Lake Tunnel Art Museum’s Opening Exhibition: Echo

Qiandao Lake, hailed as heaven on earth, has always been a paradise where culture and nature intertwine. At Qiandao Lake, the sounds of nature, traces of the past and modern ecological expectations converge. The exhibition is located in the tunnel, whose curvature amplifies the sense of being enclosed while symbolizing the persistence of echoes through time. Standing in the tunnel, one feels as if they are standing in the heart of Qiandao Lake, feeling its heartbeat and breathing.

About the Festivals and Exhibitions Organized by CAA’s School of Sculpture and Public Art

The festivals and exhibitions that CAA’s School of Sculpture and Public Art has launched and kept going in recent years include “Wuzhen Theatre Festival: Public Space Art Exhibition Project”, “Aranya Theater Festival: Migratory Birds 300”, “CAA Armory•Wuzhen”, “Illuminate the World: Qiandao Lake International Biennale of Light Art”, “Hangzhou Triennial of Fiber Art”, and “Frontier Fiber Art Exhibition”. They form a vast network for artistic research and creation.

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SOURCE China Academy of Art

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HFS Research Launches Data Intelligence Suite, Delivering Proprietary Enterprise Intelligence Across AI, GCCs, Buyer Sentiment, and Pricing

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April 28, 2026

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New suite transforms proprietary datasets on AI, global operations, and enterprise investment into actionable intelligence for business leaders

NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HFS Research, a leading global research and advisory firm, today announced the upcoming launch of its HFS Data Intelligence Suite, a new set of proprietary intelligence assets designed to help enterprise leaders move beyond fragmented insights and make decisions grounded in real-world data. The suite will be formally launched on May 5, 2026.

As enterprises face increasing pressure to make faster, higher-stakes decisions, many continue to rely on incomplete or inconsistent data, often spread across internal sources, vendor narratives, and static research. While access to information has increased, confidence in that information has not kept pace.

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite addresses this gap by bringing together HFS’s proprietary datasets into a unified, accessible platform that reflects what is actually happening across enterprise technology and operations.

The suite includes:

A library of more than 1,800 real-world AI deployments, enabling leaders to identify what is delivering measurable outcomes across industries and functionsIntelligence on over 1,500 Global Capability Centers (GCCs), providing visibility into how enterprises are structuring and evolving their global operationsThe Enterprise Mandate Index, built on more than 500,000 data points, offering a data-driven view of enterprise priorities and investment trendsThe HFS / HEX Benchmark Suite, delivering independent benchmarks for pricing and performance across services and technology engagements

Together, these assets provide enterprise leaders with a clearer, more comprehensive view of market activity, supporting decisions across AI investment, global operating models, sourcing strategy, and commercial performance.

According to Ashish Chaturvedi, Executive Research Leader at HFS Research and lead for the initiative, “Enterprises are not lacking in data, they’re lacking in usable, connected intelligence. With the Data Intelligence Suite, we are bringing together our proprietary datasets in a way that allows leaders to move beyond isolated insights and see the full picture. This is about enabling faster, more confident decision-making based on what is actually happening in the market.”

The launch of the Data Intelligence Suite reflects a broader evolution in the HFS model—from delivering research and analysis to providing structured, interactive intelligence that can be directly applied to enterprise decisions.

“The analyst model is being overtaken by a simple reality: if your insights aren’t grounded in real data, they won’t survive AI scrutiny,” said Phil Fersht, CEO and Chief Analyst at HFS Research. “This is our move to put proprietary intelligence at the core of how HFS delivers value. The future isn’t more reports, it’s decision-grade intelligence leaders can actually act on.”

Saurabh Gupta, President at HFS Research, added, “The traditional analyst business model is under pressure. Seventy to eighty percent of what analysts produce can now be found through AI tools. The Data Intelligence Suite represents the other twenty percent: proprietary, structured, verified data that enterprises cannot get anywhere else.”

