Is It Simple to Be a Communist in Philosophy? Review of Alberto Toscano, Communism in Philosophy

Is It Simple to Be a Communist in Philosophy? Review of Alberto Toscano, Communism in Philosophy

The article reviews Alberto Toscano's book 'Communism in Philosophy', which examines the intellectual convergence of philosophers Alain Badiou and Antonio Negri. Both thinkers, whose major works gained prominence in the early 2000s, are analyzed for their shared commitment to rethinking communism as a philosophical concept beyond its historical political failures.

On the Background in the Cinema

Film Notes has published a new essay by scholar Tiago de Luca, drawn from his research on environment and cinema. The essay focuses on the conceptual and aesthetic role of the background in film, tracing its technical history and examining its relation to power, marginalization, and environmental crisis.

Running from one image to another, from one time to another, from one hope to another: at Circolo, in Milan, an exhibition on the contemporary Lebanese scene

The article reviews "Shifting Crossroads. Beirut Contemporary," an exhibition at Circolo in Milan that surveys the contemporary Lebanese art scene. It features internationally recognized artists like Mona Hatoum and Simone Fattal alongside emerging talents, including works from the Saikalis Bay Foundation, founded in 2024 by Nicole Saikalis and Matteo Bay. The show spans historical-archival investigation, photography, installation, painting, and sculpture, with pieces such as Stéphanie Saadé's "Stage of Life" (2021), Catherine Cattaruzza's "I am Folding the Land" (2022), and Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige's "Waiting for the Barbarians" (2013) exploring themes of memory, fragility, and geopolitical instability.

The art of unlearning

Quddus Mirza’s latest exhibition, "New Works" at Canvas Gallery in Karachi, marks a significant stylistic shift as the veteran artist, critic, and educator embraces the concept of "unlearning." Drawing inspiration from the raw honesty of children's drawings, Mirza presents twelve striking paintings that shed academic discipline in favor of blunt expression and intuitive mark-making. The works frequently utilize a dominant red palette to signal urgency, revolution, and bloodshed, juxtaposing domestic imagery with symbols of global unrest.

Picasso’s most radical work returns through Bedri Baykam’s Istanbul exhibition

Turkish artist Bedri Baykam has launched a major solo exhibition titled “Baykam on Picasso: Les Demoiselles Revisited” at Piramid Sanat in Istanbul. Following its debut at Galerie S/Beaubourg in Paris, the show centers on a multi-layered reinterpretation of Pablo Picasso’s 1907 masterpiece, "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon." The exhibition features a mix of paintings and immersive installations, including a conceptual Turkish bath and historical recreations of brothels in Paris and Istanbul, all designed to bridge the gap between Western modernism and Eastern influences.

A new home for Asian contemporary art opens in landmarked building in Manhattan's Chinatown

The Wang Contemporary has officially opened its doors in a landmarked Beaux Arts building at 58 Bowery in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Founded by fashion designer Alexander Wang and his mother, Ying Wang, the cultural organization debuted with a site-specific installation by the Brooklyn-based conceptual collective MSCHF titled '20,000 Variations On A Paper Plane In Flight.' The performance featured red and gold paper planes launched from the building's central oculus, blending traditional Lunar New Year symbolism with conceptual art in a space that formerly served as a bank.

Catalyst: Art as Activism

Summerhall Arts in Edinburgh has launched "Catalyst: Art as Activism," a major exhibition featuring four solo shows by artists Eilidh Appletree, Taraneh Dana, Kasia Oleskiewicz, and Molly Wickett. The project utilizes sculpture and installation to confront urgent global issues including the climate crisis, capitalist extraction, disability rights, and the realities of migration. A central component, Eilidh Appletree’s "Net Worthy," uses materials like mycelium, soya wax, and sand to create a submerged seascape that warns of biodiversity loss and the ecological consequences of industrial food production.

Naho Kawabe "Flos Filicis: Flower of the Fern" @ WAITINGROOM

川辺ナホ「Flos Filicis：羊歯の花」@ WAITINGROOM

The Tokyo gallery WAITINGROOM is hosting "Flos Filicis: Flower of the Fern," a solo exhibition by Naho Kawabe featuring new installations, photo collages, and drawings. The exhibition centers on the paradoxical concept of the "fern flower" to explore the relationship between fossil fuels, industrial infrastructure, and the myth of progress. Kawabe utilizes materials like charcoal and electrical components alongside research-based lithographs to examine the history of Japanese migrant coal miners in Germany and the broader ecological impact of energy consumption.

