The Philosopher Who Predicted Our Post-Literate Art Moment

Art critic Martha Schwendener has released a new book titled 'The Society of the Screen: Vilém Flusser’s Radical Prescience,' exploring the prophetic theories of the late philosopher Vilém Flusser. Flusser, a Prague-born thinker who lived in Brazil and Europe, argued in the 1980s that society was transitioning from a text-based culture to one dominated by 'technical images,' a shift he believed would fundamentally alter human consciousness and the function of the 'apparatus' in daily life.

Which City Will Be the Next Asian Art Hub? That’s the Wrong Question

The traditional quest to identify a single dominant Asian art hub is being challenged by the organic growth of decentralized scenes in cities like Bangkok and Hanoi. While Hong Kong and Seoul remain established centers, private initiatives and artist-led projects in Thailand and Vietnam are building resilient, hybrid ecosystems that prioritize long-term structural depth over immediate auction results. From the opening of Dib Bangkok to experimental exhibitions in Hanoi, these cities are transitioning from peripheral status to significant cultural players through a mix of private museums, biennials, and non-profit platforms.

A book exploring the evolution of J.M.W. Turner’s positions on slavery

Art historian Sam Smiles has released a comprehensive new book examining J.M.W. Turner’s complex relationship with the slave trade, expanding on his 2007 discovery of the artist's personal investment in a Jamaican cattle farm that utilized enslaved labor. The research traces Turner’s financial ties from his early patronage by wealthy plantation owners to his own speculative ventures, challenging the long-held perception of the artist as a straightforward abolitionist.

‘Barbara Windsor smacked our bottoms!’ Pet Shop Boys on showstopping visuals, horrified bosses – and snubbing the queen

The Pet Shop Boys have released a comprehensive 600-page visual monograph titled 'Pet Shop Boys: Volume,' documenting over 40 years of their aesthetic evolution. The book explores the duo's collaboration with high-profile artists, photographers, and directors including Wolfgang Tillmans, Alasdair McLellan, Derek Jarman, and long-time designer Mark Farrow. It highlights how Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe utilized the music industry's 1980s boom to treat pop music as a 'Gesamtkunstwerk' (total work of art), merging avant-garde fashion, minimalist graphic design, and cinematic music videos.

What Art Can Do

A conversation between German author and filmmaker Alexander Kluge and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, originally published in 2017, has been republished following Kluge's recent death at age 94. The dialogue explores the unique capacities of different art forms, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, and the role of art as an "oasis" or "garden" within an overwhelming technological landscape.

Gangnam styles: South Korea’s brutalist gems – in pictures

Photographer Paul Tulett has captured the stark, concrete landscapes of South Korea in his new book, *Brutalist Korea*, published by Prestel. The photo series highlights a range of architectural landmarks, from Tadao Ando’s minimalist Jeju Glass House and Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza to the playful geometry of the Paju Kindergarten. Tulett’s work documents how the raw, monumental aesthetic of Brutalism has evolved from the country’s postwar industrialization into a sophisticated tool for modern urban experimentation.

Honoring Frederic Church: Beyond the Hudson River School

Art historians and curators are re-evaluating the legacy of Frederic Church, arguing that his contributions extend far beyond his traditional classification as a Hudson River School landscape painter. New research highlights his sophisticated engagement with 19th-century science, his architectural achievements at his estate, Olana, and his role as a global traveler who captured the spirit of the Andes and the Arctic.

Madrid: Hypnotic Laugh Track by Manga Ngcobo

Writer Manga Ngcobo reflects on the architectural and cultural landscape of Madrid in early 2025, juxtaposing the city's historic art institutions with its rapid technological and commercial evolution. Drawing on Ben Lerner’s novel 'Leaving the Atocha Station', the piece explores the growing disconnect between the profound emotional experiences promised by masters like Velázquez and Goya and the reality of a city increasingly designed for content creation, retail aesthetics, and digital consumption.

8 Artists to Follow If You Like Marcel Duchamp

Marcel Duchamp’s legacy continues to shape contemporary art through his pioneering use of readymades, conceptual rigor, and institutional critique. This analysis identifies eight modern and contemporary artists whose practices echo Duchamp’s subversion of traditional aesthetics, ranging from his early experiments with found objects to his later explorations of gender and mechanical desire.

How Australian Chefs and Farmers Are Rediscovering the Ingredients That Have Been There All Along

Author Bruce Pascoe and a new generation of Australian chefs are spearheading a movement to revive Indigenous agricultural practices and native ingredients. Drawing from Pascoe’s influential book *Dark Emu*, which challenges the colonial narrative of Aboriginal people as purely nomadic hunter-gatherers, the movement highlights sophisticated ancient systems of aquaculture, irrigation, and grain harvesting. From kangaroo grass to Kakadu plums, these native foods are being reintegrated into the Australian landscape and high-end culinary scene.

