A 7.5-foot-tall statue of a man clutching his penis was unearthed at one of the oldest temple sites in Turkey.
11,000-year-old statue of giant man clutching penis unearthed in Turkey
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In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong
“For Show.” All images © Calvin Ma, courtesy of Modern Eden Gallery, shared with permission
The figures in Calvin Ma’s otherworldly sculptures soar through the night sky, encounter swarms of insects, or stand among tropical flowers in Blend In: Standstill at Modern Eden. The artist continues an ongoing series (previously) exploring the intense desire to belong or fit in, creating hybrid individuals that don the likenesses of myriad birds, from peacocks to owls to pigeons. In nature, feathers provide protection, camouflage, and communication with other birds; in Ma’s meticulously crafted ceramic pieces, they reflect a yearning for comfort and connection.
If you’re in San Francisco, you can visit Blend In: Standstill until November 4. See more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“Sleepless”
“Standstill”
“Fresh Start”
Left to right: “Safe Space,” “Wait and See,” and “It’ll Be Alright”
“Looking Back”
Left to right: “Blend In Mask: Eastern Blue Bonnet,” “Blend In Mask: Rufous-Tailed Jacamar,” and “Blend In Mask: Pigeon”
“For Show”
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In ‘Blend In,’ Calvin Ma’s Ceramic Feathered Figures Yearn to Belong appeared first on Colossal.
What I Buy and Why: Art Entrepreneur Hélène Nguyen-Ban on Her Original ‘Art Crush’ and Owning a Half-Ton Book by Anselm Kiefer
Art has been a constant in the life of Hélène Nguyen-Ban. Even when she was young, moving about between Asia, Africa, and Europe, she looked to art to help make sense of the mix of cultures around her. After studying finance and business in college, she spent one glamorous decade as the fashion director of Marc Jacobs’s collections for Louis Vuitton. Yet even there, at the center of the French luxury complex, she imagined herself venturing into the art realm.
She did just that, exiting the luxury sector to pursue art studies at the Ecole du Louvre. In 2013, she co-founded VnH gallery, taking over venerated gallerist Yvon Lambert’s historic space in the Marais district of Paris. During VnH’s six-year run, Nguyen-Ban sought to bring together a range of generations and geographies through unconventional exhibitions, eventually selling the space to David Zwirner.
Her tastes in collecting, too, reflect a certain worldliness. She began by acquiring artifacts and antiquities, ranging from religious works to classical Chinese ceramics. She soon brought Asian contemporary art into the mix, followed by its Western counterpart. Further, since buying a home in London and splitting her time between the two capitals, she’s served as the chair of Fluxus Art Projects, a nonprofit supporting contemporary artists and residencies across the channel. She remains involved with the International Council of the Tate and the Asia-Pacific Committee at Centre Pompidou.
All of this has been a prelude to her most recent endeavor. For the last several years, Nguyen-Ban has been building Docent, an art-discovery app she founded with the award-winning French mathematician Mathieu Rosenbaum. She likens the mobile platform, powered by A.I. technology, to “Spotify for art enthusiasts,” connecting artworks culled from 100-plus participating galleries in 30 countries with collectors around the world. “I believe in advocating for contemporary art,” she said, “as it can play a crucial role in promoting cross-cultural understanding, particularly during pivotal moments in history.” Docent launched during Art Basel in June 2023, with more events around it set for Paris+.
We caught up with the entrepreneurial collector on the works that have informed her worldview.
Bloodline Series (2001). Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”1024″ height=”781″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-zhang-xiaogang1-1024×781.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-zhang-xiaogang1-300×229.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-zhang-xiaogang1-1536×1171.jpg 1536w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-zhang-xiaogang1-50×38.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-zhang-xiaogang1.jpg 1545w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Zhang Xiaogang, Bloodline Series (2001). Courtesy of the artist.
What was your first purchase?