Missoula Art Museum: The Escapee (museum exhibition)

The Missoula Art Museum (MAM) in Missoula, Montana, recently exhibited a 1999 mixed media assemblage titled *The Escapee* by Stephen Glueckert. Glueckert, a sculptor and mixed media artist living in Missoula, holds a BFA from the University of Idaho and an MA in Art Education from Western Washington University. He is retired from his role as curator of the Missoula Art Museum and now works as a full-time artist. The photos of the exhibition were taken on May 15, 2026.

'Seeing, Again' at Tang Contemporary Art, Beijing, China on 16 May–27 Jun 2026

The article announces the exhibition 'Seeing, Again' at Tang Contemporary Art in Beijing, running from May 16 to June 27, 2026. The show features artists Melody Park, Goyoung, Vibeke Slyngstad, Ruo-Hsin Wu, Yasuhito Kawasaki, and Yoshikatsu Ikeuchi, whose works across painting and sculpture explore themes of perception, memory, and the recovery of Walter Benjamin's concept of 'aura' in an age of image saturation. The exhibition is structured as a continuous sensory reawakening, inviting viewers to slow down and engage with art beyond habitual consumption.

Show White: Academy of Visual Arts, University of the Arts Sharjah exhibition

The Academy of Visual Arts at the University of the Arts Sharjah is presenting a faculty exhibition titled 'Show White,' curated by Tor Seidel and assisted by Maryam AlQassimi. The show, first hosted at Rawaq Gallery (April 8–23) and currently at XVA Gallery in Al Fahidi (April 25–May 21), explores the multifaceted concept of 'white' through diverse mediums and techniques. Participating faculty artists include Georgina Abood, Dr. Mohammed Yousif Alhammadi, Muatasim Alkubaisy, Alina Erimia, Muhammad Asad Iqbal, Thaier Helal, Dr. Iman Ibrahim, and Andreea Lonhardt-Muresan, each presenting works that engage with white as a symbol of minimalism, purity, emptiness, or cultural memory.

Between here and home

Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson, NY, presents "Between here and home," a group exhibition running from May 22 through July 12, with an opening reception on May 23. The show features works by Fred Cohen, Frank DePietro, Deb Lawrence, Olan Quattro, and ransome, exploring the concept of home as an evolving construct shaped by memory, material, and experience. The exhibition draws on the Welsh idea of hiraeth—a longing for a lost or imagined home—and includes paintings, collages, and mixed media works that reflect each artist's personal engagement with place, interior space, and inherited histories.

Artistree Gallery hosts Unbound Vol. XIV exhibition

Artistree Gallery in South Pomfret, Vermont, is hosting "Unbound Vol. XIV," an annual exhibition of book art coinciding with the Bookstock literary festival. The show features works by artists including Andre Lee Bassuet, Carole McNamee, Larry Clifford, and Dorsey Hogg, who transform discarded books into sculptures, quilts, and wearable pieces. Notable works include Bassuet's "A Thin Veil," a shawl made from pages of Soviet writer Ilia Ehrenburg's collected works, and "Women in the Field," a cyanotype cloak honoring pioneering women naturalists.

Art and Design seniors exhibit their work at Krannert Art Museum

More than 100 seniors from the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will showcase their final projects at Krannert Art Museum from May 9 to May 16. The Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition features work across all disciplines, including art education, art history, graphic design, industrial design, and studio art. Graphic design students Rinnell Borges and Natalie Mora created the exhibition's branding and catalog under the theme "Myth of Originality," drawing inspiration from fellow students' work and university archives. Individual projects include Borges's syrup packaging concept, Mora's communication guide for Latino communities, Caroline Dorion's charcoal drawings of draped female figures, and Sylvie Leyerle's children's book about her adoption from China.

