Lifestyle

Martin Margiela has unveiled a new piece of artwork in the heart of Schuttershofstraat, Antwerp. After leaving the world of fashion, the acclaimed designer has turned his focus to the art sphere and has officially made his debut as an artist in 2020.Titled “Blinds,” the new work is Margiela’s first outdoor sculpture, taking on a monolithic and circular structure with a reflective finish. Conceptualized as part of Middleheim Museum's Kunst in de Stad (Art in the City) project, the installation draws reference to window blinds, but with an added layer of mystery that befits Margiela’s enigmatic tendencies.According to Middleheim Museum, “The reflective artwork also nods to the shop windows lining the street. Passersby see what’s on display, and also a glimpse of themselves,” thus examining t...

Korean artist Kukwon Woo operates at the intersection of fantasy and reality. The depictions found in his oil paintings often conflate intergenerational subject matter, from religion to art history, that he uses as a foundation to bridge a dialogue with contemporary iconography, resulting in a satirical clash of ideas. The Seoul-based artist will soon release a new limited edition print that juxtaposes biblical tales with the world of Star Wars. Produced in collaboration with Avant Arte, Valley of the Shadow of Death makes reference to Psalm 23, a biblical prayer for courage and resilience in the face of hardship, showcasing a hilltop scene in the aesthetic of a Japanese Ukiyo-e print with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader shown as little figures perched against one another on a bridge, as a ...

The Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen is currently showcasing a retrospective exhibition on pioneering Japanese artist Yoko Ono. Presented in collaboration with London's Tate Modern, YOKO ONO. MUSIC OF THE MIND charts Ono's trailblazing artwork, music and activism from the 1950s to the present. Located at the museum's K20 location, the show includes over 200 works: from films and installations, to musical scores and photography, chronicling Ono's participatory works, such as those that stem from the Fluxus movement, and the impact it still rings on generations of artists today. Fluxus was founded by Lithuanian-American artist George Maciunas in the 1960s and merits experimental works that question the boundaries of what art can be. Ono fearlessly championed this burgeoning form of expressi...

Aya Takano, one of the first few Superflat artists under Takashi Murakami’s  Kaikai Kiki Co. group, is set to return with a new solo exhibition. Entitled LONGER THAN THE MYTH OF THE GALAXY alternative future, the exhibition will mark Takano’s first solo showcase in a decade.The first half of the exhibition’s title derived from a phrase featured in Emma Yukifune’s book, Breakfast for Lovers on Earth, which Takano was commissioned for the cover illustration. Meanwhile, the latter half of the show’s name denotes the central theme for all the featured works.Displaying at the heart of the gallery space will be a body of new oil paintings, which will be presented in a circular formation. In addition, a specially designed and crafted diorama model will also be incorporated into the space, invitin...

The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York will offer free entry to visitors aged 25 and under for the next three years, starting mid-December 2024, thanks to a $2 million USD donation from artist and board member Julie Mehretu, with additional support from philanthropist Susan Hess. This initiative follows the museum’s admission price hike last year, where standard fees increased from $25 to $30 USD and student rates from $18 to $24 USD, in line with trends at other institutions facing inflation and lower post-pandemic attendance.Mehretu, reflecting on her own challenges accessing art as a young adult in New York, emphasized the importance of making contemporary art more accessible to the Wall Street Journal. “If you want to evolve the discourse, more people need to participate,” she ...