Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

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Beata Hock Interview Discusses Feminist Curatorial Practice and Exhibition 'Agents et provocateurs' opinion-review
Beata Hock, an independent curator and researcher based in Budapest, holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Gender Studies and specializes in feminist cultural theory. In collaboration with…
Zimbabwe's Contemporary Art Scene Navigates Economic Hardship and Cultural Debates opinion-review
In November 2009, a visitor to Zimbabwe explored the country's contemporary art landscape, engaging with local artists and institutions. The National Gallery of Zimbabwe hosted…
Paris Photography Scene in 2009: A Critical Review opinion-review
By late 2009, the photography landscape in Paris was uninspired, with fine-art photography merely rehashing old styles and photojournalism failing to connect with current events,…
Christophe Kihm critiques the French debate on curatorial authorship and terminology opinion-review
In the February 2010 issue of art press n°364, Christophe Kihm addresses the ongoing discussion in France among critics and curators regarding the distinction between "curator"…
Berlin's Feinkost Gallery presents 'Communism Never Happened' exhibition marking fall of Berlin Wall anniversary opinion-review
Aaron Moulton, director of Feinkost Galerie in Berlin, curated the exhibition 'Communism Never Happened' which ran from November 7, 2009 to December 20, 2009. The show was timed…
Peter McCarthy Reflects on Berlin Wall's Cultural Impact as Symptom and Symbol opinion-review
Peter McCarthy examines the Berlin Wall's dual role as both concrete reality and psychological symptom in cultural production. Published on January 16, 2010, the analysis traces…
Robert Storr Criticizes New Museum's Deal with Dakis Joannou opinion-review
In a 2010 article for Art Press, critic Robert Storr examines the New Museum's controversial decision to exhibit works from the collection of Greek magnate Dakis Joannou, curated…
Bruno Dumont and Eugène Green Films Contrast Mystical Cinema opinion-review
In a 2010 art press article, Fabrice Hadjadj compares two films exploring mysticism and cinema: Bruno Dumont's 'Hadewijch' and Eugène Green's 'La religieuse portugaise'. Both…
Juraj Bartoš's Photographic Retrospective at Slovak National Gallery Charts Urban and Social Change opinion-review
Between October 1 and November 22, 2009, the Slovak National Gallery located in Bratislava's Esterházy Palace presented a collection of photographs by Juraj Bartoš, a 66-year-old…
Bogoslav Kalaš's Machine-Made Nudes Challenge Painting's Truth in Digital Age opinion-review
Bogoslav Kalaš invented a large painting machine in 1971 that remains in his Domžale, Slovenia studio, using an 'aerography' technique to transfer photographic images onto canvas…
Podcast Forum on Feminism and Contemporary Art in Eastern Europe Held in Bratislava opinion-review
A podcast discussion on feminism and contemporary art in Eastern Europe occurred on November 9, 2009, linked to the exhibition Les Femmes Parlent at Gandy Gallery in Bratislava.…
Third Moscow Biennale Critiqued as Disorganized International Survey opinion-review
The 3rd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art took place from September 24 to October 23, 2009, at the Garage, Center for Contemporary Culture, under the curation of Jean-Hubert…
Soichiro Fukutake: Japan's François Pinault opinion-review
Judith Benhamou-Huet's column in art press n°360 (October 2009) draws a parallel between French billionaire François Pinault and Japanese businessman Soichiro Fukutake. Both are…
Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts Embraces Curatorial System and Flexible Media Criteria opinion-review
The 28th Ljubljana Biennial of Graphic Arts was held at the International Centre of Graphic Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from September 4 to October 25, 2009. A review by Matjaž…
Jacques Henric on France's Troubled Memory in art press opinion-review
In his November 2009 column for art press, Jacques Henric reflects on France's difficulty confronting its own history. He notes that it took over half a century to lift censorship…
Robert Storr Criticizes Damien Hirst and Market Excess in 2009 Art Press Column opinion-review
In a November 2009 column for Art Press, critic Robert Storr uses the arrest of graffiti artist Cartrain for stealing colored pencils from a Damien Hirst installation at Tate…
China's Nationalist Turn During the 2009 Financial Crisis opinion-review
In a November 2009 article for art press, Estelle Bories examines the risk of nationalist retrenchment in China's art world amid the global financial crisis. The piece, part of a…
Russian Art Scene: Between Market, Ideology, and Isolation opinion-review
In a dossier on contemporary art from 2009, critic Ekaterina Degot explores the Russian art landscape, emphasizing a mix of cynicism and the intersection of wealth with art. The…
Russian Contemporary Art: Oligarchs, Politics, and a New Sincerity opinion-review
In the face of economic downturn, the contemporary art landscape in Russia is being shaped by affluent newcomers such as Daria Zhoukova, 26, who established the Garage Center in…
Editorial: Crimes sans victimes – Jacques Henric on the 'Empire of Good' opinion-review
In an editorial for art press n°360 (October 2009), Jacques Henric denounces the proliferation of laws restricting individual freedoms under the guise of protection. He cites…
