Magma 1: A Lavish Annual Publication Blending Art, Music, and Literature

Magma 1 is a clothbound, hardback annual publication supported by Bottega Veneta, edited by Paul Olivennes and published by Documents Publishing for €60. Each numbered edition includes a 7-inch single etched on a medical X-ray, featuring Andra Ursuța, and a facsimile letter by René Char. Olivennes cites inspiration from historical art revues like the Surrealist journal Minotaure (1933) and Andy Warhol’s Interview (1969), positioning Magma as a 'journal without qualities' with no theme, position, or principles. A foreword by Hans Ulrich Obrist, in handwritten form, references Édouard Glissant’s mondialité and resistance to global homogenization. Contributors include Sophie Calle, Lucas Arruda, Agnès Varda, and J.W. von Goethe, with photographic portfolios by Frida Orupabo, Luigi Ghirri, and India Mahdavi, the latter showcasing images of cakes and space in Cairo. The layout emphasizes large-scale imagery, creating a cabinet of curiosities effect, though the coherence between elements is debatable. The publication aims to evoke a pre-digital multimedia experience, blending art, music, and literature in a lavish format.