What’s New on the Art Scene

Rediscovering Classics

On this week’s edition, we will look at on-becoming classics of the 21st century

The 2023 acclaimed picture depicts a portrait of the family of the ROLE of an SS officer living close to the extermination camp of Auschwitz. But nothing is framed as the typical and numerous films that have been made covering the Holocaust. The horror encapsulated in the film lodges within the very ordinary day-to-day life of the family composed of five children and their loving and caring parents, one being the commandant of the Auschwitz extermination camp, Rudolf Höss.

They throw parties, they have family dinners, they laugh, one of the child plays piano; each aspect of the dynamic and habits of this family is somehow relatable to the viewers. The choice of portraying them under this light, without ever showing anything explicitly, but much more suggestively through sounds for instance, is carefully thought and very effective; it makes the audience question the roots of human nature. Choosing to show them in their routines without dehumanise them becomes truly frightening and uncomfortable. By demystifying them, echoing to the philosopher Hannah Arendt’s investigation on evil, they feel closer to us, viewers, the good and innocent people.

On a more stylistic aspect, the colour palette of the images of the film are quite bright and drawn to the pastel tones, resulting in a more digest experience and almost pleasant aesthetic viewing.

By its unique choice of rendering the 1933 to 1945 genocide and its impressive cast, in particular with the actress Sandra Hüller, which have proven herself in Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet), winner of the Palme d’Or 2022, The Zone of Interest might just become a classic as well as a precious tool for educational and historical purposes.

Maison Hermès, Tokyo - Renzo Piano

“How to build a landmark piece, one that complies with all the earthquake safety measures, amidst the architectural diversity in Tokyo?” (Arquitecturaviva, no date) is the question that Renzo Piano Building Workshop was asking itself when assigned the construction of the new Maison Hermès Headquarters in Tokyo in 1998. Completed fully by 2006, the building is located in the heart of the shopping district of Ginza and contains a shop, offices as well as exhibition spaces spread across 13 floors. Its exterior is made of thousands of 45x45cm glass Pavés, specifically designed to follow rigorous fire and safety measures.

However, these weren’t the only strict restrictions the architects had to abide by. Indeed they needed to create a structure which would fit the stringent earthquake regulations. The actual design of the space was strongly influenced by the anti-seismic systems used in Shintoist Temples which are organised around a “large central mast from which the slabs are suspended” (Arquitecturaviva, no date). The main concept for this iconic building was to mimic the effects of magic lanterns traditionally hung from the doors of Japanese houses. From day to night, its impact on the streets of Tokyo is radically different, casting various levels of light on its surroundings, truly making it one of a kind, making it a future iconic reference. 

A Separation, Asghar Farhadi, 2011

A Separation, winner of the best picture at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival is an Iranian film that follows the story of a couple braking up; Simin makes the decision to leave a man named Nader after 14 years of marriage. The latter hires a nursing auxiliary, Razieh, that has to come to work everyday with her own small daughter, to take care of Nader’s father suffering from Alzheimer. Meanwhile Simin has a professional career and seeks emancipation -she is a “modern wife”- and wants to leave Iran to another country with their daughter, Termeh, in order to have access to more opportunities and live in better conditions as a woman. Her ex-partner strongly disagrees with this project, claiming that they have to stay in Iran for his father, creating tensions and a profound sorrow within the household that escalate to a divorce demand.

The film is a rare insight into the everyday life in Iran, especially as a woman having to find constant solutions while navigating through men’s anger issues and negociating with them. It is also a portrait on different social classes, the broken up couple coming from the middle-class, while Razieh -representing a “traditional wife”- is from the lower one and never gets recognition for taking care of Nader’s father and everything that she achieves.

American Museum of Natural History Richard Gilder Center - Studio Gang

The Gilder Center opened its doors in May 2023 and was designed by Studio Gang who wanted to create a space allowing for optimal flow and connections. Made up of 6 floors, 4 open to the public, its undulating shape is intricately linked to the geological process of erosion. In addition, the geological layering phenomenon is also mimicked with the making of a diagonal pattern in the building’s stone panels, creating a richly textured interior. To continue with the stone, the use of Milford pink granite is reminiscent of the Central Park West entrance which is made up of the same material.

Another technical detail which is often missed when looking at this construction is the implementation of bird-safe fritted glass (glass with a specific pattern visible to birds) to protect New York’s wildlife. Overall, this project which was first announced in 2014 is an incredible source of inspiration for many and a globally celebrated interior.

“You have participated in one of the most biggest killings in the human history. I want to understand what it means to you and your society.I will also film you and your fellow death-squad veterans discussing what you want to show and, just as importantly, what you want to leave out. In this way, we will be able to document what this means to your society, and what it means to you.” Those are the words said to the executioners when Joshua Oppenheimer shot the 2012 documentary The Act of Killing. The film uses reenactment as a tool to tell the story of the mass killings that took place in Indonesia in 1965 and 1966.

By this non conventional mean of filmmaking that, for example, does not follow the typical Hollywood 3 acts-structure, most of the film could not have been scripted, allowing the main characters total freedom in their reenactment of their killings.

Without referencing of them directly as monsters but rather approaching the perpetrators, Oppenheimer aims to understand the genocide from a new angle. The means of reenactment in this film allow a new perspective on past events as well as its relationship to the present day.

This documentary has been criticised on many levels, but it is safe to consider that it is a necessary watch and has definitely has its place amongst the most unique and important documentaries ever made.

Teshima Art Museum, Japan

The 2010 Teshima Art Museum, designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa and artist Rei Naito, located on the Teshima Kagawa island, is considered by many a work of reference and one of the most impressive architectural constructions of the 21st century.

Its shape, highly unique and technical, is made out of a singular 25cm thick outer shell, punctuated by two elliptical openings letting light shine through with its highest point being at 4 meters. According to the Tokyo-based architect, the goal was to “create a fusion of art, architecture and nature”. Vogue Singapore’s article from the 6th of June 2024, declare that this gallery “resembles a convex water droplet at the moment of landing”.