- Watch star of the Japanese independent wrestling circuit and former headliner for New Japan Wrestling Kota Ibushi fight Yoshihiko, an inflatable doll. Incredible. There are so many different themes in this performance: sexuality, the body, the spectacle, humor not to mention the possibility of triumph without defeat. Also, this level of wrestling is no joke. According to AFC sources, this is one of the most physically dangerous matches they’ve seen that didn’t involve ladders or jumping off buildings. The 4:30 mark is where things really get off the hook. [Youtube]
- AFC alumnus Corinna Kirsch discusses the evolving stop-and-start Twitter personas of Jayson Musson (@therealhennessy), Genevieve Belleveau (@gorgeoustaps) and Shawné Michaelain Holloway (@cleogirl2525). [art21 Magazine]
- Lemonade is here. In case you were out of town this weekend, Beyonce flash-released Saturday night her latest visual album. It’s a wild ride — the “Formation” video was definitely a #blackgirlmagic teaser that got blown out into southern gothic afrofuturism reflections on black American womanhood. Oh, and it looks like Jay cheated on her, but they’re still tight because she dropped this on Tidal (#BeckyWithTheGoodHair). [Facebook]
- One of Zaha Hadid’s final works, an oyster-like maritime terminal at the southern port of Salerno, Italy, will be posthumously inaugurated today. [artdaily.com]
- Looks like bankruptcy is now the least of dealer Perry Rubenstein’s worries. He’s been accused of fraud—Rubenstein sold a work by Takashi Murakami to Eli Broad and according to documents, paid $825,000 for the work, while Rubenstein told consigner Michael Salke that the buyer had paid just $630,000. [Artnet news]
- “The details of Knoedler’s collapse offer a kind of clarity that is typically nonexistent in this business, raising all sorts of questions about whether the lack of transparency at the high end of the art market will be viable in the future.” M.H. Miller weighs in on the behind the scenes of the Knoedler trial, and its legacy. [ARTnews]
- Hank Willis Thomas has co-founded a super PAC. While For Freedoms lacks the bank roll of Priorities USA Action, the artist-driven PAC won’t support or oppose candidates, and will focus on support a national advertising campaign spurring dialogue on issues like campaign reform, racism and gender equality. Works by artist like Carrie Mae Weems, Rashid Johnson and Marilyn Minter will appear on billboards and subway ads, eventually culminating into a group show at Jack Shainman. [New York Times]
- Myrna Ayad is the new director of Art Dubai. The UAE-based critic, editor and consultant replaces Antonia Carver, who was recently appointed the director of Art Jameel. [Artforum]
- For artist Maria Eichhorn’s at Chisenhale Gallery in London, she’s shut down the gallery and office for 5 weeks, 25 days, and 175 hours. The gallery staff are not working. So, what’s for sale? A lucky institution can buy the rights to perform this piece. [The Art Newspaper]
- Okay, this looks like an amazing raffle: Buy a $25 ticket and you could win a one month residency at Taipei Artist Village—treasure Hill and one month at Bamboo Curtain Studio anytime between January and June 2017. Raffle proceeds support Residency Unlimited, so the reasons to enter this raffle are only good. [Residency Unlimited]
