THE MAGAZINE
Reckoning with Colonial Art: Yinka Shonibare's Mr. and Mrs. Andrews Without Their Heads
Thomas Gainsborough’s iconic Mr and Mrs Andrews depicts a serene countryside scene as the happy couple sits in front of their expansive estate. Now imagine these figures had no heads. Yinka Shonibare’s Mr and Mrs Andrews without their Heads (1998) transforms this tranquil scene into a radical critique of colonialism.
Guest Artist: Emma Cormier Simola, Student, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
Guest artist Emma Cormier Simola is a French–Finnish artist currently studying Art History at the Courtauld Institute of Arts in London. She is passionate about gender inequalities and the political role of art.
Silent Stories: The Language of Style from the Old Masters to Bridgerton
To understand art (or Bridgerton!), you may as well start with the clothing. From the Old Masters to the TV screen, style reveals unspoken stories, offering a peek into characters’ interiority.
Guest Artist: Joseph Cornelius, 18, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
Dive into the magic world of illustrations with guest artist Joseph Cornelius, 18, Courtauld Institute of Art, London.
The Art of Pouring Milk
One of Johannes Vermeer’s pioneering works is The Milkmaid (c. 1660), at first glance a simple image of a housemaid pouring milk.
Carry That Weight: Yoko Ono’s “Cut Piece,” Womanhood, and Power
Quick: what is the first, and maybe only fact you know about Yoko Ono? Almost everyone thinks of her as the groupie girlfriend who broke up the Beatles. Instead, let’s focus on what she really did do, and maybe in doing so, make her rightly famous for her transformative and powerful art.
“Sleeping Beauties:” Reawakening Fashion, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s fashion exhibition “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” wants to enable museum goers to have a full sensory experience of the fashions of the past. And yes: this includes trying to recapture the scent left behind by the items’ former owners.
The Harlem Renaissance and Transatlantic Modernism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, through 28 July 2024
Who determines which artists take a central place in history, and which artists are marginalised or erased from our cultural memory? New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is currently showing a groundbreaking exhibition that seeks to reposition the Harlem Renaissance, the first African American-led movement of modern art, as a central moment in American art and international modernism.
Finding Unity Amidst Conflict: The Intersection of Art and Human Rights
Classic and contemporary artists have used compelling approaches to break down human rights issues so audiences can better understand them. Their work becomes a form of activism, embodying the potential for growth and change.
Emotions and Trauma: Through the Eyes of Art
It’s mental health awareness month in the US. Many famous artists have used their art to confront their own mental health challenges. Find about the art and struggles of Vincent van Gogh, Louise Bourgeois and Yayoi Kusama.
No Halos at the Dinner Table: The Human Side of Leonardo’s “The Last Supper”
The Jewish holiday of Passover will begin in a few days. Did you know that Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” may have depicted a Passover Seder? Leonardo’s mural contains overlapping stories that not only show the intersection of the earthly and divine, but capture the depths of being a human.
Spring Vibes!
Sometimes, an image says more than words. Spring is in the air!
Lights of Spiritual Growth: Ramadan Lanterns
We are right in the middle of Ramadan. One of Ramadan’s most beautiful and symbolic objects are the Ramadan lanterns, also known as “fanous” in Arabic. Learn more about the lanterns’ special symbolism – and take a moment to reflect upon yourself and what you are grateful for.
Pablo Picasso in Music: “Formes en l’air” by Artur Lourié
How can you possibly read this music score? Arthur Lourié’s “Formes en l’air” (1915) is dedicated to Pablo Picasso, an artist Lourié admired for his artistic boldness. It’s a powerful interpretation of Picasso’s Cubist paintings in sound.
Let’s Get Corny: Grant Wood’s Portrait of Rural America
Grant Wood’s iconic painting “American Gothic” encompasses more than just a man and a woman, a pitchfork, and a Gothic window. It is a portrait of American history– of pioneer spirit, resilience, and a yearning for a place called home. But who are these two miserable looking people?
A Kiss for Valentine’s Day
Today is Valentine's Day, and we have a painting to help you get in the mood for love: Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss (1907-1908). If you want to know more about this beautiful painting you are in the right place!
From the Eyes of a Young Photographer: Berk Kır, “Extimacy,” Merdiven Art Space, Istanbul, 5-31 January 2024
Berk Kır, 26, is a photography artist based in Istanbul, Turkey. GUP (Guide to Unique Photography) lists Berk among Europe's 150 Emerging Talents. Find out more about Berk’s current exhibition “Extimacy” and about his creative process: “I was using my camera as a tool to explore my surroundings and over time I can say that this practice evolved into me looking outside to discover myself.”
Guest Artist: Ginevra Mastrocola, 19, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan
Ever felt that you are not good enough? Explore this paralysing emotion with our guest artist Ginevra Mastrocola from the Brera Academy, Milan.
Monet in Winter
Are you ready to go back in time and to visit some small, snow covered French towns with Claude Monet? If yes, you are in the right place. Grab your favourite warm drink and let’s get started.
The Most Perfect Holiday Painting: Antoine Vollon’s “Mound of Butter”
A mound of butter as perfect holiday painting? Read on for more!