Yokoo Tadanori Collection Gallery 2021
Japan
Kobe
2021
13
The Yokoo Tadanori Collection Gallery presents a comprehensive view of the artistic world and deep influences shaping the practice of Japanese artist Yokoo Tadanori. This permanent space, established in 2021 within the Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, displays his original drawings, color proofs, and project designs. The collection offers insight into the cultural and historical contexts that fed Yokoo’s aesthetic, illuminating the wider network of artistic references he engaged with. Visitors can study archive materials and works by figures he admired, such as Francis Picabia and Giorgio de Chirico, revealing the sources that informed his output. The gallery ultimately encourages visitors to recognize the enduring dialogue between personal vision and international creative lineage that defines lasting contemporary art.
Why should you watch this?
The Yokoo Tadanori Collection Gallery reveals the surprising connections between Yokoo’s imaginative designs and the works of artists he admired, such as Picabia and de Chirico, showing how ideas travel across time and place. Scenes capturing his bold color proofs alongside delicate sketches create moments of both delight and contemplation, exposing the processes behind visual invention. By following the intersections of personal creativity and broader artistic currents, the film invites viewers to experience the thrill of discovery and recognize how enduring inspiration emerges from unexpected juxtapositions, offering a vivid reminder of the vitality of art across generations.
Eloquent Simplicity in Wood and Fiber
Philippines
Makati
2012
13
Eloquent Simplicity in Wood and Fiber is an exhibition exploring the versatility of natural materials, presenting sculptural forms and functional objects that blend traditional expression with contemporary design. The display defines the distinct aesthetic sensibilities of the Cordillera Mountain groups, including the Ifugao and Kalinga, who have long used wood and fiber to create objects for both utilitarian and ritual purposes. Juxtaposed against these traditional items, the exhibition features contemporary works by notable voices like National Artist Napoleon Abueva and designer Claude Tayag, who utilize Philippine hardwoods such as narra and molave. Addressing the modern scarcity of natural resources, the project highlights how artists continue to create meaningful, practical objects. This presentation encourages visitors to appreciate the enduring beauty, tactile quality, and profound functionality inherent in the world’s simplest materials.
Why should you watch this?
Eloquent Simplicity in Wood and Fiber illuminates how human creativity transforms humble natural materials into objects of enduring beauty and purpose. By placing traditional Cordillera pieces alongside contemporary works by Napoleon Abueva and Claude Tayag, the exhibition highlights the dialogue between ancestral craft and modern design, revealing the ways material, hand, and intention shape culture across generations. Visitors are drawn to striking details — the flowing curves of a carved molave bowl, the clarity of a geometric wooden sculpture — that invite touch, reflection, and wonder. In the process, it underscores a timeless human connection to nature, craftsmanship, and meaningful daily life.
110 Years, 110 Works. Société Générale Collection
Morocco
Rabat
2024
8
110 ans, 110 œuvres, at the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rabat, commemorates Société Générale Maroc’s 110th anniversary and its long-standing commitment to art and Moroccan culture. This exceptional exhibition, a collaboration with the National Museum Foundation, features a precious part of the bank’s collection, including previously unseen works. It takes visitors on a timeless journey, tracing Moroccan art’s evolution from the early 20th century, starting with pioneers like Ben Ali R’bati, across four distinct periods to the present day. The exhibition highlights Moroccan artists’ contribution to national identity. It celebrates a rich artistic heritage and Société Générale Maroc’s enduring role in art’s promotion, anticipating the opening of its own museum in 2024. Visitors gain insight into Morocco’s artistic dynamism and the intricate relationship between banking and cultural patronage over more than a century.
Why should you watch this?