The HFS Data Intelligence Suite will formally launch on May 5, 2026, with demonstrations and previews already being offered to select enterprise leaders and early access provided to a subset of clients. The suite will be available to subscribers, with premium tiers and advisory add-ons for deeper engagement.

About HFS Research
HFS Research is a leading global research and advisory firm helping Fortune 500 companies navigate IT and business transformation. With a focus on bold insights and practical strategies, HFS empowers enterprises to make confident decisions through deep research, demand-side data, and direct engagement with industry leaders. For more information, visit www.hfsresearch.com.

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SOURCE HFS Research

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ContractorHUB Announces Strategic Investment from Webrunner Media to Deliver End-to-End Growth Infrastructure for Contractors

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April 28, 2026

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Strategic partnership aligns marketing and operations to help contractors attract, convert, and operate more effectively, supported by strategic investment from Webrunner Media.

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ContractorHUB, an AI-native operating system built to help contracting businesses scale, announced a strategic partnership with Webrunner Media, a leading full-stack marketing agency for contracting businesses. The partnership will improve access to quality growth solutions for contractors by connecting expertise in customer acquisition to advanced business operations technology.

As part of the partnership, Webrunner Media‘s founding team has also made a strategic investment in ContractorHUB, reinforcing a shared commitment to building long-term infrastructure that supports sustainable growth for contractors.

Together, the companies aim to create a new category of end-to-end growth infrastructure for contractors—an integrated foundation that helps contractors not only generate stronger demand, but effectively convert that demand into revenue while improving profitability.

Delivering a Better Growth Solution for Contractors

Contractors today often rely on disconnected tools and service providers to manage different parts of their business. Marketing platforms generate leads, while operational systems manage execution, creating gaps between demand generation, delivery and attribution.

This fragmentation can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and the inability to truly measure performance. The partnership between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media is built to close that gap.

By aligning Webrunner’s performance-driven marketing expertise with ContractorHUB’s intelligent operational platform, contractors gain a more integrated approach to growth.

“Contractors don’t just need more leads, they need a complete system to turn demand into growth,” said Sarah Parks, Co-Founder & CEO of ContractorHUB. “This partnership allows us to better connect marketing and operations for our customers, while also bringing Webrunner’s expertise directly into our product strategy, so we can build smarter, more impactful tools for contractors.”

Setting a New Standard for the Contracting Industry

The collaboration between ContractorHUB and Webrunner Media represents a shift in the home services technology landscape toward more connected, ecosystem-driven solutions.

By combining marketing execution with operational infrastructure, the partnership enables:

improved visibility across the customer lifecyclestreamlined access to customer acquisition solutionsmore efficient conversion of leads into revenuedirect input from a leading contractor marketing firm into ContractorHUB’s product strategy

This integrated approach provides contractors with stronger tools while reducing friction across their workflows.

Matt Parks, ContractorHUB Founder and Chief Product and Innovation Officer said, “Not only does this alignment solve fragmentation problems for customers, but it breeds innovative new solutions as we collaborate with Webrunner to drive product advances, too. It’s rare to have experts in both operational excellence and customer acquisition at the same product development table, and we’re excited to put that expertise to work for our customers.”

Strategic Investment Signals Continued Momentum

Webrunner Media’s investment follows ContractorHUB’s latest round of funding, which included an earlier operator-led investment from contracting business owners actively using the platform, as part of a rolling close.

“We work closely with contractors across North America and see firsthand where technology falls short,” said Marc Levesque, Co-Founder and CEO of Webrunner Media. “What stood out about ContractorHUB was how clearly Matt and Sarah understand those challenges, and how effectively the product is already solving them in the field. That gave us immediate confidence in both the solution and the team, and we’re excited to support what we believe is a meaningful step forward for the industry.”

This combination of operator investment by customers and ecosystem investment from an industry partner reflects a deliberate approach to building alongside the end user and key service providers in contracting.

Building a Foundation for Long-Term Growth

ContractorHUB believes the future of the industry will be defined by platforms that unify how contractors operate their businesses.

The company expects its partnership with Webrunner Media to serve as a foundation for deeper collaboration across marketing, operations, and performance management, while continuing to expand its strategic partnerships across the contracting and home service ecosystem.

