Art History

Ivan Argote Demands to Know “Who?” in His Enigmatic New Sculpture in Bruges

A pair of sizable bronze boots have paused in a Bruges canal, the whereabouts of their owner unknown. The striking bronze sculpture titled “Who?” by Ivan Argote appears as if an 18th-century statue has been shorn at the knees, inviting speculation about the wearer’s identity.

Argote’s work references the toppling of monuments depicting those with ties to colonialism, seen today as memorializing dark legacies of human enslavement, violence, and abuses of power. Belgium has a long and brutal colonial history, primarily in Africa. “Monuments are scars in our cities and memories, often telling us of a history of dominations and humiliations,” the artist says. “It is up to us to reclaim the right to create new narratives and heal the wounds of our violent histories.”

“Who?” is part of Triënnale Brugge, which continues through September 1. Argote will also present an outdoor sculpture in the Giardini for the 60th Annual Venice Biennale. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

 

 

Sponsor

Dive Into the Dallas Art Scene: 5 Artists Not to Miss at The Other Art Fair

Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of artistry and creativity at The Other Art Fair presented by Saatchi Art, returning to Dallas for its 7th edition from May 9 to 12. Unlike your typical fair experience, this event promises to be a dynamic and vibrant celebration of art in all its forms.

Since its inception in 2011, The Other Art Fair has made its mark on the art scene with its independent artist-led approach, spanning over 80 editions across the globe. Now, it’s Dallas’ time to shine as it stands alongside London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Sydney in hosting this exciting event.

Discover new talent, engage in creative conversations, and step into the unexpected as you enter a realm where art meets innovation. Featuring 120 independent artists, hailing from the local North Texas region and from around the globe, this fair offers a diverse range of artistic styles, artwork sizes, and prices. This welcoming fair is for everyone, offering a dynamic atmosphere filled with immersive experiences, large-scale installations, shoppable collections of works under $500, a well-stocked fair bar, and plenty of opportunities for gift purchases ahead of Mother’s Day. Who knows, maybe you’ll get your first tattoo by Poetic Pokes’ Lis Pico? Whether you’re a seasoned art enthusiast, a first-time buyer, or just looking for a creative experience, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy.

The fair kicks off with a buzzing Thursday Opening Night providing attendees with first access to high-demand artworks, followed by a Friday Late experience for those looking for an energizing party atmosphere. And for those celebrating Mother’s Day, why not make it a memorable day filled with creativity and inspiration by exploring the fair with a special mom in your life?

Here are five artists showcasing their work at the fair: 

Lorenzo Demaria navigates traditional Italian painting alongside collage and embraces chaos in creation, drawing inspiration from external fragments. Influenced by Georges Rousse and Felix Gonzalez-Torres, he reconstructs forms and emotions with maternal language, inviting participation in new existences.

 

Exhibited throughout the United States, abstract artist Shiri Phillips creates vibrant works with impasto strokes and layered textures, drawing inspiration from Mediterranean and Californian surroundings. Influenced by Impressionism and the geometric nature of graphic design, she hopes to offer viewers of her art a unique, emotionally charged experience.

 

Natasha Kanevski crafts monochrome meta-modernistic sculptures on canvas, spotlighting texture and composition. Her works, acclaimed in U.S. and European juried shows, grace galleries worldwide.

 

Based in rural North Carolina near Asheville, Melanie Norris delves into portraiture, infusing bold strokes in oil to explore the psyche. Her work merges abstraction with delicate watercolor ephemera, revealing multifaceted perspectives on the human face.

 

Self-taught oil painter Marcus Wilson celebrates the beauty, diversity, and culture of the Black diaspora. He aims to inspire introspection and spiritual exploration through allegorical narratives, drawing from life, history, music, and personal spirituality.

The party is open to everyone, no matter what your vibe is.

Grab your tickets for an unforgettable weekend at theotherartfair.com.

Art History

2,000 Years Ago, Pompeiians Dined Amid the Splendor of These Newly Excavated Frescoes

The ancient city of Pompeii was divided into nine regions, each known as a Regio that was further organized into a number of blocks called Insulae. And in Regio IX, Insula 10, archaeologists recently unearthed stunning frescoes that are seeing the light of day for the first time since volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius engulfed the site in 79 C.E.

In a grand banquet room about 15 meters long and six meters wide that opens onto a courtyard, spectacular decorations in the Third Style, also known as the “ornate style,” cover every wall. Painted architectural details like columns and cornice motifs separate individual tableaux with popular figures from Greek myths centered on dense, black backgrounds.

Mythological figures in Roman residential wall paintings were intended to entertain guests; a mural was the ultimate conversation piece. The Archaeological Park of Pompeii says in a statement, “The dominant theme seems to be that of heroism, shown by the depictions of pairs of heroes and deities involved in the Trojan War, but also of fate and, at the same time, of the possibility, often not seized, that humans have of changing their own destiny.” These pieces emphasize storied couples, such as Helen and Paris, or Trojan priestess Cassandra depicted with Apollo.

 

The frescoes’ black background, while dramatic, also served the practical purpose of camouflaging the smoke from oil lamps that darkened the walls over time. “People would meet to dine after sunset; the flickering light of the lamps had the effect of making the images appear to move, especially after a few glasses of good Campanian wine,” says park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel.

Regio IX is one of Pompeii’s larger neighborhoods at 3,200 square meters, yet much of it remains unexplored. Excavations began in 1888 only to stop for nearly a century. Today, work continues as part of a broader project to “shore up” the perimeter between the excavated and unexcavated areas and to improve the ancient hydrogeological structure that serves 1,070 historic residential units and public and sacred spaces.