The exhibition 110 ans, 110 œuvres matters today because it shows how art can carry a nation’s memory while speaking to its future. Moving between the early brushstrokes of Ben Ali R’bati and the global perspectives of contemporary Moroccan artists, it evokes both pride and questioning: how does creativity define who we are in a world of constant change? Visitors may feel inspired by the intimate voices of the 1980s generation, who turned personal experience into universal expression, or by today’s works shaped through worldwide dialogue. Ultimately, the exhibition reminds us that art’s power to connect time, place, and people remains urgently relevant.
Hanbok, Poetics of Line and the Passage of Life
Canada
Ottawa
2021
19
The exhibition Hanbok, Poetics of Line and the Passage of Life presents the story of traditional Korean attire, tracing its cultural significance and transformation through time. With a basic style originating in the Three Kingdoms period (37 BCE – 668 CE), the Hanbok shown primarily reflects that of the Joseon dynasty (1392 – 1910). The exhibition explores how this clothing embodies Korean ancestral values, worldview, and reverence for nature through its use in life’s milestone ceremonies and its symbolic colours derived from Yin-Yang theory. Curated by EuiJung McGillis, the presentation showcases items from a baby’s first birthday dress to royal robes, alongside modern reinterpretations by early twentieth-century shinyeoseong (new women). Visitors will discover Hanbok as a transmitter of tradition and a dynamic symbol of Korean identity in a global context.
Why should you watch this?
Hanbok, Poetics of Line and the Passage of Life resonates today because it frames clothing as both a vessel of memory and a mirror of change. The exhibition’s display of the Obangjang durumagi, alive with five elemental colors, reminds us of humanity’s search for balance with nature at a time when sustainability is a global concern. Equally striking are the “new women” who reshaped Hanbok to claim individuality during Korea’s modernization — a gesture that still feels bold and liberating. This exhibition shows that tradition is not fixed but evolving, offering viewers a timeless reflection on identity, resilience, and creativity.
HOW TO SURVIVE ― Art as Survival Strategy | with Paula Schwerdtfeger
Germany
Hanover
2020
34
The group exhibition presents a compelling exploration of how art provides resilience in times of personal and societal crisis. The exhibition features works by renowned artists like Gustav Metzger, Shusaku Arakawa, and Alina Szapocznikow, each of whom faced extreme adversity and transformed their experiences into profound artistic statements. Whether addressing environmental destruction, illness, or existential threats, these artists used creativity as a means to survive and challenge the limits of human endurance. The exhibition emphasizes the power of art to propose alternative perspectives when the world seems trapped in binary thinking. By engaging with radical artistic responses to crisis, visitors are invited to reflect on how creativity can offer strength, hope, and new possibilities for navigating the uncertainties of modern life. Art, in this context, becomes more than expression — it becomes a strategy for survival and transformation.
Why should you watch this?
The exhibition tackles pressing issues like climate change, personal trauma, and social upheaval, and having a knowledgeable guide helps to bring those themes to life. It’s not just about admiring the art; it’s about understanding the stories and survival strategies that inspired each piece. This context makes the art resonate even more, helping you connect with the messages in a meaningful way. In a time when we’re all looking for ways to navigate challenges, a guided tour offers fresh insights that can spark reflection and inspire hope.
Nissky. Horizon
Russia
Moscow
2018
56
Nissky. Horizon is a compelling exhibition at the Institute of Russian Realistic Art that explores the intricate relationship between contemporary art and traditional Russian realism. Featuring a diverse array of artists, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with works that reflect on cultural heritage while pushing artistic boundaries. Each piece serves as a dialogue between past and present, showcasing how contemporary creators reinterpret classical themes and techniques. This fusion not only honors the legacy of Russian art but also challenges perceptions, encouraging a deeper understanding of identity and artistic expression in today’s globalized context. Through thought-provoking installations and evocative imagery, Nissky. Horizon celebrates the enduring relevance of realism in contemporary discourse.
Why should you watch this?
