Trebuchet Magazine

Trebuchet Magazine Create Curate Collect. www.trebuchet-magazine.com
Print and online. 1. How did Trebuchet start? Art, Culture and Politics. Nevertheless, it happens.

Trebuchet was born through a desire to provide a platform for popular non-fiction. Many of our staff come from commercial media backgrounds or regimented academic backgrounds, the thrill then is to write from a place that is neither beholden to financial interests nor academic process but has the impact and appeal of the former and the insight of the latter. We hope that to this day Trebuchet con

veys our belief that smart fun creates joy.

2. What they have in common, what they shouldn’t have in common. This is a societal game of rock, scissors, paper. Art shapes culture, culture directs politics, politics inspires art. Each of them is a driving force to the other, and also a limiting agent. Art crystallises and concentrates the issues of its day, whether through a painting like Guernica or a meme based on the pepper-spray cop. It focuses complex issues into instant expressions, rendered suddenly sensory instead of cerebral. And therein lies its danger, because converting complex issues into instantly experienced artistic epiphanies bypasses our rational, analytic impulses. And unless we are very, very wary, can just as easily become a tool of propaganda as of exigesis. That’s where politics and art have too much in common - when the techniques of art are used for political ends. It exists in every stage-managed pause on a presidential autocue, down to the typography on a campaign poster. Which is why culture and society has to constantly evolve and develop its skills at deconstructing those propagandist messages. Ironically, it is through art, and artists, that societies are best at doing so. That can be something as simple as clever kids re-writing the slogans on billboard advertisements with a spraycan and a quip; through to a visual metaphor as instantly iconic and meaningful as the ballerina posing on the Wall Street Bull during Occupy. That’s where art, culture and politics become one and the same. And as for culture, dear old culture. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. The bottom-up leaching of ideas, customs, manners, attitudes and every other human concept that defines any one group of people (usually in contrast to another group). A growth sector, liberated from its traditional boundaries by pocket technology that makes anyone with a fully-charged phone an international broadcaster. Culture: where a well-honed hashtag can topple governments, or alternatively, where the political, artistic, aesthetic and moral judgement of entire nations can be neutered by a cute picture of a kitten. Soak it up, it can’t be avoided, only documented.


3. What do you think are the problems of aesthetics and art critics in your context, and how do you think they could be solved? Seeing, feeling and writing beyond the press release. Beyond the established consensus. Every piece of art now comes with a meta-narrative, written by the artist, or by the artist’s PR agency. Suggestion is a poweful tool, and it takes a strong-willed critic to visit an exhibition and take the time to form their own judgement. Something as amorphous and subjective as an opinion on visual art is very easily manipulated, especially in a context where the viewer can feel intimidated into following a consensus. Everyone else thinks it’s wonderful, I think it’s dross. What’s wrong with me? It’s important to have art critics who are strong-willed enough to trust in their own experience, knowledge, and instinct. It also helps that many of Trebuchet’s art critics are established artists themselves, and know how to recognise a polished turd.


4. Secret wishes for Trebuchet Magazine? That we get even more self-confident and obtuse, more stubbornly intransigent in the face of dumbing-down; search engine optimisation; social network link-baiting, and all those peripheral but insistent distractions that ultimately dilute the impact of what is put on the page by our writers and photographers. Secret wish in a nutshell? That content will always be king. http://www.trebuchet-magazine.com

Currently on show at Impulse Gallery, Transmissions highlights Tracy’s continued exploration of how forces and energies ...
16/11/2024

Currently on show at Impulse Gallery, Transmissions highlights Tracy’s continued exploration of how forces and energies interact and evolve....

Currently on show at Impulse Gallery, Transmissions highlights Tracy’s continued exploration of how forces and energies interact and evolve.

The new Celia Paul exhibition, Colony of Ghosts, coincides with the launch of a major new monograph spanning some fifty ...
15/11/2024

The new Celia Paul exhibition, Colony of Ghosts, coincides with the launch of a major new monograph spanning some fifty years of painting by the artist....

