More Than Human: Anicka Yi & John Akomfrah

06/10/22 • 38 min

Artist Anicka Li expands the boundaries of art with work that explores biology, technology, and the merging of the two. Anicka connects with pioneering artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah whose latest film was described by critics as “the most haunting, wrenching new work of art I’ve seen so far this decade...”. In this episode, Diane Solway, Head of Arts and Culture Programs at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both artists as they explore if we are more than human, how artists can contribute to important societal issues, the meaning behind John’s film Five Murmurations, major disasters when preparing exhibitions, and what TV shows they binged watched during the pandemic.

Previous Episode

Transforming Dance: David Hallberg & Lil Buck

Dancer David Hallberg was once described by the New Yorker as the most exciting male dancer in the Western world and worked his way up through the American ballet theatre to become the first American principal dancer at the Bolshoi ballet in Moscow. David connects with dancer and actor Lil Buck. Buck specializes in an altogether different kind of dance, Jookin, which originates in Buck’s hometown of Memphis. In this episode, Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they explore transforming dance, who inspired them both to pursue careers in dancing, what makes Jookin so innovative and unique, and find out if anyone can learn how to dance.

Next Episode

Mythmaking: Kehinde Wiley & Misan Harriman

Artist Kehinde Wiley’s portraits have been compared to a long line of past masters including Reynolds, Gainsborough and Titian. In 2017 he became the first Black artist to paint an official portrait of a President of the United States when he was commissioned to paint Barack Obama. Kehinde connects with the photographer and activist Misan Harriman, whose photographs of the Black Lives Matter movement are some of the most iconic and shared images of the digital age. In this episode, Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they discuss everything from painting presidents to photographing royals, myth making and the people who have transformed their lives and careers.