“The aesthetic experience is a simple beholding of the object . . . you experience a radiance. You are held in aesthetic arrest.” - Joseph Campbell
Aesthetic Arrest is our weekly dip into the Epicurean pleasures we’ve been enjoying lately. Now with TWO ways to enjoy our curated splash of inspiration and culture! Cheers to that!
Click above to listen to our Aesthetic Arrest Podcast, featuring R&R discussing our reading, listening, looking, viewing and tasting recommendations of the week!
Take a deep-dive into our Aesthetic Arrest: Mid-Week Libation! Below is a splash of interesting cultural gems to explore — videos, music, art, articles, recipes and more. Something different every week!
Aesthetic Arrest: Mid-Week Libation
Wildstar’s Wednesday Libation: Bodegas Pinord Dibón Brut Reserva, Marrugat - D.O. Cava (Penedès, Catalonia, Spain)
“Smooth and silky, its carbonic release gives it freshness and vivacity, resulting in a long finish.” [Source]
Reading: A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy ... a Memoir of Sorts by Nigel Slater
“For years, Nigel Slater has kept notebooks of curiosities and wonderings, penned while at his kitchen table, soaked in a fisherman’s hut in Reykjavik, sitting calmly in a moss garden in Japan or sheltering from a blizzard in a Vienna Konditorei. These are the small moments, events and happenings that gave pleasure before they disappeared. … This funny and sharply observed collection of the good bits of life, often things that pass many of us by, is utter joy from beginning to end.” [Source]
Moments, Memories and Meals to Cherish: Exclusive Extract from Nigel Slater’s New Book (via The Guardian)
Also, if you haven’t seen it, check out the wonderful 2010 film, Toast, based on Nigel Slater’s memoir, Toast: The Story of a Boy's Hunger:
Listening #1: She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Smooth & Life’s A Gig by Vanisha Gould (with Chris McCarthy)
“Two of the best jazz vocal albums released this year, against stiff competition, were the work of Vanisha Gould, who combines a blues cry with a storyteller’s point of view. Life’s a Gig presents her in sparse yet fully furnished dialogue with pianist Chris McCarthy, who reappears on She’s Not Shiny, She’s Not Smooth, a set of playful and pointed original songs. These are Gould’s first solo albums, and they introduce a major talent.” — Nate Chinen at NPR [Source]
Listening #2: Tribute to Zakir Hussain (March 9, 1951 – December 15, 2024)
“He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come. His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time.” [Source]
Listen to a beautiful playlist celebrating the life of Zakir Hussain, compiled by the UK’s leading Indian Arts and Culture organization, Milap - Uniting Hearts Through Arts:
For more great videos, check out the Zakir Hussain playlist compiled by Playing for Change!
Remembering Zakir Hussain: A Maestro for the Ages (via Milap)
Zakir Hussain, Legendary Tabla Virtuoso Who Defied Genres, Dies at 73 (via NPR)
Zakir Hussain, Legendary Indian Tabla Musician, Dies Aged 73 (via The Guardian)
Looking #1: The Art of Arild Rosenkrantz (1870-1964)
“Throughout his life, Rosenkrantz was preoccupied with portraying the spiritual part of life, and that became his lifelong goal. The pursuit of the mystery of existence shines forth from his works; behind the shadows, in nature, in man or in the form of a revealing light. … In his motifs we meet luminous angels, majestic sphinxes and ferocious dragons. … These are parallel universes that we can reflect on and that challenge us to reflect on our own position in the world.” [Source]
Looking #2: The Art of Prince Toffa
“Prince Toffa is the artist name of Boris Abbas, a creator and designer with an atypical, self-taught background. Born in 1977 in Benin, he lives and works in Benin. Initially a stylist, then a painter, he returned to styling in a more plastic and monumental dimension. Faced with the cost of fabrics, he uses ordinary objects: tubes of ointment, cans, cigarette butts, etc., which he assembles to build imposing outfits that he links symbolically to Beninese royalty and divinities. Far from trying to recreate royal pomp, he invents new forms, such as his large headdresses made of added hair. These creations can be seen in urban performances.” [Source]
Check out work by Prince Toffa at the current exhibition, Revelation! Contemporary Art from Benin at the Conciergerie in Paris, France (on view until January 5, 2025!)
Viewing: Dahomey (2024) — directed by Mati Diop
“November, 2021. Twenty-six royal treasures of the Kingdom of Dahomey are about to leave Paris to return to their country of origin, the present-day Republic of Benin. Along with thousands of others, these artifacts were plundered by French colonial troops in 1892. But what attitude to adopt to these ancestors’ homecoming in a country that had to forge ahead in their absence? While the soul of the artifacts is freed, debate rages among students of the University of Abomey-Calavi.” [Source]
‘I felt this film was my duty’: Director Mati Diop on Dahomey, about the Return of Looted African Treasures (via The Guardian)
Dahomey, the ‘Fantasy Documentary’ Exploring Colonial History (via Dazed)
As 26 Looted Treasures Go on View in Benin Republic, the West African Cultural Community Is Asking: What Happens Next? (via Artnet) - featuring Prince Toffa!
Tasting: A Cook’s Book and Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter by Nigel Slater
“A collection of more than 150 delicious, easy, and gratifying plant-based and meat recipes, A Cook’s Book is the story of famed food writer Nigel Slater’s life in the kitchen. He charms readers with the tales behind the recipes, recalling the first time he ate a sublime baguette in Paris and the joy of his first slice of buttercream-topped chocolate cake.” [Source]
“Greenfeast: Autumn, Winter is a vibrant and joyous collection of recipes, perfect for people who want to eat less meat, but don’t want to compromise on flavor and ease of cooking. With Nigel Slater’s famous one-line recipe introductions, the recipes are blissfully simple and make full use of ingredients you have on hand.” [Source]
So that’s it for this week! But in the tradition of our Mid-Week Libations, we’d like to end with this week’s words of wisdom, a quotation from one of our favorite contemporary writers, Ben Okri:
This Week’s Words of Wisdom: Ben Okri
Thank you for joining us for Season 3 of Aesthetic Arrest!
Cheers to that!
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