My initial significant encounter with contemporary art unfolded in 2001 as I happened upon the Enrico Navarra gallery in Paris. It was there that Zhang Xiaogang‘s portrait in the window caught my eye, its fixed gaze masking profound emotions. This resonated deeply with my own Asian upbringing, where expressing feelings was considered impolite. The inception of my collection was serendipitous, and I consider myself fortunate to have chanced upon this path. As if faith had a hand in it!
As a complete novice exploring my roots, I naturally gravitated toward the works of Danh Vo, Mai Thu-Perret, Thu-Van Tran, Thao Phan Nguyen, and others. This sparked my interest in delving deeper into the diversity of Asian cultures by exploring the works of artists who merged their cultural heritage with contemporary Western art. I vividly recall being awestruck by Huang Yong Ping’s Noah’s ark installation, Arche (2009), at the Chapel of Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, a powerful juxtaposition of cultures and a fusion of Chinese philosophy with Western avant-garde and Dada heritage.
Partita Di Scacchi (2022). Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”1024″ height=”735″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998-1024×735.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998-300×215.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998-1536×1102.jpg 1536w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998-50×36.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998-1920×1378.jpg 1920w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-jem-perucchini1-e1697394966998.jpg 2000w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Jem Perucchini, Partita Di Scacchi (2022). Courtesy of the artist.
What was your most recent purchase?
Jem Perucchini, an Italian artist with Ethiopian roots, currently based in Milan. His artistic exploration revolves around the history of art, the imagery of various cultures, and the interplay between them. He is particularly interested in the neurological processes that elicit sensations and emotions through the observation of an image—which happens to be one of my favorite topics at Docent.
Tell us about a favorite work in your collection.
Choosing a favorite among my artworks is akin to asking a parent to pick their dearest child—an impossible task. All these works hold a distinct place in my art family, and my connection to each of them is unique. I don’t play favorites; instead, I cherish them all for the diverse ways in which they nourish and inspire me. My relationship with each piece evolves over time. In truth, the finest pieces maintain an enduring sense of mystery and soul, transcending the era in which they were created. Quality art truly is timeless.
Inland (2018) behind her. Photo courtesy Elliot James Kennedy.” width=”794″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-portrait4-794×1024.jpg 794w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-233×300.jpg 233w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-1191×1536.jpg 1191w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-1588×2048.jpg 1588w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-39×50.jpg 39w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-1489×1920.jpg 1489w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait4-scaled.jpg 1985w” sizes=”(max-width: 794px) 100vw, 794px”>
Hélène Nguyen-Ban with Luc Tuymans’s Inland (2018). Photo courtesy of Elliot James Kennedy.
Allow me to share a few overarching themes that, though never intentionally planned, have consistently touched, challenged, and enriched me over the years.
I started collecting various objects, artifacts, and antiquities, spanning a wide spectrum—including Western religious art like Madonna and Child figures, relics from ancient civilizations like Tang terracotta figurines, classical Chinese ceramics, and ritual art from Africa and Asia, encompassing Vietnamese Buddha statues, 18th-century Burmese pagan disciples, and regal Congolese ceremonial totems.
After my serendipitous first art crush at the Enrico Navarra gallery, my art collection metamorphosed into a form of therapy, helping me weave together my fragmented identity under a single roof. In a way, the works I chose to surround myself with could be perceived as totems representing my upbringing, even though the themes they embody often reveal themselves to me in retrospect, never as premeditated choices.
In the context of art, the human body transcends mere aesthetics or form; it serves as a symbol of the intricate nexus where social, political, and emotional realities converge. This is exemplified in my collection by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Camille Claudel, Marlene Dumas, Robert Mapplethorpe, Thomas Schütte, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Jenny Saville, and Sin Wai Kin.
Surrealism has always been a great interest of mine. I collect works by a new generation of this movement, including Jean Marie Appriou, Marguerite Humeau, Bendt Eyckermans, Issy Wood, and Julie Curtiss.
Male model with golden showers (2021). Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”1024″ height=”741″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-issy-wood1-1024×741.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-wood1-300×217.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-wood1-50×36.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-wood1.jpg 1089w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Issy Wood, Male model with golden showers (2021). Courtesy of the artist.