Yuki Onodera, Martin Parr, Lynne Cohen: Photography's Hot and Cold Dialectic opinion-review
In a review for art press, Dominique Baqué contrasts the 'cold' photography of Lynne Cohen with the 'hot' kitsch of Yuki Onodera and Martin Parr. Onodera's series '12 Speed' (at…
Viktor Misiano Analyzes the Transformation of Russia's Art System from Soviet to Hypercapitalist opinion-review
In a 2009 article for artpress, curator Viktor Misiano examines the evolution of Russia's art scene following the dissolution of the USSR. He posits that a new, market-oriented…
David Ter-Oganyan's 'Black Geometry' at Marat Guelman Gallery Explores Political Borders Through Abstract Paintings opinion-review
From July 8 to July 20, 2009, Marat Guelman Gallery in Moscow hosted 'Black Geometry,' an exhibition by David Ter-Oganyan. It showcased nine untitled white canvases adorned with…
Jiri Menzel's 'I Served the King of England' DVD Release Sparks American Critical Debate on Czech Sensibility opinion-review
Jiri Menzel's film 'I Served the King of England,' released in the U.S. in February 2009, marked the anniversaries of Czech liberation from both Nazi occupation and communist…
Review of Piotr Piotrowski's 'In the Shadow of Yalta' Examines Eastern European Art History opinion-review
In his 2009 publication, 'In the Shadow of Yalta: Art and the Avant-Garde in Eastern Europe 1945-1989', released by Reaktion Books Ltd., Piotr Piotrowski examines the visual arts…
Film 'The Painter Sam Francis' Screens at Anthology Film Archives, Exploring Artist's Life and Work opinion-review
Jeffrey Perkins's documentary, 'The Painter Sam Francis,' which spans 40 years of filming, is being showcased at Anthology Film Archives in New York until September 17, 2009. The…
French Justice System Ridiculed Over 'Présumés innocents' Prosecution opinion-review
Nine years after the exhibition 'Présumés innocents' at CAPC Bordeaux, former director Henry-Claude Cousseau and curators Marie-Laure Bernadac and Stéphanie Moisdon-Trembley face…
Erik Verhagen Reviews 'Silences' at MAMCS Strasbourg opinion-review
In the September 2009 issue of art press (no. 359), Erik Verhagen reviews the group exhibition 'Silences' held at the Musée d'art moderne et contemporain (MAMCS) in Strasbourg,…
J.H.'s Literary Feuilleton: A Life and Work opinion-review
The author reflects on their early 1960s literary column in a communist weekly, disavowing any claim to professional criticism. Their political engagement and focus on avant-garde…
Analysis of Russian TV's 2005 Victory Day coverage as nation-building propaganda under Putin opinion-review
Stephen Hutchings examines how Russian television coverage of the 60th anniversary of World War II victory on May 9, 2005 served Vladimir Putin's nation-building agenda. Following…
Marilia Destot's 2009 documentary on Ariane Lopez-Huici resurfaces for 2013 exhibition opinion-review
In 2009, Marilia Destot released a black-and-white documentary titled 'The Body Close Up,' which chronicles the career of photographer Ariane Lopez-Huici from the 1970s until…
Ivan Moudov's Subversive Solo Exhibition at Kunstverein Braunschweig Challenged Art World Structures opinion-review
From December 6, 2008, to February 12, 2009, Kunstverein Braunschweig hosted a solo exhibition titled "Trick Or Treat" by Bulgarian artist Ivan Moudov. The exhibition included…
Peter Handke's 1996 Serbian Travelogue Sparks Controversy, Compared to Balkan Filmmakers' Works opinion-review
In January 1996, Austrian playwright Peter Handke published diaries from a visit to Serbia, triggering widespread criticism known as the 'Handke Affair.' His travelogue, 'A…
Isabelle Zribi's 'Tous les soirs de ma vie': A Bleak Yet Hopeful Narrative opinion-review
Pascal Boulanger reviews Isabelle Zribi's 'Tous les soirs de ma vie', a narrative steeped in despair, negativity, and repeated scenes of hopelessness. The narrator, reminiscent of…
Analysis of Narrative Patterns in Anna Melikyan's 2007 Film 'Rusalka' opinion-review
The 2007 film 'Rusalka,' directed by Anna Melikyan, chronicles the life of Alisa, a girl from a small town, across thirteen chapters that span her childhood to early adulthood.…
Anna Melikyan's film 'Mermaid' analyzed as modern fairy tale in ARTMargins roundtable opinion-review
In her exploration of Anna Melikyan's 2009 film 'Mermaid' (Rusalka), Christine Goelz presents it as a modern fairy tale that challenges traditional narratives. The study…
Adorno's Critique of Film as Popular Art Applied to Russian Film "Rusalka" in 2009 Roundtable opinion-review
In a 2009 roundtable featured in ARTMargins Online, the 2007 Russian film "Rusalka" is analyzed through Theodor W. Adorno's critique of the culture industry. Adorno contended that…
Roundtable Discussion on Anna Melikyan's Film 'Rusalka' Explores New Russian Identity opinion-review
In November 2008, a roundtable focused on Anna Melikyan's 2007 film 'Rusalka' (The Mermaid) took place after a workshop at the Free University in Berlin, part of the 'Die nicht…
Boris Groys's 'Art Power' Critiques Market Dominance and Pluralism in Contemporary Art opinion-review
Boris Groys's 2008 book 'Art Power,' published by MIT Press, argues that contemporary art is nearly synonymous with the art market, challenging critiques of commodification as…
Film Review: The Bug Trainer Explores Ladislas Starevich's Stop-Motion Animation Legacy opinion-review
The 2008 film The Bug Trainer (Vabzdžių dresuotojas), helmed by Donatas Ulvydas, Linas Augutis, Marek Skrobecki, and Rasa Miškinytė, explores the life of Ladislas Starevich, who…

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