This exhibition invites you to explore the intricate interplay between tradition and innovation in contemporary art. This showcase features a diverse array of works that challenge conventional narratives, offering fresh perspectives on cultural identity and artistic expression. By engaging with both established and emerging artists, the exhibition creates a dialogue that resonates with today’s societal themes. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness how contemporary art reflects and reframes our understanding of the world — each piece serves as a unique lens through which to view the complexities of modern life. Immerse yourself in this vibrant exploration and discover the transformative power of art.
HOW TO SURVIVE ― Art as Survival Strategy | with Valérie Favre & Carina Plath
Germany
Hanover
2020
34
The group exhibition presents a compelling exploration of how art provides resilience in times of personal and societal crisis. The exhibition features works by renowned artists like Gustav Metzger, Shusaku Arakawa, and Alina Szapocznikow, each of whom faced extreme adversity and transformed their experiences into profound artistic statements. Whether addressing environmental destruction, illness, or existential threats, these artists used creativity as a means to survive and challenge the limits of human endurance. The exhibition emphasizes the power of art to propose alternative perspectives when the world seems trapped in binary thinking. By engaging with radical artistic responses to crisis, visitors are invited to reflect on how creativity can offer strength, hope, and new possibilities for navigating the uncertainties of modern life. Art, in this context, becomes more than expression — it becomes a strategy for survival and transformation.
Why should you watch this?
The exhibition tackles pressing issues like climate change, personal trauma, and social upheaval, and having a knowledgeable guide helps to bring those themes to life. It’s not just about admiring the art; it’s about understanding the stories and survival strategies that inspired each piece. This context makes the art resonate even more, helping you connect with the messages in a meaningful way. In a time when we’re all looking for ways to navigate challenges, a guided tour offers fresh insights that can spark reflection and inspire hope.
Revolved Revolutions. On the Occasion of Centenary of the Great October Socialist Revolution
Russia
Moscow
2017
47
The exhibition illuminates the profound influence of the Great October Revolution on Eastern art. Featuring over 100 works from Soviet Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, China, and Vietnam, the exhibition showcases a rich tapestry of artistic expressions—embroideries, posters, paper cutouts, and more—that reflect a unique amalgamation of local traditions and Soviet ideologies. Visitors will encounter the cult of personality through portraits of revolutionary leaders, discover the vibrant propaganda posters that redefined societal roles, and engage with stunning engravings depicting the industrial ambitions of China. This exhibition not only highlights the artistic responses to political shifts but also serves as a testament to the complex legacy of the Russian Revolution, revealing how hope, trauma, and cultural identity were woven into the fabric of artistry across nations. Many of these pieces are being showcased to the Russian public for the first time in decades, offering fresh insights into this historical narrative.
Why should you watch this?
HOW TO SURVIVE ― Art as Survival Strategy | with Jean-Pascal Flavien & Carina Plath
Germany
Hanover
2020
31
The group exhibition presents a compelling exploration of how art provides resilience in times of personal and societal crisis. The exhibition features works by renowned artists like Gustav Metzger, Shusaku Arakawa, and Alina Szapocznikow, each of whom faced extreme adversity and transformed their experiences into profound artistic statements. Whether addressing environmental destruction, illness, or existential threats, these artists used creativity as a means to survive and challenge the limits of human endurance. The exhibition emphasizes the power of art to propose alternative perspectives when the world seems trapped in binary thinking. By engaging with radical artistic responses to crisis, visitors are invited to reflect on how creativity can offer strength, hope, and new possibilities for navigating the uncertainties of modern life. Art, in this context, becomes more than expression — it becomes a strategy for survival and transformation.
Why should you watch this?
The exhibition tackles pressing issues like climate change, personal trauma, and social upheaval, and having a knowledgeable guide helps to bring those themes to life. It’s not just about admiring the art; it’s about understanding the stories and survival strategies that inspired each piece. This context makes the art resonate even more, helping you connect with the messages in a meaningful way. In a time when we’re all looking for ways to navigate challenges, a guided tour offers fresh insights that can spark reflection and inspire hope.