Cultural heritage and questions of identity are central themes in the works of artists like Oscar Murillo, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Alvaro Barrington, etc.
I’ve been particularly intrigued by the exploration of painting’s potential in an era marked by technological reproducibility, particularly in the works of Wade Guyton and Christopher Wool.
Which works or artists are you hoping to add to your collection this year?
I dream of one day living with a work by Julie Mehretu, a contemporary abstract artist whose ability to create unique visual representations by drawing inspiration from the history of art and human civilization fascinates me. Her works are a fusion of Western painting and African symbols and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the art world. As one of the few female artists championing the significance of painting, she stands as a true role model for her generation.
Opium over the holidays (2021). Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”768″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-issy-opium1-768×1024.jpg 768w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-opium1-225×300.jpg 225w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-opium1-38×50.jpg 38w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-issy-opium1.jpg 960w” sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”>
Issy Wood, Opium over the holidays (2021). Courtesy of the artist.
What is the most valuable work of art that you own?
My most prized artwork is a portrait of my dog, Opium, painted by the talented Issy Wood, a London-based contemporary artist, painter, pop musician, and memoirist. During one of my rare Covid trips, I had the best dog sitter but, above all, one of the purest and most respected gallerists, Vanessa Carlos. Opium spent many long hours in the studio of the talented Issy Wood, who ended up immortalizing him forever. My Opium painting is currently traveling to an exhibition in Paris, and I can’t wait to get it back!
Elke negativ blau (2012) above the stairs, left.” width=”809″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-portrait2-809×1024.jpg 809w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2-237×300.jpg 237w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2-1213×1536.jpg 1213w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2-1618×2048.jpg 1618w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2-39×50.jpg 39w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2-1517×1920.jpg 1517w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-portrait2.jpg 1977w” sizes=”(max-width: 809px) 100vw, 809px”>
Hélène Nguyen-Ban next to stacked ceramic jars by Pascale Marthine Tayou and Georg Baselitz’s Elke negativ blau (2012) above the stairs, left. Photo courtesy of Elliot James Kennedy.
Where do you buy art most frequently?
I primarily acquire art through galleries that have been steadfast companions on my art collecting journey, and have been a constant source of inspiration. I hold great admiration for these gallery owners, recognizing the challenges they face as entrepreneurs in the art world.
In Paris, I’ve had particularly enriching and inspiring relationships with galleries such as Enrico Navarra, Yvon Lambert, Thaddaeus Ropac, Kamel Mennour, Sultana, Balice Hertling, and more recently a very young gallery called Parliament. In London, it’s Sadie Coles, Carlos Ishikawa, Corvi-Mora, and Emalin. For more U.S.-based and international galleries, I buy from Clearing and David Zwirner.
Moreover, my enduring obsession has been to widen the field of possibilities and to go after galleries and artists from around the globe, leading me to discover gems like Quynh, Proyectos Ultravioleta, Commonwealth & Council, Blank Projects, Cécile Fakhoury, and Dastan, to name a few, which are part of the ever-growing Docent gallery roster.
Is there a work you regret purchasing?
The best answer is that I’ve kept all my work for over 20 years!
Lara February 2022 (2022). Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”767″ height=”1024″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-elizabeth-peyton1-767×1024.jpg 767w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-elizabeth-peyton1-225×300.jpg 225w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-elizabeth-peyton1-1151×1536.jpg 1151w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-elizabeth-peyton1-37×50.jpg 37w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-elizabeth-peyton1.jpg 1181w” sizes=”(max-width: 767px) 100vw, 767px”>
Elizabeth Peyton, Lara February 2022 (2022). Courtesy of the artist.
What work do you have hanging above your sofa? What about in your bathroom?
Above my sofa, I have a series of portraits by artists like Elizabeth Peyton, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Jenny Saville, Sin Wai Kin, Maja Ruznic, Luc Tuymans, Nathanaëlle Herbelin, Danielle McKinney, Raphaela Simon, Pol Taburet, Xinyi Cheng, Maja Ruznic, and Steven Shearer.
