Aesthetica Magazine Issue 41

June / July 2011

One of the biggest announcements to make is the launch of the inaugural Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF), which is an international platform for independent short film. The first festival will take place later this year, and we’re very excited! In other news, as the summer season rolls in, there are so many invigorating exhibitions, releases and events for you to visit.

In art, we head to the Guggenheim Bilbao where the Luminous Interval from D. Daskalopoulos Collection features the works of over 30 internationally acclaimed artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Kiki Smith, Damien Hirst and Paul McCarthy. The show offers contemplation of some of the most powerful works of the past few decades. ArtAngel launches a new commission at MIF and we also look back at 20 years of their work. Bruce Nauman turns 70 and to celebrate The Kunsthalle Mannheim is exhibiting a massive retrospective of this prolific artist’s career. The master of remix, Cory Arcangel opens his new show Pro Tools at the Whitney in New York City. We introduce the work of Jason Schembri with his Factory Girl series and present a visual glimpse of what’s on offer at this year’s PHotoEspaña.

In film, Golden Bear winner at the Berlin International Film Festival, Bal by Semih Kaplanoğlu, traces the past. We also have a preview of ASFF, giving you the heads up about the UK’s latest film festival. In music, French band, Underground Railroad, chats about their latest album and we examine how the Internet is changing radio. In theatre, Marina Abramović is back in the UK and discusses her latest production The Life and Death of Marina Abramović (with Willem Dafoe and music by Antony Hegarty from Antony and the Johnsons).

Finally, we celebrate the opening of The Hepworth Wakefield and speak with Simon Wallis, the gallery’s Director, about the UK’s newest public gallery. Enjoy!

The Art Guide: New York & London

These books provide fully illustrated guides to the riches of New York and London, and the next volumes will map out Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam and Madrid.

The Brothers

Elin Høyland, fascinated by two brothers living in rural Norway, photographed them, documenting a way of life that is all but on the brink of extinction.

Paweł Althamer

Althamer is known for provocative pieces, often exploring the communicative powers of art and playing with the boundaries between spectator and artist.

There but for the

There but for the is the new novel from Ali Smith, best known for her acclaimed fiction including The Accidental, Hotel World and Girl Meets Boy.

A Summer of Drowning

Beautiful and haunting, A Summer of Drowning is set in the white nights of an Arctic summer on the lonely and atmospheric island of Kvaløya.

The Uncoupling

When new drama teacher, Fran Heller arrives and chooses Aristophanes’ comedy Lysistrata, a new era begins in the sleepy town of Stellar Plains, New Jersey.

Relinquishing Control

Acclaimed American director, Robert Wilson, presents The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic in a new interpretation of the artist’s life and work.

Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad’s third album White Night Stand is both intense and touching, taking influence from Liars and Radiohead to American alternative rock.

Digital, Online and On-Air

Online radio is helping musicians break free from their reliance on big-name stations. Want to get your album tracks played? There’s a show for that.

EMA

After relocating from South Dakota to Los Angeles and with a background in noise bands, it comes as no surprise that Erika M Anderson’s debut solo record takes in a wide range of influences.

Brian Eno

Brian Eno is undeniably a shapeshifter. It’s little wonder, then, that his collaboration with Rick Holland has no limits where style, tempo and mood are concerned.

Victorian English Gentlemen’s Club

Despite their name, there is nothing remotely old-fashioned about The Victorian English Gentlemen’s Club. Their music is fresh, catchy and distinctly now.

Frequent Traveller

Having started out as a producer working with artists like Pet Shop Boys and Talk Talk, Spiro is no stranger to the industry and to our immediate surroundings.

Morton Valence

Without any false pretence, Morton Valence defy categorisation, and as such create astounding diversity in one album.

Inch-time

Inch-time’s album is inspired by the Japanese art movement, Ukiyo-e, which focuses on the “floating world” in contrast to the everyday.

Submarine

Richard Ayoade’s debut feature film offers an honest but bleak glimpse into the mind of a group of teenagers struggling to come to terms with the reality of life.

Biutiful

Mortality looms in Biutiful; the story of one man’s struggle to set things right for his family on discovering that he has only months to live.

Sweetgrass

Two ranch hands are charged with bringing 5000+ sheep into the mountains of Montana to graze on public land – all the while this is juxtaposed with some of the world’s most beautiful scenery.

Never Let Me Go

Mark Romanek’s portrayal of Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go is a delicate and subtle piece of cinema.

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom tells the story of J, whose mother has just died of a heroin overdose. Alone and unsure, he reaches out to his estranged criminal family.