"Andrew Graham-Dixon tells the story of Russian art. He explores how Russia changed from a feudal nation of aristocratic excess to a hotbed of revolution at the beginning of the 20th century and how art moved from being a servant of the state to an agent of its destruction. From monuments that celebrate the absolutism of the tsars to the epic Russian landscape as inspiration; from the design and construction of gold and glittering palaces to the minutiae of diamond-encrusted Faberge eggs; and eventually to the stark and radical paintings of the avant-garde, the journey through Russian art history is one of extraordinary beauty and surprise." BBC Active

Contemporary Asian art is new and exciting. Art historian, Alison Carroll, shows how Asian art came out of a century scarred by national independence struggles and bolstered by emerging economies. It came from an Asia where new ideas clashed with traditional ways. Join Alison as she travels the world, talking with artists in their studios and visiting museums. We go behind the scenes exploring storerooms and vaults, seeing key works from the 20th century that shaped Asian art. The vibrant art from Asia amazes us. It is now time to understand it. Episode 1, Unseen worlds: Alison Carroll is in Brisbane, outside the Queensland Art Gallery of Modern Art. She is heading towards an exhibition by Cai Guo-Qiang. Cai grew up in China, and he is a child of the Cultural Revolution. Carroll talks with Cai about the artistic ideas he began developing in the 20th century, and ? how they came from Maoism, and also from much older traditional ways of thinking.

This feature-length documentary examines Islam's rich and significant contribution to western art and culture. Presenter and art critic, Waldemar Januszczak, sets out on an epic journey of discovery across the Muslim world from Central Asia to the heart of the Middle East and beyond. He reveals a world of awe-inspiring architecture, spectacular Islamic treasures and a host of artists and craftsmen, bringing the largely unknown and fascinating story of Islamic art and architecture to the attention of the public. Illuminating magnificent works of art including Iran's relatively unknown treasures of Isfahan, India's Taj Mahal and Istanbul's rich artistic history to name but a few, Paradise Found is a feast for the senses.