The Secret Life of Plants (2001). Oil on leaded sheets. Courtesy of Hélène Nguyen-Ban.” width=”1024″ height=”744″ srcset=”https://www.mecreates.com/story/news/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1-1024×744.jpg 1024w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1-300×218.jpg 300w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1-1536×1117.jpg 1536w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1-50×36.jpg 50w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1-1920×1396.jpg 1920w, https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/10/helene-anselm-kiefer1.jpg 2000w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”>
Anselm Kiefer, The Secret Life of Plants (2001). Courtesy of the artist.
What is the most impractical work of art you own?
I’d have to say the Anselm Kiefer book is the most impractical. It’s one of the first books he ever created, making it exceptionally special to own. Made of lead sheets, this gigantic book by Anselm Kiefer, laying flat, must weigh half a ton. You supposedly can turn the pages, but I don’t think anyone has ever done it.
What work do you wish you had bought when you had the chance?
I would say David Hammons for a contemporary artist. Or even before that, any artwork by Nabi artists like Bonnard—for instance, Femme au jardin (1891). Bonnard was very inspired by Japanese art, which was very much in vogue (Japonisme) at that time.
Additionally, there’s a portrait of me by Henry Taylor that seems to have vanished into his phantasmagorical world. I hold out hope that it will one day reappear just as enigmatically as it disappeared. I long to see it again and possess it, not because it’s a portrait of myself, but because it encapsulates all the enchantment of the countless hours I spent with the most captivating and touching character I’ve ever encountered!
If you could steal one work of art without getting caught, what would it be?
I would probably steal one of the beautiful fetiches that can be found at the Museum of Primitive Arts in Paris. These incredible artifacts from other belief systems have often been stolen by the colonial powers to be exhibited in Western museums, so I would maybe feel less guilty because it’s already been stolen.
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Forest Swords Share New Single “Night Sculpture”: Listen
Bolted, the first Forest Swords album in six years, drops at the end of this week. To draw your attention to that, the producer born Matthew Barnes has shared one last single to go along with the wealth of advance tracks he’s dropped this year. “Night Sculpture” is a shadowy, meditative electronic track with a central melody that reminds me of, seriously, the piano line from “In The End” by Linkin Park. Listen below.
Skip House: Where Tradition Meets Innovation in the Heart of Beijing
In the west district of Beijing, a duplex apartment, dubbed the Skip House, has been designed by KiKi ARCHi. Nestled within the vibrant city, the apartment is home to an owner and her family of four, along with the grandparents who visit on occasion. The Skip House is designed so that the different generations can come together, allow their diverse lifestyles to merge, and where emotions can blend harmoniously.
The magic of the 300-square-meter Skip House lies in its “half-floor living room,” a design that seamlessly connects the different spaces, fostering a sense of togetherness while maintaining privacy. An eye-catching cement and wood staircase not only connects the two floors but also offers multi-functional open platforms – a small wooden one doubles as a desk for the kids and a more spacious micro-cement platform below that can be used for seating while also transitioning into a console for the TV. It’s a multi-layered living scene where every family member’s needs find a perfect spot.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Downstairs, a well-organized “box” concept delineates the living areas, with the kitchen island as the central hub. The thoughtful design enhances functionality while retaining an open, airy atmosphere.
Up the wooden stairs, a serene, modern tearoom awaits. Beyond its use as a tearoom, a round cutout serves as a display shelf while doubling as a secret passage to the elders’ private room.
The color palette throughout gives nod to the owner’s appreciation of Chinese culture, with black, white, and gray complemented by wood and micro-cement.
Photography by Koji Fujii.
Fish sculpture: HC closes contempt petition
Madurai HC closes contempt petition on fish sculpture reinstallation after committee submits report on alternative location. Committee identified Tourism Plaza near Periyar bus stand as suitable for reinstallation. Court directed Railway authorities to hand over sculpture to TNCCI for reinstallation in two weeks.
Lyn Marie Burton Walrath, loved photography, nature
Lyn Marie Burton Walrath was born in Alexandria, Va., in April of 1974. After growing up in Huntington, W.Va., she moved to Lewes, where she graduated from Cape Henlopen High School Class of 1992. Lyn passed away at home in Harrington surrounded by family and friends in early October 2023.
