Yesterday's good idea
The art of looking back to move forward - viewing the past through a present lens to inspire ideas for tomorrow
In a world where digital algorithms predict our desires and curate our experiences, stumbling upon something genuinely unexpected is quite rare. Yet, for those of us following the ebbs and flows of auction catalogues, the excitement of an unexpected find remains a beautiful reminder of the joys of unpredictability.
Amidst the meticulously catalogued pieces, it's chance that often dictates the themes I engage with. The title of the piece above, 'Yesterday’s Good Idea', caught my eye. There is so much talk about moving on, not looking back, or going back to our old life and remembering why we wanted a change. In an age intently dedicated to relentless progress, we often forget that not all past ideas are outdated—some, as William Kentridge suggests, were quite brilliant.
Reflecting on this, I now realise that my years in the art world were not just a career phase. I miss curating (hence this newsletter as an answer to that need), discovering talent, places, and objects. I miss working with creatives using a visual language. I even miss my own past creative work. I now realise that the past ideas were good ideas, and I’m looking for a way back.
The ‘Yesterday’s Good Idea’ piece inspired me to curate a black and white selection for this edition of the newsletter, and the associative trail of thought that followed mainly led me to some wonderful photography pieces, carefully selected for you below. For the first time in four years, I wanted to include some of my work but it’s still all locked up in a storage in London (inaccessible and gathering dust).
The selection below comes from a place of longing, from a place of looking for the details and passing moments. Moments of beauty, joy, intimacy, light and form.
Look at Tina Modotti’s photographs. She brings stark realism and social consciousness with her documentary photography. An Italian photographer, actress, and political activist, who played a significant role in the early twentieth-century avant-garde movement. She used her camera to document the lives of ordinary people, particularly workers and peasants, and to capture the social and political upheavals of her time. Her images often conveyed a sense of empathy and solidarity with the marginalised and oppressed.
Or Malick Sidibé, a renowned Malian photographer known for his black and white images that captured the energy and spirit of Mali's youth culture in the 1960s. He famously photographed dance parties, celebrations, and social gatherings, and with his lens brings joy, laughter and such a craving for life!
Then there’s Eve Arnold1, the first woman to be admitted to the Magnum photographic agency, whose lens moved effortlessly from social documentary to the celebrity culture. She alternated between taking glamorous photos of the famous and portraits of everyday life and experiences. She brings a measured view of the world.
And Tom Bianchi, known for his intimate and candid photographs exploring themes of sexuality and identity, often depicted scenes of gay life, desire, and intimacy in the United States during the late 1970s and 1980s, a time when the LGBTQ+ community faced significant social stigma and discrimination. With his lens he brings such raw honestly, emotional depth and energy.
I’ve also found one photograph by Ellen Auerbach, who founded one of the world's first female-run photographic businesses in 1930. Her beautifully balanced black and white images are often fragile and poetic in their simplicity. She brings a moment shared through the carefully considered click of her shutter.
Here’s a selection of black and white works from various auction houses. Having worked both as a photographer and a photo editor, curating these pieces allowed me to reconnect with a world I had left behind. It still feels the most familiar, and I love that I can always return for a warm embrace in one way or another. And when the time comes, I’ll share some of my past work too.
Ax
1. Film
2. Morocco
3. Realism
4. Dance
6. Light
7. Heat
8. Form
9. Portrait
10. Music
11. Water
12. Trees
You can all respond to this email from your inbox and share your thoughts. Your message will reach me directly. Do you collect photography or buy prints? From the selection I've shared, which piece would you love to own?
I love this picture of Eve Arnold so much! It’s the cover photo for this edition.