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What’s On(line)

Words: Chekii Harling 

Welcome to our round-up of the best content to watch, see and get involved with right now. From an interactive biography on Prince’s life to the moving Zoom backdrops created by artists and filmmakers, you can now savour art and design from home like never before. 

Get your ticket now to tune in to artists having a Tuesday chinwag

It’s Nice That’s monthly talk series is back. This month, we saw British artist David Shrigley, photographer Charles Engman, graphic designer Paula Scher and illustrator Haein Kim settling down in their hot seats (over Zoom). Learn from the expert speakers who will be delving into their design practices while encouraging attendees to feel connected to a wider creative community during this period.

Nicer Tuesdays is taking place on Tuesday 28th June at 6pm. Tickets are £1–£10; booking is available on It’s Nice That’s website (www.itsnicethat.com)

Dive deep into the world of chairs by streaming Vitra’s free documentary  

Family-owned Swiss furniture company Vitra has announced an online screening of its documentary that explores chair design throughout the ages. Directed by Heinz Bütler, the movie takes you on a cinematic journey, featuring design experts who detail the story of 125 seating objects: from works created in 1807 to the latest 3-D-printed designs. The film was originally released in 2018 and highlights that ‘chairs are important witnesses of their time’. 

Watch the film on Vitra’s website (www.vitra.com)

 

Have a flick through this year’s selected submissions from across the globe 

The Palm* Photo Prize always provides us with a little escapism, so why not admire cultures far and wide by browsing photography captured all over the world? Judges include Alastair McKimm (i-D’s Editor in Chief) and Karen McQuaid (the Senior Curator at The Photographers’ Gallery). Rinchen Ato’s image of identical twins holding albino bunny rabbits and Kata Geibl’s shot of a rocky rope ladder feature among the selections – all of which show 2020 through a different lens.

Explore the Palm* Photo Prize 2020 shortlist on the Palm Studios website (www.palmstudios.co.uk)

These downloads aim to raise money for the COVID-19 response fund 

Spice up the scenery of your Zoom calls with a range of funky backgrounds created by designers, illustrators, filmmakers and animators. There are film snippets that transport you to the fairground and landscapes featuring nature in its prime, while stills include a Pac-Man game, historic black-and-white paintings and various other graphic delights. They’re all free to download, but the site allows you to donate to the COVID-19 response fund once you’ve found the backdrop that suits you best. 

Browse the backdrops on Got Your Back’s website (www.gotyourback.space)

Join in with the virtual art project exploring life throughout COVID-19 

‘Postcards from Isolation’ is a collection of interactive postcards created in response to the recent shift in our lives. These are digital works that explore the social, cultural and economic impact of being in isolation. ‘Mind’ by Jason Booth and ‘Isolated, yet closer’ by Andrew Alva are among the interactive black-and-white postcards that explore thoughts and ideas that are particularly prominent right now. 

Browse the postcards via the project website
(www.isolation.is)

The arcade of miniatures launches an interactive exhibition

Influenced by the likes of Pac-Man and Space Invaders, a community of retro-game makers has been busy creating vintage-inspired video games that are now available to play online with friends. Choose from themes such as ‘existential’, ‘trippy’ and ‘snuggly’, then jump into this DIY portal of fun. You’ll soon learn that, much like a good old-fashioned game of Snake, the arrow buttons are the key to success.

Explore the exhibition via LIKELIKE’s website
(www.likelike.org)

Dive into the musical legend’s history via this interactive biography 

In collaboration with the Prince Estate, Base Design has created a platform that celebrates Prince Rogers Nelson’s life. Explore ‘The Early Years’ via an interactive map of his hometown, Minnesota, where you can learn about where he grew up while listening to soundbites from both the man himself and his nearest and dearest. There are fifteen locations to visit, from Prince’s childhood home to Moon Sound Studios and beyond. 

Discover more via the Becoming Prince website
(www.becoming.prince.com)

The Fashion house’s free dance lessons honour the poetry of performance

Dior has rallied some of its favourite dancers to hold workshops and lessons that celebrate the body in motion. This is a nod to Monsieur Dior himself, who notably created costumes for Roland Petit’s ballet ‘Treize Danses’. The series is hosted by experts including Germain Louvet, a dancer from the Paris Opera Ballet, and dancer and director of the Opera Roma ballet company Eleonora Abbagnato. Respond to the music and learn how to perfect key positions with these intimate masterclasses.

Photography by Julien Benhamou.

Take part via Dior’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xD-jKli-_qIYXDTsNv4dw)

Discover what celebrities are reading as they select excerpts from their favourite books

The New Museum’s ‘Bedtime Stories’ series has called on celebrities to soothe you to sleep as they read from their favourite books, own writings and impromptu performances. Captured in the stars’ homes and studios across the globe, the recordings serve as an intimate window into their world. The stories are as varied as American artist Jordan Wolfson reading Leonard Cohen and Tacita Dean reciting Thomas Hardy, and the selection is growing every day throughout June. 

Listen to the stories via the New Museum website
(www.newmuseum.org)

Tune in to the audio series featuring Jane Fonda, Gloria Steinem and the legend herself 

Dive into the world of Dolly Parton via this nine-part series featuring interviews with Nashville legends, folk singers and members of the Parton family. The series “retraces the steps to Dolly’s near-universal appeal and turns the mirror around to discover what America’s collective adoration reflects and reveals about us”. Discussions go beyond the singer’s biography to touch upon themes including feminism, faith, workers’ rights, the American Dream, and the universal longing for home. 

Listen via Apple Podcasts
(www.podcasts.apple.com)

Discover the new platform bringing historic garments to life 

Created in collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology, this new virtual archive is a space where you can access archival pieces. The idea centres around showcasing the craftsmanship that produced each hand-picked piece, while encouraging users to interact with fashion in a digital sphere. It’s a chance to see work by pioneers such as Issey Miyake and Thierry Mugler from a totally new perspective – we also recommend trying the augmented reality feature that brings the garments even closer.

Explore the Virtual Fashion Archive via its website (www.virtualfashionarchive.com) 

Receive personalised challenges and pop-ins from mystery experts 

Fed up of hours-long video conferences? Receive key questions, exercises, prompt cards and other stimuli that are bespoke to you by purchasing one of Liminal Space’s personalised packages. There are mystery guests available who will pop in from around the globe to bring new perspectives on the challenge at hand – from a researcher working to develop a COVID-19 vaccine to the Indian design team creating smart cities for the future. All you have to do is plug in and play. 

Discover more on the Liminal Space website
(www.the-liminal-space.com)

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