Lyn is survived by her husband of 15 years, Ronald C. Walrath Jr.; her beloved mother, Ann Burton of Milford; and her loving son, Steven Burton and his wife Dana of Harrington. She was a loving stepmother to Zachary Walrath of Moyock, N.C., and Ronald C. Walrath III, currently stationed in Baumholder, Germany. Her brother, Richard A. Burton Jr. and wife Julie, are located in Port Angeles, Wash. She leaves behind her cherished nieces and nephews, Ethan, Emily, Jesse, Sean, Amanda and Sam. Lyn loved and cared for many ‘adopted’ children and friends over the years. She was preceded in death by her hero, her father, Richard A. Burton Sr.
Special thanks to medical professionals Karen and Rebecca for going above and beyond.
Lyn was a longtime employee at Milford Walmart. She enjoyed watching her WVU Mountaineers and Dallas Cowboys march to victory. Lyn loved outdoor photography and spending time in nature. She spent much of her time listening to music and reading books. Lyn enjoyed reaching out to many friends and family on social media.
Lyn’s celebration of life service will be held at noon, Saturday, Oct. 21, at Goshen United Methodist, 103 Mulberry St., Milton.
In lieu of flowers, the family will be accepting donations to help defray funeral expenses. Donations can be made to Berry-Short Funeral Home, 119 NW Front St., Milford, DE 19963, 302-422-8091.
Online condolences may be sent at shortfuneralservicesandcremation.com.
Top honors announced at 18th annual Cherokee Art Market
TULSA – In celebration of authentic, elite Native American art, the 18th annual Cherokee Art Market returned to Tulsa Oct. 14-15 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa.
The juried market featured the work of more than 150 Native American artists representing more than 50 federally recognized tribal nations.
More than $75,000 in prize money was awarded on Friday evening to artists competing for top honors, including this year’s Best of Show, “Two Realms” by Cherokee National Treasure Demos Glass.
The 5-foot tall, fabricated steel sculpture is comprised of powder-coated steel, stainless steel, ceramic, and wood. The stylized depiction of the iconic Southeastern serpent, often represented in traditional Cherokee stories, offers a powerfully dynamic demonstration of contemporary Native art honoring Cherokee oral traditions.
With nearly 60 winners in eight classes, the following highlights the 18th annual Best of Class winners, with the full list of winners available at www.CherokeeArtMarket.com.
Class 1: Painting, Drawing, Graphics & Photography, Bryan Waytula, Cherokee Nation, “The Grass Dancer.”
Class 2: Sculpture, Demos Glass, Cherokee National Treasure, “Two Realms.”
Class 3: Beadwork/Quillwork, Pati Belgarde, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, “Mona Lisa.”
Class 4: Basketry, Michael Dart, Cherokee National Treasure, “Wild Thang.”
Class 5: Pottery, Troy Jackson, Cherokee National Treasure, “Cherokee Rose.”
Class 6: Textiles, Alberta Henderson, Navajo Nation, “Majestic.”
Class 7: Jewelry, Abraham Begay, Navajo Nation, “Squash Blossom Necklace.”
Class 8: Diverse Art Forms, General B. Grant, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, “Today’s Medicine.”
Anna Mitchell Award, Tama Roberts, Cherokee Nation, “Hopeful,” Troy Jackson, Cherokee National Treasure, “Cherokee Rose.”
Culture Keeper Award, Hollis Chitto, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians/Pueblo of Laguna/Pueblo of Isleta, “Napakanli Um Okla Imma (Flowers for My Family).”
Innovator Award, Monica Silva Lovato, Santo Domingo Pueblo, “Hope for the Future.”
Jesse Hummingbird Legacy Award, Michael Toya, Pueblo of San Felipe, “Nature’s Medicine.”
Native American Art Magazine Editor’s Choice Award, Pati Belgarde, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, “Mona Lisa.”
