PAUL CHAN

In one of his recent projected installations, Hong Kong–born artist Paul Chan used cartoon images of figures from Pasolini to Biggie Smalls to render allegories of war. He’s now at work on a series of shadowy "projected digital animations" for the Institute of Contemporary Art. In the as-yet-untitled piece, Chan "explores the complex role of religion in today’s political landscape" by putting "a new twist on the religious story of the Rapture." How’s that? Well, when Christ shows up, the saved don’t evaporate up into the promised land: "instead, people fall to earth and their material possessions ascend to heaven." Does that make Jesus a pickpocket? "Momentum 5: Paul Chan" opens September 21 | 955 Boylston Ave, Boston | 617.927.6617.

ZADIE SMITH

The young English novelist of White Teeth has a new novel coming in September: On Beauty, which Penguin is touting as "a brilliant analysis of family life, the institution of marriage, intersections of the personal and the political, and an honest look at people’s deceptions," these last flushed out into the open when the son of an atheist Rembrandt scholar ("who hates Rembrandt") falls in love with the daughter of a right-wing demagogue. Brookline Booksmith brings Smith to read September 26 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St, Brookline | $2 | 617.566.6660.

"THE ART OF RONNIE WOOD"

Printmaking, etching, drypoint, digital photography: yes, the Stones’ rhythm guitarist can make pictures, but isn’t that sorta like Mick going back to accounting? At least Ronnie sticks to what he knows: many of his works are portraits of the Stones themselves, of the type that could end up in the merch tent at Fenway this August. Or perhaps on velvet. Ronnie’s art will be up August 16-29 at Newbury Fine Arts, and anyone who snaps up a piece at the reception on August 19 "will be invited to a VIP party with Ronnie Wood." At Newbury Fine Arts, 29 Newbury St, Boston | 617.536.0210.