The Quiet Power of Wales Bonner
By Wim Langedijk for HURS
The Quiet Power of Wales Bonner
HUR Reads is our definitive shortlist of the most prominent articles from around the web.
By HURS Team
1
Grace Wales Bonner on Strategy, ‘soulful’ Clothes and Getting the World Into Sambas
Grace Wales Bonner, the London-based designer, has become a powerful force in modern fashion blending refined craftsmanship with cultural depth. Known for revitalizing Adidas classics, her collaborations have driven massive demand and relevance for Adidas. Wales Bonner’s work bridges fashion, academia, and curation, drawing from historical and personal influences to create soulful, research-driven designs. As her brand marks its 10th anniversary, she is focused on expanding her vision across fashion, music, and art, while staying deeply private and mindful about her journey.
HOW TO SPEND IT
Sandra Poulson, an Angolan artist, is showcasing her first solo museum exhibition at MoMA PS1 in New York. Her work examines Angolan culture, symbols, and oral traditions through sculptures and installations made from materials like cardboard, textile waste, and concrete. Poulson's art reflects daily life in Luanda while challenging contemporary discussions on the "Global South" and the global flow of images and culture. The exhibition, curated by Elena Ketelsen González, supports emerging international artists and is part of MoMA PS1's broader initiative. Poulson is a resident at the Rijksakademie and has exhibited at notable institutions like the Sharjah Architecture Triennial and the Venice Biennale.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Simon Wu profiles artist Lotus L. Kang, highlighting her innovative use of greenhouses in her sculptural installations at 52 Walker in New York. Kang's work explores themes of transformation and impermanence, reflecting on the interplay between organic materials and constructed environments. Her installations challenge traditional exhibition formats, inviting viewers to consider the fluid boundaries between nature and artifice.
FRIEZE
Sophie Gilbert’s new book, Girl on Girl, examines how pop culture in the 2000s turned women against themselves after the feminist gains of the '90s Riot Grrrl era. Gilbert explores how pornography, reality TV, and media misogyny shaped damaging views of women, even as movements like sex worker memoirs tried to reclaim agency. She reflects on the backlash against women's first-person storytelling and sees it as crucial groundwork. Despite ongoing issues like body shaming and political threats, Gilbert finds hope in today’s more empowered female artists and a cultural shift away from the blatant sexualization of young girls.
THE CUT
At 90, legendary Chicago gallerist Rhona Hoffman is closing her West Town gallery in May but says she’s not retiring, instead she is shifting to project-based work. Over nearly five decades, Hoffman championed major women artists like Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger, as well as rising talents like Amanda Williams. Hoffman plans to stay active through exhibitions and fairs like EXPO Chicago and Art Basel Miami Beach, continuing her passion for art without the demands of running a permanent space.