Mars Review of Books

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Mars Review of Books
Mars Review of Books
The Rape of Europa
Issue 5

The Rape of Europa

by Veronica Gabrielle

Mar 20, 2024
∙ Paid
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Mars Review of Books
Mars Review of Books
The Rape of Europa
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This essay appears in Issue 5 of the Mars Review of Books. Visit the MRB store here.


Scratching The Back

a sculpture series by Nairy Baghramian, on view at the Met Fifth Avenue 

Look Again: European Paintings 1300–1800 

on view at the Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 600–644, ongoing

Indian Skies: The Howard Hodgkin Collection of Indian Court Painting

on view at the Met Fifth Avenue in Galleries 691–693 through June 9


Francisco Goya. Majas on Balcony, 1800–1812. Oil on canvas, 162 x 107 cm.

Scratching the Back, a series of sculptures by the Iranian artist Nairy Baghramian, currently inhabits the Met’s entrance niche. The work comprises four statues: various assortments of Corporate Memphis-colored rubble reminiscent of bulk curbside disposal day, complete with what look just like discarded white IKEA Kallax shelf units. Their uncanny resemblance to trash functions as a safeguard for whenever someone speaks the truth: “This looks like shit.”

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