Metalabel

Our take

A free digital download of a physical publication exploring the art scene of the Middle East, with special attention to collectives, independent galleries, and pockets of activity beyond the mega-museums. Great photography, quality writing, and a thoughtful overview of a bubbling scene.

Our take

Issue #2 of the new interview magazine 3 objects tugs at our collector heartstrings by perfectly capturing the emotional connections between people and their most cherished objects

Our take

Three artists are aptly criticizing the data-farming ploy of CAPTCHA with a multi-layered exhibition, cassette, sculpture combined release that reminds us what makes us human

Our take

This exceptional new media package from electronic musician and composer Jlin captures the artist at work building pieces from samples discovered during a trip to the Powerhouse Museum in Australia. An exceptional look into the creative process, and one of the best-packaged releases we’ve seen on Metalabel.

Our take

There are so many takes on visual culture these days but Liz Barr’s latest is one we know will alter how we look at images for the better. For her latest print she dissects the history of photo editing—not just from web 1.0 onwards, but going back to 19th century photo-making practices to trace roots of our contemporary anxieties.

Our take

Maya Man’s HEART has been a gem of egalitarian creative goodness in Lower Manhattan since opening its doors last year, with talks and performances by living legends like Cory Arcangel, Mindy Seu, Rafael Rozendaal, and other members of the NYC creative community. To sadly commemorate the end of the space’s lease, Maya is offering a special I ♡ Heart shirt. Available only until April 1.

Our take

You’ve wished upon a star, but have you ever discovered one? That’s the unexpected invitation of this new release from artist and technologist WTTDOTM that allows someone to be the first person to glimpse a new star. The release uses a piece of software that reads daily feeds from computerized telescopes and identifies stars that haven’t yet been discovered.

Our take

Camila Galaz is an interdisciplinary artist, member of NEW INC, and the co-host of an excellent podcast exploring lesser known stories from the history of technology. This release, a mousepad featuring a schematic of the cybernetic system the Chilean government planned to build under Salvador Allende to manage their economy, brings together Galaz’s many interests into one unusual artifact.

Our take

This USB release of artist Nika Simovich Fisher’s delicate web-based work “wildflowers.garden” blossoms with floral sketches, an unexpected lo-fi parallax effect, and a new way of experiencing the web. It’s HTML as artwork, nature as code, website as a garden, spring as art. Love it with all our ascii hearts.

Our take

Artist Fabiola Larios makes physical and digital work that, in her words, probes “the convergence of technology, identity, and representation in the digital age.” In this series of pieces, Larios makes Catholic prayer cards featuring saints and icons more fitting of our day, like Mariah Carey, Beyonce, and other celebrities, each with their own sacred prayer.