No One Understood the 2026 Met Gala Theme Quite Like Bad Bunny

At the 2026 Met Gala, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny arrived in a transformative look that made him nearly unrecognizable. He wore a black pussy-bow blouse, wrap blazer, and trousers, with prosthetics and makeup by Mike Marin turning him into an old man, accessorized with a cane. The gala's theme, inspired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 'Costume as Art' exhibition, had a dress code of 'Fashion is Art,' and Bad Bunny's choice specifically highlighted the aging body, aligning with the exhibition's focus on the body at all stages.

Gulistan at GNAMC of Rome

Chinese artist Gulistan, based in Beijing, presents her solo exhibition "Time Garden" at the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art (GNAMC) in Rome. Curated by Gabriele Simongini and supported by the Foundation for Chinese Art in Italy and the International Federation of Women Artists 923 Art Space, the show explores a fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics through painting, drawing on the legacy of the Silk Road. The exhibition features series such as "Fragments of Time," "The Nature of Memory," and "Memory of the Portraits," blending Chinese ink traditions with classical Western portraiture and archaeological motifs.

This art exhibition in Delhi evokes nostalgia around the houses we once lived in

An exhibition titled 'Houses I Almost Lived In' is currently on view at Latitude 28 gallery in Delhi's Defence Colony, running until May 25. The show brings together works by five artists—Shalina Vichitra, Pooja Iranna, Raj Jariwala, Samit Das, and Mahen Perera—who explore how architecture, memory, and belonging intertwine. Through layered cartographies, cement grids, stitched forms, and material fragments, the artists evoke nostalgia for the houses and spaces we once inhabited, examining how physical structures persist in personal and collective memory long after they vanish.

Heiner Goebbels’ Landscape Plays faces an uphill battle to appeal to the public

The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Mumbai is hosting the first solo exhibition in India of German composer Heiner Goebbels, titled 'Landscape Plays'. The exhibition, presented by the Goethe-Institut, features six slow-moving, non-narrative video installations that challenge traditional viewing habits with their meditative, plotless approach.

Delhi exhibition spotlights oneness through an exploration of opposites

A new exhibition titled 'Dvaita: Dualities' has opened at The Lexicon Art in New Delhi, featuring works by ten artists exploring the concept of oneness through opposites. The show includes paintings, murals, and installations that examine contrasts like black and white, geometry and abstraction, and the relationship between humanity and nature.

MFA candidate brings ecological art to the Broad Art Museum

Hailey Becker, a Master of Fine Arts candidate at Michigan State University, has debuted a large-scale ecological sound sculpture at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. The installation features over 10,000 hand-cracked walnut shells suspended in a human-sized chime, which are struck by a mechanical arm to mimic the sound of water hitting a coastline. The project is the culmination of Becker’s interdisciplinary research, blending her background in engineering and material science with her current studies in forestry and fine arts.

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art announces artist exhibitions for 2026

The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) has unveiled its 2026 exhibition schedule, themed "A Year of Joy Through Art." The lineup features four distinct solo presentations: a retrospective of Northern California Funk Art movement figure Maija Peeples-Bright, a portrait series exploring Puerto Rican identity by Norma I. Quintana, shimmering queer-themed tapestries by John Paul Morabito, and a narrative-driven survey of M. Louise Stanley’s humorous paintings and personal archives.

One of London’s greatest art institutions will be transformed by a vast immersive exhibition this summer

The Barbican Centre in London has announced a massive immersive exhibition titled 'In Other Worlds,' set to open in May 2026. Led by BAFTA-nominated filmmaker and 'speculative futurist' Liam Young, the exhibition marks his first major solo show in the UK and will feature collaborations with creators from major productions like Westworld, Fallout, and Lord of the Rings. The installation will span three locations within the institution, including the Curve gallery and a car park, utilizing film, soundscapes, and costumes to explore imagined futures.

Seven new brands open at The Whiteley, Bayswater

The Whiteley, a £1.5 billion restoration of London’s first department store in Bayswater, has reached a major milestone with the opening of seven new retail and cultural brands. Among the new tenants is 3812 Gallery, which has relocated its program of contemporary Chinese art to a 2,800-square-foot space within the development. The broader £3 billion regeneration of Queensway includes luxury fitness, dining, and cinema concepts alongside the new gallery space.

