Theodor von Holst (1810 - 1844)
The Fairy Lovers, c. 1840
Oil on canvas, 41.3 x 31.1 cm

The figures are widely read as Oberon and Titania from Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Entwined in a passionate embrace, they haste through the moonlit forest with the wind nourishing their stride.

Yōshū Chikanobu, ‘Yamashiro, Snow in Rokuhara’ from the series ‘Snow, Moon, and Flowers’ (1884)

General Taira no Kiyomori (1118-1181) who established the first samurai dictatorial government in Japan is depicted here tormented by apparitions of Yūrei — the ghosts of his enemies

Mark Rothko, untitled (1956)

“I’m not interested in relationships of colour or form or anything else. I’m interested only in expressing basic human emotions — tragedy, ecstasy, doom, and so on.”

“A painting is not about an experience. It is an experience.”

Jimi Hendrix setting fire to his guitar at Monterey Pop Festival (1967)

“I decided to destroy my guitar at the end of a song as a sacrifice. You sacrifice things you love. I love my guitar.”

Photograph by Ken Marcus

By drawing these parallels across decades one can see that the systemic nature of imperialism, media complicity, and societal detachment is just as relevant today, in the modern conflicts, in the current times.
Political action begins with awareness.

David Cronenberg’s Naked Lunch (1991)
Cinematography by Peter Suschitzsky
An adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ novel Naked Lunch (1959) and short story collection Exterminator! (1953)
— “I'd like you to meet my friend. He specialises in sexual ambivalence”
— “Sexual Ambulance, did you say?”

Some of my favourite quotes by William S. Burrough’s include: (1)
“There is nothing more provocative than minding your own business”
“After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say 'I want to see the manager’”
“Life is a school where every pupil must learn a different lesson.”

Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up (1966)
Cinematography by Carlo Di Palma
“Nothing like a little disaster for sorting things out”
Quintessential mod-era film set in London’s swinging 60s fashion and art scene

Aida Muluneh (b. 1974)
‘the stubborn will of darkness and light’
‘the faith of fate’