The new Celia Paul exhibition, Colony of Ghosts, coincides with the launch of a major new monograph spanning some fifty years of painting by the artist.

The Pompidou show brings together several series of luminous sculptures which have become emblematic of his practice in ...
04/11/2024

The Pompidou show brings together several series of luminous sculptures which have become emblematic of his practice in recent years....

The Pompidou show brings together several series of luminous sculptures which have become emblematic of his practice in recent years.

The UK’s largest and most ambitious exhibition of newly commissioned art in the public realm announces dates for 2025...
01/11/2024

The UK’s largest and most ambitious exhibition of newly commissioned art in the public realm announces dates for 2025...

The UK’s largest and most ambitious exhibition of newly commissioned art in the public realm announces dates for 2025

Restless, surreal, folkloric; Colombian-born artist, María Berrío, shows new works at the celebrated London gallery....
31/10/2024

Restless, surreal, folkloric; Colombian-born artist, María Berrío, shows new works at the celebrated London gallery....

Restless, surreal, folkloric; Colombian-born artist, María Berrío, shows new works at the celebrated London gallery.

Adventures with animals, humans and fruit conjure a universe of fun and wonder in Santander....
24/10/2024

Adventures with animals, humans and fruit conjure a universe of fun and wonder in Santander....

Adventures with animals, humans and fruit conjure a universe of fun and wonder in Santander.

An interview with the artistic director of Bangkok Art Biennale Dr Apinan Poshyananda
23/10/2024

An interview with the artistic director of Bangkok Art Biennale Dr Apinan Poshyananda

An interview with the artistic director of Bangkok Art Biennale Dr Apinan Poshyananda

Are the roots of tourism colonialism? Michael Schindhelm's Basel installation
22/10/2024

Are the roots of tourism colonialism? Michael Schindhelm's Basel installation

A review of Michael Schindhelm’s ROOTS installation at

An interview with Tokyo’s iconic colour purveyor....
17/10/2024

An interview with Tokyo’s iconic colour purveyor....

An interview with Tokyo’s iconic colour purveyor.

From first nation rituals to environmentally conscious sculptures, the global art community convened in London for the F...
15/10/2024

From first nation rituals to environmentally conscious sculptures, the global art community convened in London for the Frieze London and Frieze Masters fairs 2024...

From first nation rituals to environmentally conscious sculptures, the global art community convened in London for the Frieze London and Frieze Masters fairs 2024

Trebuchet: Art & Psychology - Out now
14/10/2024

Trebuchet: Art & Psychology - Out now

Trebuchet 16: Art & Psychology – Out Now

SOLO Contemporary Artist Award 2024 awarded to Son of the Soil (2024) at this year’s British Art Fair...
11/10/2024

SOLO Contemporary Artist Award 2024 awarded to Son of the Soil (2024) at this year’s British Art Fair...

SOLO Contemporary Artist Award 2024 awarded to Son of the Soil (2024) at this year’s British Art Fair

Evaluating the stultifying mundanity of female domestic drudgery (up to and including murder and s*x work)....
09/10/2024

Evaluating the stultifying mundanity of female domestic drudgery (up to and including murder and s*x work)....

Evaluating the stultifying mundanity of female domestic drudgery (up to and including murder and s*x work).

First museum dedicated to Sufi art and culture opens near Paris...
08/10/2024

First museum dedicated to Sufi art and culture opens near Paris...

First museum dedicated to Sufi art and culture opens near Paris

Marian Goodman Gallery opens its new headquarters in Tribeca, New York, on 26 October 2024 with Your Patience Is Appreci...
27/09/2024

Marian Goodman Gallery opens its new headquarters in Tribeca, New York, on 26 October 2024 with Your Patience Is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show....

Marian Goodman Gallery opens its new headquarters in Tribeca, New York, on 26 October 2024 with Your Patience Is Appreciated: An Inaugural Show.

Dance across boarders and generations...
26/09/2024

Dance across boarders and generations...

