This week, the world has seen a turning point in the global pandemic of the coronavirus as registered cases of contagion and subsequent loss of lives have spiked. Efforts to “flatten the curve” as it were, or reduce the rate of spread of the virus have been put in place in countries around the world.
National emergencies have been declared. Businesses and schools have been shut down. Theaters, concert halls, museums, and other public spaces have closed their doors. International travel restrictions are now in place with borders closings, and tourism has virtually come to a halt. Streets are becoming empty. Social distancing is the new interaction protocol.
For most people, this is the first global pandemic they are living. For many, this is life, interrupted. Others, continue their existence, perhaps as before, their near solitude or alienation reaffirmed, and is life, continued. Together, alone.
Today is March 19, 2020. Today is the birthday of Josef Albers, German/American artist and writer of the Bauhaus movement (1888), and the anniversary of the death of Dutch artist Willem De Kooning (1997).
Welcome to the 114th edition of Prescriptions. Here is our review of the week in the arts.
Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter: Painting After All
This exhibit considers Gerhard Richter’s six decade long preoccupation with the dual means of representation and abstraction to explore the material, conceptual, and historical implications of painting. On view through July 5, 2020 in New York at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Breuer.
Nettle Grellier
International Women’s Day / 2020
Since Artpil’s founding, we covered the #MeToo movement, traced the Elimination of Violence Against Women and counted down to the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These are all interconnected. Often our better halves, and without whom we could not be, we renewed our commitment to engage. Once again, earlier this month we celebrated the women who have inspired and created in the art world.
Anne Geene and Arjan de Nooy
Festival Circulation(s) / 2020
A festival dedicated to emerging photography in Europe, each year Circulation(s) reveals the vitality of young creation and speaks to the diversity of photographic expressions through unique exhibits and events. Circulation(s) / Festival of Young European Photography, 10th edition, through May 10, 2020 at Le Centquatre, Paris
Ute Ploier, MANMACHINE © Günter Parth
SHOW OFF: Austrian Fashion Design
Time travel through fashion design from the 80s to today to view the wide spectrum of designers connected with Austria, along with works by 30 photographers giving insight into fashion photography. On view through July 12, 2020 at MAK Museum of Applied Arts.
Jocelyn Lee, Jenna and the Fallen Apples, 2016
Thirty Years of Women
This exhibit draws from Jackson Fine Art’s 30 year history of showing some of the most distinguished female voices in photography, illustrative of the gallery’s evolving vision through the years. Artists include Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Cig Harvey, Dorothea Lange, Helen Levitt, Sally Mann, Alex Prager, among others. Through April 11, 2020 at Jackson Fine Art.
Ekaterina Anchevskaya
I Remember Nothing
In the midst of chaos we hunt for dreams. It blends together. Their memories became my memories. Once-present. A personal story of search and encounters, of escape and returning. Limited edition photo book by Ekaterina Anchevskaya, in collaboration with Jessica Nguyen.
Alex Prager
PROFILES
Ekaterina Anchevskaya, who just published her Limited edition photo book, I Remember Nothing; Gerhard Richter’s six decade long preoccupation Painting After All on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art; The formidable collective of Diane Arbus, Nan Goldin, Cig Harvey, Dorothea Lange, Helen Levitt, Sally Mann, Alex Prager, who are among those represented in Jackson Fine Art’s exhibition Thirty Years of Women; And reintroducing Josef Albers and Willem De Kooning whose respective anniversaries of birth and death have helped mark this day.