Mexico City: El Desagüe by Luis Ortega Govela

Francis Alÿs’s 1997 performance piece, *Paradox of Praxis I*, serves as a starting point for an exploration of Mexico City’s violent hydrological transformation. By pushing a block of ice through the streets until it evaporates, Alÿs retraces the vanished canals of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital that was systematically drained by Spanish colonizers to establish a terrestrial, European-style urban grid.

Are All Crises Equal? A Conversation with MOS’s Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample by ANY

Architects Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample of the firm MOS discuss the concept of "polycrisis"—the intersection of economic, political, and ecological failures—and its impact on architectural form. The conversation highlights a growing void between the formal aesthetic project of architecture and the urgent political realities of the modern world. Sample specifically addresses how the dominance of political and regulatory restrictions in collective housing has stifled formal innovation, often reducing architecture to a mere byproduct of governance rather than a tool for social or cultural expression.

Social Malpractice in the Age of Cultural Compliance

Artist Ed Woodham reflects on the evolution and co-option of socially engaged art, using his own projects like 'The Keepers' protests and the Art in Odd Places initiative as examples. He describes a troubling trend where the language and strategies of social practice art, once used to challenge systems, are now being adopted by developers, corporations, and institutions for branding, place-making, and community engagement initiatives that often operate within the very economic structures driving displacement and eroding public space.

Zurich: Peripheral Presence. by Tibor Bielicky and Ellena Ehrl

Zurich’s urban landscape is defined by functionalist structures from the 1990s and early 2000s that serve as the 'understated backdrop' to daily life. These buildings, including the Signal Box by Gigon Guyer and the Telecap 2000 by Hans Ulrich Imesch, act as navigational markers at the city’s geographic choke points. Despite their significance in shaping the city's rhythm and internal choreography, many of these structures are now reaching the end of their first lifecycle and face the threat of demolition due to real estate speculation.

Unlearning Optimization – with Heike Geißler

Optimierung verlernen – mit Heike Geißler

Award-winning author Heike Geißler discusses the necessity of resisting constant self-optimization and embracing despair as a response to modern labor conditions. Drawing from her experiences working in an Amazon warehouse, which inspired her book "Saisonarbeit," Geißler argues that the pressure to perform often leads to a "culture of contempt" and that acknowledging systemic failures is a vital form of resistance.

Collapse Finance, Part 1: Introduction

The global financial landscape is undergoing a structural shift toward "collapse finance," where institutions designed to manage risk are increasingly profiting from and accelerating systemic instability. Amid geopolitical turmoil and the abandonment of green initiatives, traditional concepts of market security are unravelling, replaced by a system that monetizes uncertainty through instruments like catastrophe bonds and volatile cryptocurrencies.

Navajo Nation: the fight for cultural survival – photo essay

The Navajo Nation is currently navigating a complex struggle to preserve its cultural heritage against the lingering effects of colonial-era boarding schools and the modern pressures of social media and urbanization. While elders like Virginia Brown recount the trauma of forced assimilation and language suppression, a new generation is grappling with a decline in Navajo fluency, which UNESCO now classifies as a vulnerable language. Despite these hurdles, community members are utilizing local schools and traditional practices to reclaim their identity.

Australia’s best photos of the month – March 2026

The article presents a collection of notable Australian cultural events and announcements from March 2026. It highlights the addition of the viral 'Succulent Chinese Meal' speech to the National Film and Sound Archive, a profile of 'Squid Game' composer Jung Jae-il, pianist Jayson Gillham's announced tour with a Palestinian-Jordanian musician ahead of a court case, and Kylie Minogue's scheduled performance at the AFL Grand Final.

‘The happiness on their faces pulled me back to my own childhood’: Mark Linel Padecio’s best phone picture

Photographer Mark Linel Padecio captured his 10-year-old daughter, Xianthee, and her five-year-old cousin, Zack, playing joyfully in the mud of a riverbed on the family farm in Dapdap, Philippines. The moment occurred after a brief rainfall ended a severe drought, transforming a landscape of hardship into one of relief. Padecio, initially surprised by his usually serious city-dwelling daughter's abandon, was moved by the children's authentic happiness to document the scene with his phone instead of stopping them.

White stuff: capturing a land without colour – in pictures

Photographer Elizabeth Sanjuan has released a new book titled 'Silent Snow,' featuring 40 monochrome images captured over four winters in Hokkaido, Japan. The work focuses on the island's snow-covered landscape, which remains white for half the year, and explores the visual and emotional qualities of this extreme environment.

