Keeping Tabs: Sculpture, space, Riga and Warsaw
A postcard from Provence
I’m writing this newsletter while the birds are singing and the sun is shining outside my window in Provence. I needed this, as I’m guilty of never taking a break. I have been working here — emails don’t know how to leave me alone. However, switching to a more relaxed setting is welcomed. This week:
We talk about public sculpture with Stella Ioannou in our latest podcast
I talk to the camera about the Space exhibition at the Natural History Museum
Thanks as always for keeping tabs on me, and have a great week ahead.
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Tab’s World
My latest articles and events for your reading pleasure.
I reviewed the inaugural Riga Art Week and loved it. Riga is also a beautiful city to visit.
We talk about public sculpture with Stella Ioannou in our latest podcast. She is the artistic director of sculpture in the city and also works on public sculpture through her own company Lacuna Projects.
It’s a Polish top five from me this week, mixing it up from my usual London-based selection.
Plus, catch up on my recent diary entries, interviews and more:
Read about Hannah Gibson’s joyful art made from recycled glass
An interview to commemorate 100 years of photo booths and where you can still find them in London
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I talk to camera about the Space exhibition at Natural History Museum.
It was a privilege to give a speech at the launch of ‘the space in-between’ exhibition in a church in Eygalières, Provence. It’s curated by the NG art creative residency, who are very kindly hosting me here, and it’s now open until 22 June, free to visit.
Tab’s Weeks Ahead
Highlighting my top events for the weeks ahead. Let me know if you'd like to join me!
My Saturday plans aren't fixed yet, but I’ll finally be back in London and planning to go to the launch of latest Lost Art issue where my article is featured. Saturday 14 June, 4-6pm - free, RSVP required.
The Wider Arts
Here are my top picks of culture that may be enjoyed from the comfort of your home. Paid subscribers have access to my full back catalogue of recommendations.
NON-FICTION BOOK: Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken is a compelling evidence-backed read on how ultra-processed food is marketed to us, affects our health and is designed so that we can't stop eating it. It's terrifying how we're being manipulated by those with vested interests in keeping us eating junk. The links go to my online bookshop, and you can follow me on Goodreads here.
ACTION MOVIE: Twisters is a fun action movie with excellent special effects and an adrenaline rush that doesn’t disappoint. It’s a storm-chasing blockbuster. On Now TV.
ANIMATED SERIES’: Devil May Cry is an intense action series based on video games. I haven’t played them, but I liked the animation style, the dark plot elements, and the banging soundtrack. Castlevania Nocturne is back for a second season and it’s also got a great animation style in a fantastical world of vampires. Both are on Netflix.
Articles I’m Reading
I recommend interesting stories largely from outside the art world. If you fancy reading offline at another time, I recommend the app Instapaper.
This is a selection of articles I found thought-provoking in one way or another; opinions expressed in the articles don’t necessarily reflect my views or those of Londonist. Paid subscribers have access to my full back catalogue of recommendations.
INSIDE OUR HEADS: Does One Emotion Rule All Our Ethical Judgments? Asks The New Yorker (10 mins), The Conversations says Some people love to scare themselves in an already scary world − here’s the psychology of why (5 mins) and Hollywood Reports asks Be Afraid: What Horror Movies Say About America (17 mins). ‘Worry Windows’ Got Me Through One of My Most Stressful Years (5 mins) and What to Do When You’re Super Cranky and Hate Everyone (6 mins), both on SELF. Big Think explains how losing all my free time forced me to rethink productivity, Can you think yourself young? and how to let go of a grudge (9 mins) are both in The Guardian. Undark reveals The Cautious Optimism for Psychiatric Brain Surgery (14 mins), BBC unveils the mystery of Alice in Wonderland syndrome (7 mins) and Asterisk looks into The Unbearable Loudness of Chewing - for those who are sensitive to the sound (24 mins). Autism Diagnoses in Adult Women Are on the Rise. Self Asked Experts to Explain Why (9 mins) and BBC looks into the genetic mystery of why some people develop autism (14 mins).
DIFFERENT GENERATIONS: Big Think asks can you self-identify as a different generation?, The Guardian asks why Gen Z loves lowercase (3 mins), Politico explains How Gen Z Became the Most Gullible Generation and Slate says Generation names are notoriously lame. There’s a surprising - and insidious - reason why (12 mins). 2025 Marks The Start Of A New Generation. Here's What To Know About 'Gen Beta’ says Huffington Post (5 mins) and Harper’s Bazaar explains why Only 6 per cent of Gen Z Workers Want to Be the Boss (5 mins).
DRUGS & MEDICINE: The New Yorker explains How Syria Became the Middle East's Drug Dealer (29 mins), Wired has a compelling long read on The Epic Rise and Fall of a Dark-Web Psychedelics Kingpin (50 mins), and GQ says They Took an Edible. Anxiety Haunted Them for Years (9 mins) and . Popular Science explains how prescription drugs get their names (3 mins), ProPublica looks into the price of remission and how cancer drugs became so expensive (29 mins), and SELF asks What Really Happens If You Eat Grapefruit With Your Medication? (6 mins). Quartz explains what can't Ozempic and other weight loss drugs cure?, and The New York Times examines The Allure of ‘Microdosing’ Ozempic (4 mins). Wired asks You Know It’s a Placebo. So Why Does It Still Work? (7 mins) - this still baffles me.