Opinion & reviews

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• Joëlle Zask's 'Ammirare' Explores Admiration as Democratic Antidote to Cynicism and Idolatry opinion-review

  The article reviews Joëlle Zask's 2024 book 'Ammirare. Elogio di un sentimento che ci fa crescere', translated into Italian by Qiqajon in 2026. Zask, a French political and social…

• Maria Montessori's Educational Method Endures in a Digital Age opinion-review

  On the anniversary of Maria Montessori's birth (Chiaravalle, 31 August 1870 – Noordwijk, 6 May 1952), a reflection on her educational method's relevance today. Montessori, an…

• Designers as Secret Weapon for AI Era opinion-review

  A DesignObserver opinion piece argues that corporate over-focus on efficiency and shareholder returns has weakened customer experience, workforce morale, and infrastructure,…

• The Unfulfilled Promise of Viral Dance Kids opinion-review

  A New York Times article from May 4, 2026, examines the careers of young dancers who went viral online, questioning whether their early internet fame translated into sustained…

• Music as a Mirror for Grief: A Personal Journey Through Mahler, Messiaen, and Rachmaninoff opinion-review

  Tom Jacobs, a journalist covering the arts, recounts how music helped him process the death of his partner of 38 years, Eugenie 'Genie' Lee Kahn, who died of breast cancer on…

• Domenico Gnoli’s Hyper-Detailed Still Lifes at New Yorker opinion-review

  The New Yorker profiles Italian painter Domenico Gnoli, who transformed mundane objects like ties and bedsheets into monumental, alien-like landscapes through extreme close-up…

• Berlin Court Rules Against Extremist Label for Jewish Voice Group opinion-review

  The Berlin Administrative Court has ruled that the German domestic intelligence agency (Verfassungsschutz) can no longer classify the group "Jüdische Stimme für einen gerechten…

• Financial Times explores whether the art market needs AI opinion-review

  The Financial Times published an article questioning the necessity of artificial intelligence in the art market. The piece examines the potential role of AI technologies in…

• Taylor Swift and Spotify: AI Fakes as Verified Artists opinion-review

  Spotify has listed AI-generated artists like Sienna Rose and The Velvet Sundown as verified, exposing flaws in the platform's verification system. Taylor Swift is fighting for…

• US and Israel's war on Iran triggers global nuclear proliferation fears opinion-review

  The US and Israel, after waging war on the pretext of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, have ignited a new arms race. Israel's actions in Gaza and southern Lebanon…

• John-Paul Stonard warns of parallels between Nazi 'degenerate art' campaign and today's threats to artistic freedom opinion-review

  In a commentary for The Art Newspaper, art historian John-Paul Stonard draws parallels between the Nazi regime's attack on modern art and contemporary threats to artistic freedom.…

• Debate: Mozart Makes You Hungry — And Now? opinion-review

  The term 'third place' today often signals political high-culture shame, but originally it was a call to preserve small-scale gastronomy. The article explores how this concept has…

• Debate on 'Third Places' and the Role of Cultural Institutions opinion-review

  A recent opinion piece in Süddeutsche Zeitung questions whether opening museum foyers and equipping them with Wi-Fi is sufficient to address societal fragmentation through…

• Miriam van der Lubbe on Radical Softness and Shared Attention in Design opinion-review

  Designer Miriam van der Lubbe, partner at Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe and Creative Head of Dutch Design Week, advocates for 'radical softness' in design—a practice of listening,…

• Critics urged to seize opportunity as Biennale Visitor Lions replace international jury opinion-review

  The Venice Biennale has introduced the 'Leoni dei Visitatori' (Visitor Lions) after the resignation of the International Jury, shifting award power to the public. Alberto Villa,…

• Russian Pavilion Curator Anastasia Karneeva Defends Art's Independence via Instagram opinion-review

  On May 4, 2026, Anastasia Karneeva, curator of the Russian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, released a video on Instagram asserting that art must remain independent. The statement…

• Dan Reed Attacks Michael Jackson Biopic for Ignoring Abuse Allegations opinion-review

  British filmmaker Dan Reed, director of the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, has publicly criticized the upcoming biopic Michael for omitting child sexual abuse allegations…

• Creative industries split into maximisers and replacers over AI opinion-review

  Ollie Scott, CEO of talent consultancy Unknown, argues the creative industries are bifurcating into two camps: 'maximisers' who use AI to augment human talent, and 'replacers' who…

• Strack-Zimmermann's verbal attack on Mützenich over US troop withdrawal opinion-review

  In a German debate on US troop withdrawal, SPD politician Rolf Mützenich argued for disarmament and diplomacy over militarization. FDP MEP Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann responded…

• Aura Satz's 'Preemptive Listening' Explores Sirens Through Experimental Film opinion-review

  Aura Satz, a London-based artist, has created 'Preemptive Listening,' an art film examining sirens as warning devices. The film features striking images and an experimental…

• Museo Reina Sofía omite New Media Art en su colección permanente opinion-review