Best of the Year: Check Out the Most Voted Exhibitions of 2025

A public poll with over 8,500 votes has determined the top ten exhibitions of 2025 in Brazil. The number one spot went to conceptual artist Ana Amorim's show at MAC USP, followed by Goya Lopes' exhibition at MAM Bahia in second place. Other notable entries include a group show "Floresta de Espíritos" in Salvador, Thiago Martins de Melo's first solo exhibition in his hometown São Luís, and the Monet exhibition at Masp, which broke visitation records with 502,642 visitors. A special highlight is "Memórias do Inconsciente" by Jhonyson Nobre at Sesc Arapiraca, the only exhibition outside the initial shortlist to make the top ten. Maria Bonomi at Paço Imperial received the most votes according to public comments as a bonus.

Illustration Major Justine Massabny Thrives as Education & Design Intern at the Montclair Art Museum

Illustration major Justine Massabny has gained extensive professional experience at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) through a series of roles including Education Intern, SummerArt Associate, and currently Education Design Intern. She led the redesign of the Family Learning Lab in conjunction with exhibitions featuring Tom Nussbaum and Christine Romanell, managed the project from concept to completion, and assisted with installation of educational vinyls. Her work also includes designing educational materials, supporting events like exhibition openings and docent training, leading gallery tours, and exhibiting her own artwork in MAM's Summer Staff Gallery. She discovered the internship through Handshake, supported by Montclair State University's partnership with MAM.

“Come in and learn” - Sunrise Moon Art Gallery now open in High River

Virginia Aldoff-Pinay, a Cree Kokum from the Foothills School Division, has opened the Sunrise Moon Art Gallery in High River, Alberta. The gallery features Indigenous art, artifacts, and educational displays representing the Blackfoot Confederation, Métis, and Inuit cultures, along with a tea room and library. Aldoff-Pinay, who comes from a family of artists, named the gallery after a morning prayer when she saw both the sunrise and moon. The business is managed by her grandson Ethan Carpenter, and the sign was made by her daughter Vanessa.

October at the Torch Theatre gallery: Local artist Sam Farmer’s first exhibition

Local artist Sam Farmer, a former primary school teacher from Pembrokeshire, will hold her first-ever art exhibition at the Joanna Field Gallery inside the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven this October. Titled "Under Pembrokeshire Skies: Seascapes and Stones," the show features paintings inspired by the Welsh landscape and the concept of Cynefin—a sense of rootedness and belonging. Many of the works also appear in her recently published children's book, "Little Puffin’s Pembrokeshire Home." The exhibition runs from October 4 through the end of the month.

At West Chelsea Contemporary, Two Artists Bring Classical Archetypes Into the Present

West Chelsea Contemporary in Austin, Texas, is presenting “LUX ÆTERNA,” a joint exhibition featuring more than 40 works by Swiss visual artist Simon Berger and British artist Gary James McQueen. Berger is known for portraits created from hammered laminated safety glass, while McQueen, nephew of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, works with lenticular prints that shift optically. The show includes two collaborative pieces that combine their respective mediums, exploring themes of classical mythology, perception, and the nature of light.

Sara Stern '17 Opens Latest Solo Exhibition, 'STALL,' at Turley Gallery

Sara Stern, a 2017 alumna of the Visual and Environmental Studies program at Harvard, has opened her fifth solo exhibition, 'STALL,' at Turley Gallery in Hudson, New York. The installation transforms the gallery's interstitial space, The Light Well, into a horse stall featuring a toy theater that plays a video of horseshoe crabs spawning. The exhibition runs from July 19 to September 7, 2025, and includes elements such as straw, a velvet curtain, and an adorned horseshoe crab shell, creating a mise en abyme effect.

Carbon Strata: Billings artist finds meaning in carbon and chaos in Yellowstone Art Museum exhibit

Billings artist Jon Lodge opened his solo exhibition "Carbon Strata" at the Yellowstone Art Museum (YAM) on September 5, 2025. The sprawling multimedia show fills one of the museum's largest galleries with works climbing walls, filling skylights, and spilling onto windows and outdoor spaces, exploring abstraction and the elemental concept of carbon as a unifying thread in life and matter. Lodge, an 80-year-old multimedia creator with a decades-long career, has a long history with YAM as a supporter, donor, and collaborator, including a solo show in 1999.