About ContractorHUB

ContractorHUB was built from firsthand experience to help small businesses run smarter, more human-centered organizations that give people back their most valuable asset—time. It is an AI-native software platform that enables home service businesses to scale with confidence by centralizing everything they need in one place.

About Webrunner Media

Webrunner Media is a full-service digital marketing agency helping contractors scale with confidence. Specializing in SEO, PPC, Web Design, and Marketing Automation, Webrunner delivers the strategy and execution contractors need to grow — and has become the trusted marketing partner for 100+ contractors pursuing long-term, sustainable growth.

Media Contact:

Sarah Parks
Co-Founder, CEO
sjp@contractorhub.app

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SOURCE ContractorHUB

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Brooklyn Steel Co. Expands into Home Electrics with Launch of All-in-One Espresso Machine

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April 28, 2026

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NEW YORK, Apr. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Responding to the growing demand for elevated, café-quality experiences within the home, Brooklyn Steel Co. is expanding its presence in home electrics with today’s launch of its first at-home espresso machine. This introduction marks a new chapter for the brand, moving beyond cookware and kitchen essentials to offer thoughtfully designed home coffee solutions.

Combines professional-grade features with accessible pricing, alongside the launch of a newly redesigned website

In tandem with the product launch, Brooklyn Steel Co. has also unveiled a newly redesigned website, created to reflect the brand’s expanded focus on at-home coffee and provide a more immersive, streamlined shopping experience. To explore the new espresso machine and complementary accessories, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

“This launch marks a new chapter for Brooklyn Steel Co. as we expand into home coffee,” said Allison Picard, Product Development Manager at Core Home. “We designed this machine to deliver consistent, café-style performance at home in a way that is straightforward and easy to use.”

Redefining the At-Home Coffee Experience

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is designed to transform daily coffee rituals, making them more intentional, personal, and accessible. Built for both beginners and aspiring home baristas, the machine combines precision engineering with an intuitive, all-in-one design, eliminating the need for multiple devices.

Positioned to compete with higher-end machines at a more accessible price point, the Talos 20 espresso machine delivers a balance of performance, design, and value, allowing customers to build a complete at-home café experience complemented by a growing collection of accessories.

Precision Engineering for Professional Results

The Talos 20 sets itself apart by integrating professional-grade performance into a streamlined design. 

Key Features at a Glance

Integrated Conical Burr Grinder (27 settings) for precise, fresh grindingProgrammable Grind, Extraction & Temperature to save your preferred settings and deliver consistent espresso automatically with every use20-Bar Italian Pump for rich, café-quality espressoPID Temperature Control + Dual Thermoblock System for consistent heat and faster transitions360° Steam Wand for microfoam milk and latte artReal-Time Pressure Gauge for dialing in espresso extraction

Together, these features create a streamlined system that supports consistent espresso extraction, stable temperature control, and precise milk texturing—all within a single, integrated machine.

Unlike many entry-level options, the Talos 20 includes a commercial-size 58mm portafilter and a full suite of barista tools—including a bean hopper, hopper extender, milk pitcher, dosing ring, tamper, tamping mat, single and double filter baskets, and cleaning tools—providing a complete setup out of the box and bridging the gap between accessibility and professional performance.

The Brooklyn Steel Co. Talos 20 is available for purchase directly through the company’s website and on Amazon, retailing for $499 with free shipping. For more information, visit www.brooklynsteelco.com.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is a New York-based brand known for thoughtfully designed cookware and kitchen essentials. With a focus on elevating everyday rituals, the brand creates products that bring intention and style into daily routines.

With its first espresso machine and newly launched website experience, Brooklyn Steel Co. brings its focus on design and performance into the at-home coffee category, offering customers a more seamless and elevated way to shop and brew.

Brooklyn Steel Co. is part of Core Home, a global housewares company known for developing innovative products across kitchen, hydration, and home categories. Learn more at www.brooklynsteelco.com.

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SOURCE Core Home

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