Cherokee Art Market provides the opportunity for visitors to meet directly with each juried artist and learn more about their work. In addition, the market features cultural demonstrations, presentations, and artist conversations with some of the nation’s top Native American artists each day.
Cherokee Art Market is presented by Cherokee Nation Businesses and is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Sequoyah Convention Center at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa. Admission is $5 per person, and children under 12 are free.
Media sponsors include Native American Art Magazine and Tulsa People.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa is off Interstate 44 at exit 240. For more information, visit www.hardrockcasinotulsa.com.
Email is Dead: Exploring the Impact of Our Favorite Communication Tool + Its Future
Email permeates our lives, but how does its impact resonate beyond being a form of communication? Intuit Mailchimp and the Design Museum explore the cultural and emotional effects while contemplating its future in an immersive exhibit – Email is Dead. Open through October 22, 2023, visitors are invited to think about the look, feel, sound, and even the smell of email. Email is Dead leads us through the journey of the history of email, from its beginnings in the 1970s to what the experience might look like in 2070, prompting a wider conversation about the future of communication.
“Now feels like the optimal time to tell this story, because there’s been chatter about the death of email for over a decade. And every time there’s a new ‘thing,’ like SMS or social media, experts speculate on its extinction. And now, with the rapid expansion of AI, we found the chatter about the death of email to be even more relevant,” explains Intuit Mailchimp’s CMO Michelle Taite. “In fact, with the help of AI, our inboxes are becoming increasingly personalized, helping marketers create meaningful, long standing connections. In essence, email is becoming smarter than it’s ever been.”
How does email shape our work lives, relationships, cultures, and economies? To try and answer these questions, Intuit Mailchimp’s in-house creative agency, Wink, worked with creative studio Something Special Studios. The goal was to capture and create a 360-degree view of the feelings and sensations email can evoke from us all.
To spearhead the “look of email,” Wink created an identity utilizing a bright yellow pixel pattern, iconography, and a typeface inspired by the first email ever sent in 1972 by Ray Tomlinson. The interactive displays within Email is Dead invite visitors to explore impact through activations, such as burying their own “email time capsule” or taking an email personality test to find out what kind of emailer they really are. Imaginary and playful solutions for real-life situations, such as an overflowing inbox or the impulse to fire off an emotion-filled email, are offered in the form of an Inbox Elixir (recipe included) and the Email Therapy Machine. The ever-present nature of email can then be brought home via a photo booth that “transports” the subject to random locations, then prints out a wish-you-were-here postcard.
A bespoke soundtrack can be heard through the space, featuring synthesized compositions meant to depict email’s daily routine. The tracks meant to capture the “sound of email” carry visitors through an email’s journey from sender to recipient. Maybe somewhat surprisingly, guests will only occasionally hear the crescendo of familiar sounds: a swoosh, pop, ding, type, click, and send.
What does email smell like exactly? Email is Dead is infused with an ‘Eau du Email’ scent, developed in collaboration with Something Special Studios and Tatiana Godoy Betancur to evoke clarity. Crafted from aromatic plants, like bergamot, geranium, sage, lavender, and sandalwood, these scent notes are known to help promote a balanced nervous system. The scent is designed to replicate a “type of lucidity and sense of connection that email can generate as a whole.”
To complete your experience at Email is Dead, there’s merchandise that captures iconic phrases such as “kind regards” and “hope this finds you well.” There are branded baseball hats, t-shirts, drinkware, tote bags, A5 notebooks, pens, A3 posters, enamel pins, key rings, and more. It’s all available for purchase in the Design Museum gift shop and on the site.
To learn more about the Email is Dead immersive exhibit to plan a visit, click through to designmuseum.org.
Sharp Shooters Camera Club
The next Sharp Shooters Camera Club meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Bear Lake High School. There will be a program showing photos made by a street photographer (a genre of photography that records everyday life in a public place). There will also be a review of a matching “candid street photo” assignment.
There are two photo displays by Sharp Shooters in Montpelier. Linda and Ross Walker are showing their photos at Bear Lake Drug, and Rich Kearl at Arctic Circle.
