here & now » mono.kultur

DONLON BOOKS

sr — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 04:28:24 +0000

There’s an enjoyable interview with Conor Donlon of Donlon Books in the latest apartamento magazine. This independent bookshop is my type of bookshop, (and it also sells mono.kultur).

Donlon Books
77 Broadway Market
London

MONO.PUNKT #15: FACING PAGES

kvr — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:47:41 +0000

This weekend sees the second installment of the magazine festival Facing Pages (previously called O.K. Festival) descend upon the lovely city of Arnhem in the Netherlands – three days full of talks, events, launches, exhibitions and parties, including too many interesting speakers to list here – let’s just say they really did their homework. To make for a charming start, our editor Anna Saulwick will kick off a series of magazine presentations, on that pretty interview magazine of your choice.

Facing Pages
April 20–22, 2012
Trans 6
6811 HR Arnhem
The Netherlands

KULTURCHECK

kvr — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:31:21 +0000

Yet another flattering glimpse into our office – alas, in German only.

MONO.CONTRIBUTORS #07: ANNA HAAS

kvr — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:58:33 +0000

We’ve had our eyes on Swiss designer and illustrator Anna Haas for a long time – ever since she spent some time living in Berlin, actually – so when it was time to decide on a designer for our current issue with Michaël Borremans, we instantly knew that the moment had come.

Obviously, we really like playing with the format of the magazine, and we like posters and pages unfolding and so on, but what we really like are strong ideas that relate to the content of the interview. And with the understated subtlety of Borremans’ work, we knew we needed something that was simple yet slightly mysterious at the same time. So when Anna proposed to reproduce Borremans’ paintings in real size, on a scale of 1:1, which is rather ludicrous within our small format, we knew we had hit jackpot – a great idea that refers to the text on so many different levels, without being flashy or self-important. Which is just like Borremans’ work, and in fact, he agreed to it before we could finish our sentence to pitch him the idea (‘Oh, what a cool idea, let’s do it!’). It’s simplicity at its best, and one of those moments that made us really happy.

See more of Anna’s work here.

kvr — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 18:04:26 +0000

MONO.KULTUR #31: MICHAËL BORREMANS

kvr — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:05:43 +0000

Dear Friends,

now that we have entered our 30s, we thought it was time for a suitably grown-up yet wide-eyed subject for this precarious moment. And what better place to look than this most ancient genre of the fine arts that is painting – in fact, an area that we have not addressed this far.

When Belgian artist Michaël Borremans first presented his paintings to the world at the tender age of 37, he immediately caused a stir in the art scene. His realistic yet mysterious figurative images subtly draw one to the centre of a question which remains permanently unspoken. Through the combination of his immaculate painting techniques, using muted tones and classic compositions, and the puzzling scenarios that are at the heart of his work, the artist brings together both: melancholy and humour.

Signed by the prestigious galleries David Zwirner in New York and Zeno X in Antwerp, Borremans represents the modern reincarnation of the classic painter, in the same league as his colleague and friend Neo Rauch. Recently, Borremans also started translating his mysterious imagery into abstract short films, which were shown at the Berlin Biennial 2006, among others. He lives and works in Ghent.

With mono.kultur, Michaël Borremans talked about the mystery at the heart of painting and life in general, his commission for the Queen of Belgium, and why he needs to wear his Sunday suit when he goes to work.

The issue features a whopping 20 plates of Michaël Borremans’ paintings, all printed in life-size scale, allowing you to examine the technical mastery behind his work in breathtaking detail.

Needless to say, the issue is available now through our online store mono.konsum, and at a trusted art book dealer of your choice very soon indeed. In the meantime, have a great start into spring, and with our warmest regards,
mono.kultur

–––

mono.kultur #31
Michaël Borremans: Shades of Doubt
“It is not something of beauty underneath.”

Interview by Renko Heuer / Paintings by Michaël Borremans / Design by Anna Haas
Spring 2012 / English / 15 x 20 cm / 48 Pages

MONO.KULTUR #31 / SOUNDBITE 03

kvr — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:03:56 +0000

Coming back from the printers this week: mono.kultur #31.

MONO.KULTUR #31 / SOUNDBITE 02

kvr — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:08:26 +0000

At the printers – how we love the sound of these words.

MONO.KULTUR #31 / SOUNDBITE 01

kvr — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:17:56 +0000

Tying up lose ends this week: mono.kultur #31.

MILLENIUM MAGAZINES

kvr — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:23:36 +0000

Today opens a rather epic survey on independent publishing in the wise halls of the MoMA Library in New York, accumulating more than 100 magazines on art and design from all over the world – and of course, also from Berlin, including our humble little adventure in print.

Here is what they have to say about it, since we couldn’t put it any better: ‘This survey of experimental art and design magazines published since 2000 explores the various ways in which contemporary artists and designers utilize the magazine format as an experimental space for the presentation of artworks and text. Throughout the 20th century, international avant-garde activities in the visual arts and design were often codified first in the informal context of a magazine or journal.’

Perceptive as ever, who else but our friends at It’s Nice That will be this week introducing themselves and you to some of the magazines featured in the exhibition.

A hurray for that, and don’t let snow or rain get in your way to the MoMA Library.

Millennium Magazines
February 20–May 14, 2012

The Museum of Modern Art
11 West 53 Street
New York, NY 10019