Additional finds in the neighborhood include a detailed painting of a banquet and what appears to be a 2,000-year old proto-pizza uncovered last year, plus new sites open to the public like a “bakery-prison,” a laundry room, and two connected houses. If you’re in town, might also enjoy a stop at this inviting snack bar. Explore more on the park’s website.

Art Books Photography

Thandiwe Muriu’s New Book Celebrates the Multi-Faceted Beauty of Kenyan Culture

In 2015, Thandiwe Muriu (previously) began CAMO, a series that takes a kaleidoscopic view of the lives of contemporary African women. Nearly a decade later, hundreds of self-portraits and photos are gathered in a new book from Chronicle Chroma that celebrates the project’s striking visual impact and the nuanced, multi-faceted stories hidden in each image.

Muriu first picked up her father’s Nikon camera at age 14, experimenting with photography by recreating fashion spreads in magazines like Vogue. By 17, she started to work with large brands on advertising campaigns, and her clients have included Apple and the United Nations. These foundational experiences shine through in CAMO, which harnesses Muriu’s impeccable style to communicate larger messages about beauty, resourcefulness, women’s visibility, and the ways different cultures entwine.

 

In each photo, the photographer either positions a small group or stands against a boldly patterned Ankara backdrop. Also known as African wax prints, these colorful textiles were first introduced to the continent by the Dutch in the 19th century and are still common for garments and accessories today. Muriu and her subjects always wear clothing identical to their surroundings, literally camouflaging their bodies into a backdrop loaded with cultural and colonial history.

The photographer also fashions playful eyewear for each portrait. She designs these wearables from ubiquitous, found waste materials like bottle caps, sponges, and hinges that directly reference the Kenyan ethos of repair and repurposing. She writes in the introduction:

This habit of combining and remodeling materials is very much the Kenyan way. It is commonplace for a population often lacking in means but not in ingenuity. It goes a step further than achieving a do-it-yourself objective. We call it jua kali: a Swahili phrase to mean
“hot or fierce sun.” The term is used to refer to our informal, blue-collar economy and the ways in which these workers labour—often outside in the blazing sun—to handcraft items through methods such as welding or carpentry.

“CAMO 44,” for example, spotlights brilliant orange eyewear made of plumbing tape and bangles and is an ode to handymen, while “CAMO 5” recycles cupcake wrappers, an autobiographical nod to her childhood excitement for baked goods. Similarly pointing to labor and the economy, “The Crown of Curiosity” features glasses outfitted with bright red coffee berries, which are typically harvested by women and continue to be one of Kenya’s major exports.

 

The other considerable component of Muriu’s portraits is the architectural hairstyles and headwraps. Drawing on the traditions of J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere, a renowned photographer best known for documenting Nigerian women’s elaborate arrangements, she explores the cultural importance of sprawling, sculptural hairstyles traditional to African beauty standards. In the section titled Material Culture, Muriu writes, “Every time a woman puts on a headwrap, she adorns herself with the African equivalent of a regal coronet, transforming a humble piece of fabric into a beautiful piece of art that crowns her head like that of a queen.”

CAMO will be released on April 16 and is available in the Colossal Shop.

 

Nature Photography Science

Researchers Uncover Hundreds of New Marine Species in the Underwater Mountain Ecosystems of the Pacific Ocean

Stretching thousands of miles off Chile’s coast to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, the Salas y Gómez Ridge is a vast underwater mountain range in the Pacific Ocean. Seventy-three percent of the region is part of the high seas, which is under international control and vastly underexplored. The Salas y Gómez Ridge is one of the most biologically productive regions in the world, and thanks to researchers with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, we now know more about the life that thrives there.

During a recent 40-day expedition, an international team of scientists discovered that the area is home to 160 species not known to live in the region, 50 of which are thought to be entirely new to researchers. The team primarily studied 10 of the approximately 110 seamounts near the western edge of the ridge closest to Rapa Nui. This expedition follows a similar trip in January to the Nazca Ridge, which connects to the Salas y Gómez Ridge, that revealed approximately 100 new species.

Images gathered from remote-operated vehicles highlight the regions’ wild diversity, spotlighting mollusks, sea stars, glass sponges, sea urchins, and crabs, some of which hadn’t been seen previously. Included are the bright right, spiny Chaunacops that’s part of the sea toad family, the scarcely seen whiplash squid, and a spiky squat lobster hiding among coral.

Because of the findings, the area is under consideration for protected status, although only Chile and Palau have ratified the U.N. treaty to do so. The measure requires 60 countries to formally adopt the agreement.

 

Art

Kaleidoscopic Paintings by Edie Fake Invoke the Spiritual Wisdom of Plants

In Persuasions, artist Edie Fake turns their attention to the wise, enduring insights of plants. The new series of acrylic and gouache paintings expands Fake’s bold visual language to incorporate flowers, which they render amidst the kaleidoscopic geometries they’re known for. Evocative of architecture and mechanics, the colorful graphic works veer into the spiritual, melding the myriad systems that order our lives.

Fake often begins with a meticulous sketch in graphite. Using rulers and protractors, they render impeccably precise shapes that together, comprise a highly engineered network of gears, bottles, and lanterns. This series draws on Tarot and the diagrams of Swiss healer Emma Kunz (1892-1963), who saw her work as answers to larger philosophical, spiritual, and medical problems. Vines crawl up the side of “Theater of the Fool” and the flowering pillars of “The Old Arrangements in a New Light” beam with radiant light, seamlessly binding the botanical and the divine.

Persuasions is on view from April 12 to June 1 at Western Exhibitions in Chicago. Find more from the artist on Instagram.