  El Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) ha reorganizado su colección permanente con la muestra 'Arte Contemporáneo 1975 – Presente', pero ha excluido por completo las obras…

• Grasset Affair: Could Publishers Become Mission-Driven Companies? opinion-review

  In a column for Le Monde, management science researcher Armand Hatchuel proposes that publishing houses explicitly enshrine their values in their corporate statutes to ensure…

• Australian arts leaders debate optimal tenure lengths amid sector challenges opinion-review

  ArtsHub surveyed Australian artists and arts workers on how long arts leaders should stay in their roles, revealing consensus and divergent views. Many criticize the typical…

• Stefan Sagmeister on Beauty, AI, and Low-Functioning Design opinion-review

  Stefan Sagmeister, the influential graphic designer behind Sagmeister Inc., advocates for "low-functioning design" that prioritizes beauty and human experience over efficiency. In…

• Victoria's New Arts Minister Urged to Reverse Funding Cuts opinion-review

  Vicki Ward, the newly appointed Creative Industries Minister in Victoria, faces mounting pressure to restore funding to arts organizations that were cut by Premier Jacinta Allan…

• Liam Otero on Art Writing as Creative Practice and Personal Journey opinion-review

  In a personal essay on his Substack, Art & Ponder, Liam Otero, the New York Editor for Whitehot Magazine, contemplates the relationship between art criticism and creative writing.…

• Boston Symphony's Strategic Plan Defended by Former Critic opinion-review

  A former New York Times music critic and orchestra administrator defends the Boston Symphony Orchestra's controversial 14-page strategic plan dated April 17, 2026, which has been…

• Práticas Instituintes: Repensando a Crítica Institucional e o Centro de Artes Santa Mònica opinion-review

  O artigo de Enric Puig, diretor do Centro de Artes Santa Mònica em Barcelona, revisita a crítica institucional como um desejo contínuo de transformação das instituições culturais,…

• Boston Symphony Board's Internal Memos Escalate Conflict with Musicians and Donors opinion-review

  The board of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of chair Barbara Hostetter, is currently grappling with a significant crisis following the exit of conductor…

• Pope Leo XIV Sparks Progressive Christian Revival in Theological Debate opinion-review

  A global theological debate, led by Pope Leo XIV and spanning Christian denominations, has reignited progressive Christianity, challenging the far-right's monopoly on the faith.…

• Critique of Visitor Lions and Jury Models at Venice Biennale opinion-review

  Angelo Argento argues that the proposed 'Visitor Lions' at the Venice Biennale are a fragile response to a deep crisis, but warns against unconditionally defending the traditional…

• Nord-Stream-Bücher: Mangel an journalistischer Distanz kritisiert opinion-review

  Zwei neue Bücher über die Sprengung der Nord-Stream-Pipelines werden wegen mangelnder journalistischer Distanz kritisiert. Der Europakorrespondent des Wall Street Journal, Bojan…

• How to Leverage Wealthy Connections Without Jeopardizing Friendship opinion-review

  A gallery owner advises artists on how to engage high-profile friends without appearing transactional. The key is to reframe the relationship from one of favors to professional…

• Human Minds Remain Special in Age of AI, Says Princeton Professor opinion-review

  In a Guardian opinion piece, Princeton professor Tom Griffiths argues that human intelligence remains distinct from AI due to biological constraints. He challenges the notion of…

• Heizungsgesetz: Symbol des politischen Scheiterns nach einem Jahr Merz opinion-review

  Ein Jahr nach Amtsantritt der Regierung Merz zeigt sich, dass das Konzept der „Technologieoffenheit“ die Bundesrepublik nicht voranbringt. Der Artikel kritisiert die mangelnde…

• Trump's Troop Withdrawal as Petty Reaction to Merz's Iran Criticism opinion-review

  The article interprets Donald Trump's announced troop withdrawal as a spiteful response to Friedrich Merz's criticism of the Iran war. It analyzes spite as a pattern used to…

• FT Review Praises Documentary on Mahler's Life and Genius opinion-review

  The Financial Times has published a review of the documentary 'The Last Movement,' which portrays composer Gustav Mahler as a genius struggling with inner turmoil. The film is…

• Book challenges myth of American Revolution as global revolt opinion-review

  A review in The New Yorker examines how the American Revolution is often mythologized as the spark for a global age of revolt, but historians Trevor Burnard, Andrew Jackson…

• Biennale-Jury-Rücktritt und Gallery Weekend Berlin: Medienschau opinion-review

  Kurz vor der Eröffnung der Kunstbiennale in Venedig trat die gesamte Jury zurück. Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, der Präsident der Biennale, sieht sich heftiger Kritik ausgesetzt,…

• Why Russia Should Stay at the Venice Biennale opinion-review

  An opinion piece argues against excluding Russia from the Venice Biennale, despite the war in Ukraine. The Russian pavilion's exhibition, titled 'Der Baum ist im Himmel…