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Rituals of Care: Antonio Obá at Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève

Rituals of Care marks the first mid-career survey in Europe for Brazilian artist Antonio Obá, an exhibition that reclaims historical narratives and delves into themes of spirituality and identity. Curated by Andrea Bellini, the show at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève spans two floors, offering a compelling exploration of Obá’s layered practice. Through a seamless…

Infringes: 7 Artist Films Interrogating Documentary’s Conventions

After seven years of making documentary films, a colleague’s remark kept me up at night: “Documentary release forms,” they said, “have been linked to a lineage of control mechanisms found in American slave photographic history.” I was stunned—and soon learned about cases like Harvard’s claim over the images of Tamara Lanier’s ancestors, upheld by the…

We Are All Characters Now

Lately, you can barely move on the internet for news of a lookalike competition. Once the preserve of the village fete or the more obscure corners of Comi Con, there was one this weekend for Dev Patel in San Francisco, described as “wholesome” by the writer, Taylor Lorentz. It followed similar outings recently for Harry Styles in…

Interviews

Cole Lu: “The Idea of Something Born From Destruction ...

Fusing historical and literary motifs with personal experiences, Taipei-born New York-based multidisciplinary artist Cole Lu’s works tell meandering stories of dissonance and longing. Bolstered by references from ancient mythologies, Lu’s sculptures and paintings — made of burnt wood panels, linen, engraved metal, and concrete — nod to diverse cultures and temporalities. On view now and…

“Spitting Is a Dubious Act” — In Conversation wi...

Combining poetry, film, sculpture and installation, French-Moroccan artist Tarek Lakhrissi’s transdisciplinary practice centres on queer and diasporic perspectives and experiences. His installations borrow their aesthetics from literature and pop culture, often using autofiction—the interfusion of a biographical report with fictional elements—to probe socio-political narratives. Inaugurating NıCOLETTı’s new London gallery space on 91 Paul Street, Lakhrissi’s…

 

Soil in Contemporary Art

As a foundation of life and a reservoir of history, soil is a powerful and timeless cultural symbol. The word “human” actually comes from the Latin word “humus,” meaning earth or ground. Reflecting on humanity’s relationship with the Earth, artists have long embraced soil as a medium, from Palaeolithic sculptures to Renaissance frescoes using soil…

Eating and Exploring in the Beautiful Alpine Town of Annecy

Almost 20 years ago, I spent a dreamy summer living with a host family in the Alpine town of Annecy, situated on one of Europe’s most magnificent lakes. The town is, in many ways, unchanged since then –crisscrossed by flowerbox-lined canals an almost luminescent shade of blue, and ever popular with package tourists in safari gear….

Nothing Concrete: A Case Against Perfect Cities

Between train stations, office cubicles, waiting rooms, school corridors and parks, it is safe to assume that the places and buildings we inhabit have and continue to define the way we navigate space. Transit through infrastructure is pre-planned by others, so well that the design is barely noticeable, in perfect adherence to the behavioural anticipations…

Guides

Sue Park’s Seoul: An Artist’s Guide to South KoreaR...

After earning her masters in Sculpture at London’s Royal College of Art, South Korean artist Sue Park returned to Seoul to build her multidisciplinary practice, exploring existential themes from environmental change to personal relationships — underpinned by a precarious sense of uncertainty that characterises our future. Through a mix of mediums, such as embroidery, video,…

Five Brilliant Books to Read in October 2024

October is a very particular month in the publishing year, with the eyes and minds of every single publishing professional 99.9 percent geared toward the Frankfurt Book Fair (i.e. the biggest publishing trade fair in the world).  Great new releases keep pouring in all the same, though. Here’s five to keep you reading as October…

 

Marc Alexander Shelly Goes to Grand Cayman — A Photo Essay

Shining a light on the often overlooked details of day-to-day life, Paris-based photographer Marc Alexander Shelly’s sensitively composed images seek to reframe the ordinary. Following documentary projects shot in Morocco, India and Egypt, Shelly recently ventured to Grand Cayman with the goal of capturing a photographic essay, exploring the daily routines of the Caribbean island’s…

Photographer Haydon Perrior’s Favourite Shot

I always come back to this photograph whenever I’m asked about my favourite image. Taken in the summer of 2016, before I truly understood photography, it remains a foundational image in my portfolio nearly a decade later. For me, it captures the essence of my work: moments that are joyful, spontaneous, and authentic. I have…

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