Select Talks
The Magic of Klein BlueTraces how French artist Yves Klein transformed the rarest color in nature into a symbol of the infinite. In the 1950s, he created International Klein Blue—a pigment so vivid it seemed to swallow light. His monochrome works and performances turned color into experience, making blue not just a hue, but a portal to the unknown.
Why Does Brutalism Matter?Unpacks the meaning behind the architectural movement behind the 2024 film. Emerging after World War II, Brutalism rejected ornament and luxury in favor of raw concrete and honesty; a response to the devastation and disillusionment of the era. It symbolized both grief and hope: the will to rebuild with strength, equality, and truth. Once seen as cold or austere, Brutalism remains a reminder that beauty can exist in honesty, and that rebuilding is itself an act of faith.
Friday and Diego in AmericaRecounts the artists’ disillusionment during their 1930s stay in New York. Confronted by poverty amid excess, Diego Rivera captured the city’s inequality in Frozen Assets, while Frida Kahlo’s Self-Portrait on the Borderline contrasted Mexico’s vitality with America’s industrial coldness. Together, their works serve as a timeless warning against greed and a call to reconnect with humanity and the earth.
The Story of The BauhausExplores how the Bauhaus redefined design by rejecting ornate traditions and championing accessible, functional, and democratic objects for everyday life. It traces the school’s radical ideals, its eventual clash with the Nazi regime, and its forced closure. The story concludes with how its founders dispersed across the world, spreading Bauhaus principles globally and shaping the future of design and architecture.
Modern Art & The CIAUncovers one of art history’s strangest intersections: how the CIA covertly funded Abstract Expressionism during the Cold War. By supporting artists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, the U.S. used avant-garde art as a cultural weapon to promote the idea of American freedom. The talk unpacks the geopolitical strategy behind it and questions what it means when art becomes propaganda.
Swiss Design 101Breaks down the origins of Swiss Design, the iconic visual language built on grids, clarity, and Helvetica. It explores why this minimalist approach emerged, how it spread globally, and why it still dominates branding today. The session ends with a practical look at the core rules of Swiss typography.
The Dark History of PinkFar from being inherently feminine, pink only became associated with girls due to early 20th-century marketing strategies. This talk traces the color’s journey from aristocratic masculinity to innocence, rebellion, sexuality, and empowerment—all while revealing its cultural contradictions. By examining pink as a mirror of society’s shifting attitudes toward women, the talk reframes the color as a battleground of identity and power.
The Roots of Tabi ShoesTraces the split-toe tabi shoe back to its origins in Japanese culture, long before Maison Margiela turned it into a fashion statement. It reveals how traditional footwear informed Margiela’s avant-garde interpretation and why the design remains so provocative today.
Military Foundations of The Trench Coat
Uncovers the trench coat’s origins on the battlefield, where every strap, flap, and storm shield served a tactical purpose. It explores how Thomas Burberry’s innovations equipped soldiers during World War I and how the garment later migrated from military necessity to cultural staple. The result is a deeper understanding of why this seemingly simple coat carries layers of hidden history.
Why Are Galleries White?Examines the evolution of the white-walled gallery and how it became the dominant aesthetic for displaying art. It reveals that galleries were not always blank, neutral spaces and questions whether “purity” in design is truly neutral or a form of cultural erasure.
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