In 1941, Argentine writer Jorge Louis Borges published a short story called The Library of Babel. The piece describes an infinite library full of chambers of uniform bookshelves with books that contain every possible combination of letters, and therefore every possible book. The Library of Babel is a work of literature that predates both theContinueContinue reading “Consciousness Emerges from the Archive: Dwarves, Twitter Bots, and an Infinite Library”
Author Archives: kevinbuist
Some thoughts on death, loss, and 2016
I think it’s safe to say that 2016 was a year of loss and death. The news of Carrie Fischer’s passing really drove the point home for me. When I heard the news, I thought back to April, when Prince died. To be honest I’ve never been a very big fan of Prince. I learnedContinueContinue reading “Some thoughts on death, loss, and 2016”
Top Ten Exhibitions and Artworks I Saw in 2016
It’s time again for my annual roundup of the best art I saw this year. Or put another way, here are a bunch of things I should have already written about, but I’m making myself do it now. These are listed in the order in which I saw them. 1. Carlos Bunga, Theaster Gates, andContinueContinue reading “Top Ten Exhibitions and Artworks I Saw in 2016”
Lolo the Donkey and the Avant-Garde That Never Was: Part 1
Note: This is part one of a three part series. All three parts were published on Michigan Quarterly Review. Part one, two, three. “Anything that’s in the world comes from something else, so everything is culture, or everything is nature, depending on how you wish to define these words.” -Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev At theContinueContinue reading “Lolo the Donkey and the Avant-Garde That Never Was: Part 1”
Top Ten Exhibitions and Artworks I Saw in 2015
I traveled a fair amount this year, and I saw a lot of art. I thought it would be good to record the things that are still sticking with me. This is far from a definitive “best of ” list of major exhibitions, because even though I saw quite a bit, there is so, soContinueContinue reading “Top Ten Exhibitions and Artworks I Saw in 2015”
Review: “They Come to Us Without a Word” Joan Jonas at the United States Pavilion, Venice Biennale
Among the dimly lit chambers of the United States Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, Joan Jonas has placed several glass cases among her installation of videos, props, drawings, and mirrors. The glass cases don’t command much attention at first glance. Their shadowy interiors contain clippings, curios, handwritten notes, masks, and small natural specimens. OneContinueContinue reading “Review: “They Come to Us Without a Word” Joan Jonas at the United States Pavilion, Venice Biennale”
Reading On Kawara’s One Million Years at the Guggenheim
On Kawara, the conceptual artist whose work marked his own passage through time until his death last summer, has a retrospective on view at the Guggenheim Museum. I’ve always been a big fan of Kawara’s work ever since I encountered his “Today” series of paintings in an art history class in college. The paintings contain onlyContinueContinue reading “Reading On Kawara’s One Million Years at the Guggenheim”
A ‘Plop’ for Diversity in Holland, Michigan
On Wednesday MLive ran an article announcing that $100,000 has been raised for a permanent sculpture that will be placed along a busy road in Holland, Michigan. The 36 foot tall steel work by Dutch artist Cyril Lixenberg, titled New Dawn Rising is meant to symbolize diversity and unity, and is part of Holland’s “CelebratingContinueContinue reading “A ‘Plop’ for Diversity in Holland, Michigan”
Review: Salvador Jiménez Flores’ “I Am Not Who You Think I Am”
Last week I wrote a brief, informal post about my first impressions of the Kendall MFA show, which is now on view. The post accurately conveyed my overall feeling after a cursory viewing, but it was hardly a considered review. I’m working to make time to dig into a few of the artists’ installations andContinueContinue reading “Review: Salvador Jiménez Flores’ “I Am Not Who You Think I Am””
Kendall 2014 MFA Thesis Exhibition: First Impressions
I saw the MFA Thesis Exhibition at Kendall yesterday. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time, but it really got me thinking, so I thought I should write down my first impressions. This is not a review. If I have time, I’d like to go back and give the work more time andContinueContinue reading “Kendall 2014 MFA Thesis Exhibition: First Impressions”
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