Nicholas Hlobo goes astray to activate the imagination
Over our various days of filming, I don’t think I ever saw Nicholas Hlobo make a straight line. His knife was always meandering as he cut paper, canvas and leather into pieces that he would then stitch back together to form paintings and sculptures. This is emblematic of Hlobo’s approach to life — he likes to go off course in order to make discoveries.
“It’s important to go astray,” Hlobo says. In that spirit, I encourage you to take a short detour to Johannesburg and into Hlobo’s world by watching this new film.
Ian Forster
Series Producer; Extended Play
April 6, 2022
Playlist: Slow Unfolding Moments
IMAGE: Liz Magor in her Vancouver studio. Production still from the Art21 Extended Play film, “Everyone Should Have a Studio.” © Art21, Inc. 2017.
Tuning into their energies to develop environments that foster peacefulness for creators and viewers alike, the artists in this playlist find serenity in silence and ask us to press pause so we can find it too.
Cast a sculpture of a paper bag with Liz Magor, sift wildflower pollen with Wolfgang Laib, and ride a stationary bike in “Chakra Juicer” with Mika Rottenberg & Jon Kessler in our “Slow Unfolding Moments” playlist.
Announcement: Vimeo Staff Pick
Azikiwe Mohammed is a Guy Who Makes Stuff has been highlighted as a Vimeo Staff Pick, marking the 7th Vimeo Staff Pick for Art21, and 6th for the New York Close Up digital series.
“I’m not very good at precious things. So I don’t use that word ‘artist’,” says Azikiwe Mohammed in the film. “I suppose I would self describe as a guy who makes stuff.”
Event: Art21 Family Reunion
IMAGE: Marcel Dzama, It all comes together again, 2020-2021. Courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner.
Art21 invites you to join the Art21 Family Reunion on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 6:00pm ET, honoring Art21 founding trustee Migs Wright, and Firelight Media founders Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith.
IMAGE: Marcel Dzama, It all comes together again, 2020-2021. Courtesy of the artist and David Zwirner
Announcement: Webby Honoree
Wangechi Mutu: Between the Earth and the Sky has been announced as Webby Honoree for Video – Documentary: Longform in the 26th annual Webby Awards.
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet.
Art21 is Now Hiring
Art21 is currently seeking a new Associate Producer to join our Production department.
Announcement: Film Festival Acceptance
IMAGE: Production still from the New York Close Up film “Kameelah Janan Rasheed: The Edge of Legibility.” © Art21, Inc. 2021.
Kameelah Janan Rasheed: The Edge of Legibility has been announced as an official selection for the 25th annual Full Frame Documentary Film Festival.
The NEW DOCS lineup and Invited Program include 37 titles from 18 countries, comprising 22 feature films and 15 short films, with two world premieres, one North American premiere, and three U.S. premieres.
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