A Landscape Designer’s Favorite Gardening Tools

T Magazine's regular feature highlights a landscape designer's personal selection of essential gardening tools, offering readers a curated list of practical implements favored by a professional. The article serves as both a practical guide for gardening enthusiasts and an insight into the working methods of a design professional, connecting the tools of the trade to the broader creative practice of shaping outdoor spaces.

The Tech Bro Problem in Public Art

The article critiques the growing influence of wealthy tech entrepreneurs on public art commissions, arguing that their personal tastes and desire for monumental, often self-aggrandizing works are reshaping civic spaces. It highlights how this trend sidelines professional curatorial expertise and community input, replacing public dialogue with private patronage that prioritizes technological spectacle over artistic depth or social relevance.

A new issue of the Pax newsletter on cultural tourism is arriving: Previews to entice those not yet subscribed

In arrivo un nuovo numero della newsletter Pax sul turismo culturale. Le anticipazioni per ingolosire chi non è ancora abbonato

The Italian Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the audio platform Loquis to integrate sound-based storytelling into the country's official tourism portal. This initiative, led by digital entrepreneur Bruno Pellegrini, aims to preserve the memory of Italian territories while promoting future development through an "audio atlas." The project is a central feature of the upcoming issue of Artribune’s Pax newsletter, which focuses on the intersection of cultural tourism, art, and hospitality.

Austin Bell Chronicles Every Single One of Hong Kong’s 2,549 Basketball Courts

Photographer Austin Bell documented all 2,549 outdoor basketball courts in Hong Kong, creating the series SHOOTING HOOPS. Using a drone and Google Maps, he captured the courts' vivid colors and geometric designs from an aerial perspective over 140 days of shooting, sometimes photographing hundreds in a single day.

We were at the Turin concert where Marlene Kuntz celebrated the 30th anniversary of their unforgettable album "Il vile"

Siamo stati al concerto di Torino dove i Marlene Kuntz festeggiavano i 30 anni del loro indimenticabile disco “Il vile”

Italian alternative rock band Marlene Kuntz recently performed two sold-out shows at the Hiroshima Mon Amour venue in Turin to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their seminal album, *Il vile*. The concert featured a near-complete performance of the 1996 record, which is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Italian noise rock. The anniversary celebration also includes a nationwide tour and a special vinyl reissue featuring new artwork by renowned illustrator Alessandro Baronciani.

The business of body art

The article explores the evolving economic landscape of the professional tattooing industry, shifting from a counter-culture fringe to a sophisticated global business sector. It details how artists and studio owners are adopting traditional corporate structures, including brand licensing, specialized retail products, and digital marketing strategies to capitalize on the increasing mainstream acceptance of body art.

Alain Passard’s Art Recipe: An Island of Tastes Wrapped in the Style of Christo and Jeanne-Claude

La recette d’art d’Alain Passard : un îlot de goûts emballé façon Christo et Jeanne-Claude

Michelin-starred chef Alain Passard pays tribute to the monumental environmental installations of Christo and Jeanne-Claude through a culinary creation. The article highlights the duo's 1983 project 'Surrounded Islands,' where they encircled eleven islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with 600,000 square meters of floating pink polypropylene fabric, a work that exemplified their commitment to self-funded, accessible, and ephemeral public art.

Museums have a duty to inspire the creatives of the future. At V&A East, I’ve made that my mission | Gus Casely-Hayford

Gus Casely-Hayford, the director of V&A East, outlines his vision for the new museum as a collaborative space designed specifically to re-engage young audiences. Highlighting a new commission by Cuban artist Tania Bruguera created with local youth, Casely-Hayford argues that museums must move beyond Victorian-era paternalism toward a model of co-creation. The institution has consulted over 30,000 young people to ensure its galleries, such as the "Why We Make" space, reflect contemporary concerns and community needs.

Should Wine Also Become UNESCO Heritage? Yes, But New Certification Criteria Must Be Imagined

Anche il vino diventa Patrimonio Unesco? Ok, ma si dovrebbero immaginare nuovi criteri di certificazione

EU Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen has proposed that the culture of wine and vine be officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, citing its deep roots in European and Italian tradition. While wine-related practices like Pantelleria’s 'vite ad alberello' and various vineyard landscapes are already protected, this new proposal seeks a broader, more unified cultural designation for the industry.

What are therapeutic gardens and how are they designed? An expert explains

Cosa sono i giardini terapeutici e come si progettano. Ce lo spiega l’esperta

Landscape architect Monica Botta discusses the resurgence and design principles of healing gardens, specialized green spaces designed to promote physical and psychological well-being. While the therapeutic value of nature was largely ignored in mid-20th-century clinical architecture, a modern shift is reintegrating 'nature therapy' into healthcare facilities to combat stress, depression, and chronic illnesses.