Issue 106: Human Stories
It’s been a time of great uncertainty, so we turn to art and culture as a universal mechanism to make sense of the world; to put the wrongs right and remember that our humanity binds us together. This issue is all about human stories, and how we must never give up in the face of adversity.
Our collective narrative is one of resilience and this issue embodies that notion entirely. We interview the venerable Gillian Laub about Southern Rites, a seminal documentary project within Montgomery Country, Georgia, which navigates social division in the 21st century.
Meanwhile, Our Time on Earth at Barbican unpicks the Anthropocene. unpicks the Anthropocene. Here, art is showcased as a speculative tool which can help us to bring about sustainable urban futures. We also take a closer look at the Light and Space Movement, asking how it has evolved with the rise of the digital age.
We also bring you the best in new photography, from practitioners who are innovating and stepping beyond the status quo. Olivia Locher highlights humanity’s unrealistic expectations, depicting daily regimes to comedic effect, where candles literally burn at both ends.
Andrea Lohmann’s compositions are inspired by the built environment: structures from the post-war period complemented by passing clouds.
We venture into darkened forests with Jasper Goodall's ode to the evening in Twilight's Path. Quietude is embraced, as themes of solitude and isolation come to the foreground.
Jan Prengel’s Plants from Space series showcases flowers as if they were priceless exhibits: oddities from an alternate universe.
Michel Lamoller’s photographic reliefs highlight the alarming rate at which humanity is expanding, depicting high-rises as markers of infrastructure.
Murray Fredericks captures ethereal horizons on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, an endorheic salt lake 700km north of Adelaide, Australia.
On the cover, we have creative duo Ulas & Merve work to redefine the parameters of fashion imagery, with bold colour schemes and alluring environments. These compositions, which are both visually appealing and curiously jarring, offer unexpected moments of introversion and masquerade.
Take a moment and step inside this issue. Reflect on the words and images; they consolidate the here and now.