Author: Iris

A famous story from Ovid’s first century narrative poem Metamorphosis The story goes like this: After the sun god Apollo killed the snake dragon Python, Cupid, the god of love, shot two arrows at Apollo in revenge. The first caused Apollo to fall madly in love with the fairy Daphne, while the second caused Daphne to insult Apollo, forcing her to turn into a laurel tree to escape his advances. This ancient Roman story of unrequited love and conquest was the basis for the world’s first opera daphne The play was written and composed by Ottavio Rinuccini and Jacopo Peri…

Naomi Beckwith, deputy director and chief curator of the Guggenheim Museum, will curate Documenta 2027, a high-profile art exhibition that takes place every five years in Germany Hosted once in Kassel. She is the first black woman to curate the festival in its 69-year history and the first since Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev in 2012. Two American-born curators run the festival. Her appointment comes shortly after the last election in 2022, following a lengthy selection process and facing turmoil in the years that followed. In the process, and against the backdrop of Israel’s war in Gaza, the entire selection committee resigned before…

ArtAlina CohenBidding for Maurizio Cattelan, comedian2019, Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Sale, 2024. Courtesy Sotheby’s.What a year it has been. In the United States, the 2024 news cycle is dominated by a dramatic and unpredictable presidential election. Across the world, uncertainty prevails, with more than 60 other countries holding national elections with the power to immediately change governments. Amidst the deafening political updates, arts journalism occasionally manages to get a word in. For a minute, everyone was lamenting the state of the art market. Next, a banana sold at auction for $6.2 million. Over the course of nine days, animal-themed Banksy murals…

A poetic series created by Vermont photographer Kelly Burgess. Emotional narratives and personal experiences form the thematic core of her photography. Burgess’s images are imbued with intimacy and introspection, often drawing inspiration from his own life to explore universal themes of love, loss, memory and the human condition. Through a multidisciplinary approach that combines photography and writing, she invites viewers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes and personal histories. In addition to his fine art photography practice, Burgess is a regular editorial contributor to the following publications new york times and wall street journal. “Under the Shadow of the…

As the year 2024 draws to a close, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the artists who have produced interesting works. Among them is Judy Gittelsohn, whose vibrant and deeply personal works stand as a testament to the power of storytelling through art. Gittelsohn’s paintings are more than visual compositions—they are narratives shaped by her life’s journey. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, she was surrounded by the lush beauty of the Pacific Northwest, a backdrop that nurtured her creative instincts. Her childhood was steeped in family life, with shared meals, summers spent swimming, and trips to Cannon Beach.…

Art can thrive in the most unfathomable times; 2024 was a year filled with global conflict but it was also a year of exceptional exhibitions. From Botticelli’s rarely seen drawings to sculptural revivals of archaic myths, contemporary takes on traditional crafts, and a world of plastic put to good use; from the story of a disability arts movement to artists’ interventions in institutional collections, to a much-needed mash-up of art and sports; and of course, from past artists with a vision to present-day artists with a loud and clear voice, Hyperallergic’s staff and contributors gathered together a list of our…

Groucho Club in London is to reopen in January following rape allegations. The membership’s license was suspended last month while police investigated the allegations. Artfarm, a hospitality company founded in 2014 by Hauser & Wirth dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth, has owned a majority stake in the club for the past two years. The company reportedly paid $50 million for a stake in the establishment, which is frequented by A-list stars. Groucho operates separately from other businesses owned by Artfarm, which include Audley in Mayfair, the Fife Arms in Scotland and venues in Bruton, Somerset.Police are investigating a “serious criminal…

Kimberly J. Lau Wonderful Ghosts: Race and Development of European Fairy Tales (2024) traced the historical and cultural concepts of race in classic fairy tale collections from four European countries, analyzing Giambattista Basile’s story within story (Italy, 1634–36), Mary Catherine Onois fairy tales (France, 1697), Jacob and William Green Children’s and Family Stories (Germany, 1812-57), and Andrew and Nora Long’s Colorful fairy tale book (Britain, 1812-57). The book argues that race has been an integral part of the evolution of fairy tales since their development, but that discussion of this has been largely ignored. wonderful ghost Acknowledge the diverse racial…

In the 1970s, the humanist geographer Yi Futuan speculated, “In some ideal future, our loyalty will only be loyal to the hometown with intimate memories, and at the other end of the scale, it is the entire earth.” Half of the world. century later, energy The Swiss Institute adopts Tuan’s dual vision while eliminating any notion that the ideal has been achieved. Instead, the play’s hyperlocal roots and global reach offer a pointed critique of the power relations inherent in the act of power generation. “Sparks” tells the story of grassroots activism in the East Village in the 1970s.In the…

“Creation is a process; says artist Rita Blitt: allergic In a recent video interview conducted at her part-time studio in Berkeley, California. The Abstract Expressionist artist, whose dynamic practice spans a full nine decades and whose mediums include painting, drawing, film, and sculpture, has learned more than a thing or two about crafting a well-rounded body of work. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Britt spends her time with her daughter when she’s not in California, and has dedicated her life to becoming an artist. Her thousands of works include large-scale public sculptures permanently installed in her hometown and as far…