Interview: Photographer Pieter Hugo

The artist on South African identity, colonial legacy and the impact of Instagram on art

When Nelson Mandela formally stepped into office as South Africa’s first democratically elected president in 1994, it marked a new era of hope and reconciliation for the vibrant if not fractured nation. While the transition of power from apartheid to majority rule wasn’t without serious conflict, it’s an often-cited success story in transitional justice. Today South Africans of all ethnicities are afforded equal freedoms under …

James Place: Sadie’s Tears

In his debut album Living On Superstition, NYC native Phil Tortoroli (under the alter ego James Place) reflects upon his self-ambiguity and anxious demons after a breakup with his longtime girlfriend and quitting his full-time corporate gig. The track “Sadie’s Tears” in particular was finished after one memorable fight where his girlfriend’s cat Sadie kept shrilly meowing for food in the background. “At the time, …

Studio Visit: Sculptor Nino Sarabutra

From molding butt busts to carving 100,000 miniature skulls, the porcelain focused artist talks life, death, food and sex

Sponsored by ANA

During our recent trip to Thailand and Tokyo by way of All Nippon Airways (ANA) we had the opportunity to survey the rich local art scene in Bangkok. There, we were lucky enough to meet with local Thai artist Nino Sarabutra. Working largely with porcelain as her preferred medium, Sarabutra has exhibited all around the world in both solo and group shows. We met with …