Author: Iris
World heritage sites are rarely immune to the effects of war, as the 2024 example of Israel and its enemies in the Middle East, Ukraine and Russia, proves. In each conflict, monuments, religious landmarks and ancient sites (cultural properties defined by The Hague as “immovable” sites of great historical value) have been threatened, damaged or outright destroyed to varying degrees. That said, UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, has had a busy year. In November, UNESCO reported that 468 sites had been damaged since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, including 145 religious sites, 238 of “historic…
As the year 2024 draws to a close, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the artists who have created some intereting works this year. Among them is Kerstin Roolfs, a German-American artist whose work bridges portraiture, sports, history, and politics. Her art is deeply influenced by the philosophies of Plato, the poetic sensibilities of Goethe, and the intellectual reflections of Sloterdijk, Hölderlin, and Adonis. These influences infuse her work with a contemplative depth that invites viewers to think as much as they feel. Roolfs’ journey began in Berlin, where she honed her artistic voice before moving to Williamsburg, Brooklyn,…
Another year, another year-end post of our favorite photos! We’ve looked back at every photography feature from the past 12 months to gather our top photos for this annual roundup. The 2024 series features 50 images from 50 photographers, representing the wide range of talent we discovered this year. Thanks to everyone in the Booooooom community, especially those who took the time to share their work with us! Whether you’ve submitted for our art and photography books or awards, have been following our features for years, or just became a member, we thank you! If you missed our previous Year…
When Liliane Lijn moved to Paris in 1958, she found herself sitting at a table in the famous Surrealist café. By then they had become “a bit bored,” she recalled years later. André Breton launched the movement in his 1924 manifesto, which thereafter “expelled all the most interesting people.” So did the Nazis.Lijn was only 19 when she arrived on the scene, so few people in the café actually listened to her ideas. Still, there’s a lot to take in. Lane would eventually become famous for her kinetic sculptures and works that straddled science and art, but everything she did…
Eungie Joo, chief curator of contemporary art at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art since 2017, was fired for workplace misconduct. The news was first reported in San Francisco Standard. “Eungie Joo separated from SFMOMA on December 17 in accordance with institutional policies on workplace conduct,” a museum spokesperson told the outlet. standard. “We do not comment on the specific details of personnel matters.” Joo has yet to make a public statement regarding the termination. After serving as a series of well-known curators, Joo joined SFMOMA as the first chief curator of contemporary art. From 2007 to 2012, she…
Cuban artist Zilia Sánchez, known for her multi-dimensional paintings that challenged minimalism with abstract, erotic forms, has died at the age of 98. Her death was confirmed by the Museum of Puerto Rican Art and Lelong & Co., the gallery that represented the artist. Since 2013. Characterized by outward bulging canvases, Sánchez’s work was unique among the minimalist styles of her time, emphasizing the presence of the body in her work. her works lunar calendar (1980) features prominently in this year’s Venice Biennale, her second appearance at the distinguished biennale and one of many queer, older artists. Sánchez’s latest solo…
Art MarketMaxwell RabbPortrait of Sara Mearns and Jodi Melnick performing in “Spirit Playgound,” Diana Orving’s site-specific installation at Carvalho Park, 2024. Photo by Se Yoon Park. Courtesy of Carvalho Park.This has been a challenging year for small galleries. Contending with much of the existing economic conditions that have lingered since 2023, this has been a year in which galleries have been faced with numerous hurdles, from rising rents to stubbornly high borrowing costs. But despite these macro-challenges (which do show signs of changing), several galleries have made key strides in 2024. From newly launched names that have made an immediate…
Diriyah Art Futures, the first institution dedicated to new media art in the Middle East and North Africa, has officially opened its doors to the public. Located in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, Diriyah Art Futures is an international center founded with the mission of diversifying the emerging field of new media arts by amplifying the voices of practitioners in the Middle East. Haytham Nawar, Director of Art Futures in Diriyah, said: “The opening of Art Futures in Diriyah represents a milestone in the development narrative of new media arts as we finally bring…
This year has been a landmark year for learning more about the creation of Stonehenge. Researchers now speculate that the iconic stone circles may have been built to unite ancient farming communities, CNN reported. Earlier this year, experts discovered that the six-ton altar stone at the center of Stonehenge may have come from Scotland, more than 450 miles away. It was previously known that the sarsen stones came from 16 miles from the site in what is now the English town of Marlborough, while the smaller bluestones came from the Preseli Mountains 125 miles away in what is now Wales.…
As the year 2024 is almost over, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the artists who have produced some interesting works. One such artist is Toni Silber-Delerive, a Manhattan-based creative whose journey spans decades and disciplines. Originally from Philadelphia, Silber-Delerive’s artistic foundation began with a BFA in painting from the Philadelphia College of Art and a BA in art education from Kean College in New Jersey. Her education expanded in New York City, where she studied graphic design and silkscreen printing at the School of Visual Arts. These experiences deeply influenced her style, which focuses on bold compositions and…