Dance across boarders and generations

Six weeks of exhibitions and events in and beyond Brighton & Hove, Newhaven and for the first time, Portsmouth....
25/09/2024

Six weeks of exhibitions and events in and beyond Brighton & Hove, Newhaven and for the first time, Portsmouth....

Six weeks of exhibitions and events in and beyond Brighton & Hove, Newhaven and for the first time, Portsmouth.

Blurring boundaries between art, music, sound, video and psychological research, Disinformation prepare to melt minds......
24/09/2024

Blurring boundaries between art, music, sound, video and psychological research, Disinformation prepare to melt minds....

Blurring boundaries between art, music, sound, video and psychological research, Disinformation prepare to melt minds.

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How did Trebuchet start

Trebuchet was born through a desire to provide a platform for popular non-fiction. Many of our staff come from commercial media backgrounds or regimented academic backgrounds, the thrill then is to write from a place that is neither beholden to financial interests nor academic process but has the impact and appeal of the former and the insight of the latter. We hope that to this day Trebuchet conveys our belief that smart fun creates joy. 2. Art, Culture and Politics. What they have in common, what they shouldn’t have in common. This is a societal game of rock, scissors, paper. Art shapes culture, culture directs politics, politics inspires art. Each of them is a driving force to the other, and also a limiting agent. Art crystallises and concentrates the issues of its day, whether through a painting like Guernica or a meme based on the pepper-spray cop. It focuses complex issues into instant expressions, rendered suddenly sensory instead of cerebral. And therein lies its danger, because converting complex issues into instantly experienced artistic epiphanies bypasses our rational, analytic impulses. And unless we are very, very wary, can just as easily become a tool of propaganda as of exigesis. That’s where politics and art have too much in common - when the techniques of art are used for political ends. Nevertheless, it happens. It exists in every stage-managed pause on a presidential autocue, down to the typography on a campaign poster. Which is why culture and society has to constantly evolve and develop its skills at deconstructing those propagandist messages. Ironically, it is through art, and artists, that societies are best at doing so. That can be something as simple as clever kids re-writing the slogans on billboard advertisements with a spraycan and a quip; through to a visual metaphor as instantly iconic and meaningful as the ballerina posing on the Wall Street Bull during Occupy. That’s where art, culture and politics become one and the same. And as for culture, dear old culture. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. The bottom-up leaching of ideas, customs, manners, attitudes and every other human concept that defines any one group of people (usually in contrast to another group). A growth sector, liberated from its traditional boundaries by pocket technology that makes anyone with a fully-charged phone an international broadcaster. Culture: where a well-honed hashtag can topple governments, or alternatively, where the political, artistic, aesthetic and moral judgement of entire nations can be neutered by a cute picture of a kitten. Soak it up, it can’t be avoided, only documented. 3. What do you think are the problems of aesthetics and art critics in your context, and how do you think they could be solved? Seeing, feeling and writing beyond the press release. Beyond the established consensus. Every piece of art now comes with a meta-narrative, written by the artist, or by the artist’s PR agency. Suggestion is a poweful tool, and it takes a strong-willed critic to visit an exhibition and take the time to form their own judgement. Something as amorphous and subjective as an opinion on visual art is very easily manipulated, especially in a context where the viewer can feel intimidated into following a consensus. Everyone else thinks it’s wonderful, I think it’s dross. What’s wrong with me? It’s important to have art critics who are strong-willed enough to trust in their own experience, knowledge, and instinct. It also helps that many of Trebuchet’s art critics are established artists themselves, and know how to recognise a polished turd. 4. Secret wishes for Trebuchet Magazine? That we get even more self-confident and obtuse, more stubbornly intransigent in the face of dumbing-down; search engine optimisation; social network link-baiting, and all those peripheral but insistent distractions that ultimately dilute the impact of what is put on the page by our writers and photographers. Secret wish in a nutshell? That content will always be king. http://www.trebuchet-magazine.com

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