Culture
25 years ago, Reflections in Black changed photography
A History of Black Photographers — Deborah Willis’s photobook anthologised pictures made by James Van Der Zee, Anthony Barboza and other groundbreaking Black photographers from when the medium was invented. A new edition updates it with 21st century contributions.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Despite volatility, Syrian artists are painting brighter futures through the haze
After the fall — Just over a full year since the collapse of Assad’s dictatorship, the country’s political and social outlook remains fragile. But a new outlook means a blank slate, and a grassroots arts scene is blossoming. Jessie Williams meets the photographers, painters and sculptors forging a new path.
Written by: Jessie Williams
Seeing double at the Ohio Twins Days Festival
Unity in diversity — Each August, thousands of twins and multiples descend upon the city of Twinsburg to celebrate their siblings and the wider twin community. Harmony Ferreira was one of the few singletons at the weekender, capturing its quirky, but meaningful energy.
Written by: Isaac Muk
“I have always been consistent in my insanity”: Vaginal Davis is a countercultural treasure
Magnificent Product — An expansive retrospective diving into the work of the artist, Blacktress and trailblazer in modern queercore is showing at the MoMA PS1. We took a look inside.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Coreen Simpson’s sweeping, half-century archive of Black America
A Monograph — A go-to photographer for several outlets, she captured stars such Grace Jones and Jean-Michel Basquiat, but also church ladies, club partygoers and b-boys. Her debut photobook provides a wide-ranging survey of her work.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Unrolled oat perfection at the World Porridge Making Championship
The Golden Spurtle — Each October, hundreds of people descend upon Carrbridge, a tiny village in the Scottish Highlands, to find out who can make the best bowl of porridge. Constantine Costi’s new documentary captures its idiosyncratic community energy.
Written by: Kez Cochrane
Seydou Keïta’s illuminating portraits of life in Mali
A Tactile Lens — In the 20th century, the photographer built a huge archive of tens of thousands of pictures, documenting people and lives in the newly independent country. A new exhibition and catalogue dives into his work.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Inside India’s evolving third gender Hijra youth movement
Body of Our Own — With new means to communicate and earn a living, young members of the ancient trans and third gender community are reframing what it means to be a part of it. A new documentary by Rahemur Rahman and Lily Vetch explores their shifting lives and identities.
Written by: Isabelle Blakeney
Richard Avedon’s complex portrait of ageing in a disposable society
Immortal — Bringing together the legendary fashion photographer’s shots of artists, directors, musicians and more, a new photobook explores the work in his archive that interrogate, critique, and celebrate the passage of time and its effect on people.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Remembering 2025: The ‘Sure, Why Not’ of Years
Huck’s year end wrap-up — From Gen Z uprisings and Katy Perry becoming an astronaut, to the growing omnipresence of AI, the past 12 months have been weird and endlessly revolving. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland attempts to make sense of it all.
Written by: Emma Garland
