“Mecca is in a constant cycle of construction and deconstruction — it’s as if change is the only constant.”
Elena Goukassian
Elena Goukassian is an arts writer based in Brooklyn. Originally from Bulgaria, she grew up in Washington state and lived in Washington, DC before moving to New York in 2017. Her writing has also appeared in The Washington Post, DCist, Sculpture magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others.
Posted inBooks
A Graphic Novel Tells the Story of David Bowie, Orgies and All
With a nod to Heinz Edelmann and Milton Glaser, Néjib illustrates a couple of formative years in the life of David Bowie.
Posted inArt
Aesthetics Matter at the Volta Art Fair
A century after the emergence of Dada, Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont’s curated section is all about political collage.
Posted inNews
David Adjaye Designs a New National Cathedral for Ghana
Drawing inspiration from Christian symbolism and Ghanaian culture, Adjaye’s new cathedral will serve as a venue for both religious and secular gatherings, including state-sponsored celebrations.
Posted inNews
Toymaker Omits Frida Kahlo’s Iconic Unibrow in New Barbie Doll
While the Frida Kahlo Corporation sanctioned the doll, the artist’s great-niece isn’t happy with the appearance of the toy.
Posted inArt
A Game in Which David Lynch Teaches You How to Type
In the truly Lynchian game, the director gives you instructions like, “place your ‘Left Ring Finger’ in the undulating bug next to your keyboard.”
Posted inIn Brief
Work on Rome’s New Metro Line Unearths Ornate 2nd-Century Military Residence
Complete with marble floors, mosaics, and frescoes, the Hadrian-era house was found nearly 40 feet beneath the Amba Aradam station.
Posted inBooks
The Women in Andy Warhol’s Life, as Imagined by Hilton Als
Like Warhol’s own work, Als’s characterizations appear one-dimensional at first sight, but on closer observation, they take on a much more profound meaning.
Posted inFilm
This Oscar-Winning Short Doc Animates the Life of an Unpretentious Artist
Mindy Alper, who has struggled with mental illness her whole life, uses drawing and papier-mâché sculpture for both therapy and communication.
Posted inHistory
50 Years Ago Today, Marcel Duchamp and John Cage Played Chess
Spoiler alert: Cage lost … twice.
Posted inNews
Giant Monet Painting Discovered in Louvre Storage and Returned to Japan
Missing for almost 60 years, the painting was found severely damaged in a Louvre storage facility.
Posted inArt
Animating the Art of the Metropolitan Museum
Simone Seagle transforms iconic works by artists like Paul Klee and Claude Monet into interactive animations.