Transcending the Human-Centric

In this episode Anders Herwald Ruhwald and Stephanie Cristello discuss the interplay between form and content in Ruhwald's latest book project Mineral Skin, which features documentation of Ruhwald's practice alongside accompanying text by Cristello.Together the pair reflect on their collaboration, and the way in which Mineral Skin conforms to and breaks with the conventions of traditional book making. The conversation then broadens into a wider discussion of the role of language in Ruhwald's work and the different ways in which art, materiality and form can intersect in contemporary practice.Anders Herwald Ruhwald is a Danish-American artist based between Chicago and Detroit. His work is held in the permanent collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Victoria & Albert Museum and Musee des Arts decoratifs, among others. Stephanie Cristello, is a contemporary art critic, curator, and author based in Chicago.

In this episode, we dive into the dynamic collaboration of the project "We Are All Hybrids", with artist duo Rhoda Ting & Mikkel Bojesen and Luke Holman from the Globe Institute.Blending art, science, and technology, this project delves into speculative futures, asking how art can guide us towards an affirmative shift beyond the Anthropocene. Inspired by animals and species from Holman’s research in Skagerrak and the Little Belt in Denmark, as well as Icelandic waters, the sculptures bring to life the shared DNA across species, exploring marine environments and the ongoing evolution of life forms. Moderated by Kasper Opstrup, PhD, from the University of Copenhagen, who specialises in intersections of art, literature, and radical countercultures, the discussion reveals how this unique collaboration was born and how it reimagines our relationship with the natural world.Click here to access the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

In this episode, we dive into the collaboration between artists Johannes Sivertsen and Modou Dieng Yacine, who creatively explore themes of territory, identity, and belonging. Through painting and photography, Sivertsen and Dieng Yacine examine the lasting impacts of colonial history and the sense of being "in-between" that shapes their identities. They reflect on how representation (or lack thereof) in their homelands affects what—and who—is remembered. Sivertsen points to the gaps left by an incomplete history, while Yacine explores how our understanding of architecture changes in light of the legacy of colonialism. Central to their project is the figure of Louis Faidherbe—a French governor behind brutal military campaigns in West Africa–whose legacy is historicised in Paris, where the pair met, as well as in Saint-Louis, Senegal, where Dieng Yacine grew up. Joined by Marie-Ann Yemsi, independent curator and board member at Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the conversation uncovers the unique origins of this collaboration, how they shaped it together, and the fresh perspectives it brings to identity and history. The conversation invites us to reflect on how we learn about the world and the way we understand the connections between different cities.Click here to access the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

In this episode, we explore the textured and layered world of artist Pia Ferm, who exhibited a solo booth with Saskia Neuman Gallery at CHART 2024. Known for her work with fiber, textile, and stone, Ferm draws from landscapes to blend figuration and abstraction, crafting each piece through weaving, tufting, and carving—sometimes building her own looms.Joining her is contemporary art critic and curator Stephanie Cristello, who brings insight into Ferm’s exploration of material, form, and the concept of time. Their conversation examines how fiber and stone communicate in relief, the visible marks of creation, and how the body’s movements are both present and elusive in each work.Click here to access the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

In this episode, join us for a conversation with the Jury for CHART Architecture 2024 and a member of the winning team behind Breeze Pavilion, as they share insights into the unique approach and values shaping New Nordic Architecture.The panel features Jonas Sarantaris from the Breeze Pavilion team, Søren Pihlmann, Founder of pihlmann architects, and Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen, Dean of Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy and is moderated by Tyra Dokkedahl, architect, journalist and founder of Seriously Fun.Together, they discuss what makes Nordic architecture distinct, delving into the essential principles of sustainability, integration with surroundings, functionality, cultural context, human-centered design, and innovation. Sarantaris introduces the Breeze Pavilion team’s creative process, from material choices to construction methods, and how they embraced a Danish perspective in crafting this year’s pavilion.Click here to view the presentation discussed in the talk.

In this episode we feature an artist talk with Trine Søndergaard, a photography-based visual artist, and Saara Hacklin, Chief Curator of Contemporary Art Museum KIASMA in Finland – recorded live during CHART 2024.The conversation starts with Søndegaard's first experiences with a camera at primary school and goes on to cover her early experiences as an artist working with painting and drawing, and her eventual move to integrate photography into her artistic practice.The discussion goes on to focus on the artist's experience working with museum collections, the balance between "dead traditions" and "everyday life", and the ways in which cultural artefacts can help us gain new perspectives on contemporary social issues.Click here to view the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

In this episode, we discuss the medium of performance art, focusing on the unique practice of Teo Ala-Ruona, an artist with a deep love for text, or words, and their transformative power. Known for investigating "somatic fiction," Ala-Ruona explores how the human body’s boundaries are perceived and reshaped through technological and psycho-physical extremes. Their work weaves together autobiographical and theoretical texts with scientific research, fiction, and bodily exercises, covering themes of techno-trans-masculinity, sexuality, and eco-normative "naturalness." Joining Ala-Ruona is Storm Møller Madsen, PhD, from the University of Copenhagen, whose expertise spans performance art, body-based performance, transgender identity, and embodiment. Together, they discuss the intricate layers of Ala-Ruona’s work and how bodywork and words can challenge and expand our understanding of the body in a modern context.Click here to access the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

In this episode, we are delighted to present a conversation between New York-based, self-taught artist Marcus Leslie Singleton, known for his distinctive figurative paintings that blend pointed social commentary with subtle, joyful observations, and Fatoş Üstek, an independent curator and writer based in London, whose recent work includes curating the 2023 Frieze Sculpture exhibition and authoring The Art Institution of Tomorrow. The conversation was recorded live at CHART 2024, where Marcus Leslie Singleton presented a solo exhibition with V1 Gallery.Together, they explore topics central to Singleton’s process and vision—reflecting on memory, the interpretative nature of images, and his evolving perspective after moving away from the city. Singleton shares his approach to color, jazz, serendipitous “happy accidents,” spirituality, and daily life alongside his cat, Lent, revealing how these elements shape his vibrant, layered compositions.Click here to access the presentation to view the discussed artworks.

Listen to an insightful conversation about Artificial Intelligence between Arvida Byström, contemporary artist, Michael Connor, Co-Director of Rhizome, and Fatos Üstek, independent curator and writer – recorded live during CHART 2024.Does AI have the potential to transcend human creativity in the arts? Together the panelists discuss the different ways in which new AI technologies are influencing contemporary art, for artists and audiences alike. Discussing everything from AI assistants, to sex dolls and van Gogh chat bots, the conversation considers the ways in which new technologies are impacting cultural economies, our relationship to the body and gender politics, and how this trend is likely to continue for years to come.

In this episode of the CHART Talks podcast, we explore the pioneering world of architect Jan Gehl, a visionary in human-centric urban design, inspired by a question once posed to him: Why are architects not interested in people?—igniting his lifelong quest to reshape city planning. Gehl’s philosophy, honed through his groundbreaking book Life Between Buildings, has transformed public spaces in cities worldwide, from New York to Copenhagen. Joining him is Tyra Dokkedahl, director of Seriously Fun and co-initiator of Empathic Environments, whose work at the intersection of art, architecture, and urban culture explores the social and cultural aspects of public spaces. Together, Gehl and Dokkedahl discuss the evolution of cities, the activism that’s shaped Gehl’s career, and his recent knighthood by the Queen of Denmark. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on public spaces, the impact of people watching, and what makes certain urban areas inviting while others fall short.