HENI Talks
Stories of Art from the world’s leading experts
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Sussan Babaie: Looking at Persian Painting 03:57 mins
‘It doesn't describe, it evokes…’ — Prof. Sussan Babaie
What is: Degenerate Art? 08:19 mins
‘When art is condemned, fascism prevails.’ — Dr Brad Evans
Brian Clarke, Norman Foster and Robert Storr in Conversation 47:21 mins
An online conversation between the foremost practitioner of stained glass, architectural artist Brian Clarke and esteemed architect Sir Norman Foster, chaired by Robert Storr.
Bridget Riley: The Art of Perception 12:15 mins
Discover the origins and evolution of Bridget Riley’s spectacular practice.
Zaha Hadid: Sketching the Future 12:53 mins
Hans Ulrich Obrist traces how Zaha Hadid’s futuristic architecture evolved from ‘superfluid’ sketches.
Brian Clarke: The Art of Light 13:02 mins
A portrait of pioneering architectural artist Brian Clarke.
Gerhard Richter: Doubt 12:00 mins
‘He disturbed my sense of what art should be.’ — Robert Storr on Gerhard Richter
Cézanne: ‘The Father of Modern Art’ 14:15 mins
Jacky Klein discusses how a recluse from the French countryside became the first Modern painter.
What is: Brutalism? 03:56 mins
‘To think about Brutalism, is to think about concrete…’ Prof. Richard J. Williams.
Metamorphosis of Narcissus: When Salvador Dalí met Sigmund Freud 15:03 mins
Dawn Adès tells the story of the historic meeting between Salvador Dalí and Sigmund Freud, and unpacks the mind-boggling painting the artist took with him.
William Morris: Useful Beauty in the Home 12:20 mins
Discover the radical politics of interior design in the Arts & Crafts movement.
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Post-Punk Prodigy 11:57 mins
How did the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat anticipate our experience of the digital?
Hans Ulrich Obrist visits Etel Adnan 17:13 mins
A spirited conversation between two friends, curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and artist Etel Adnan.
Grinling Gibbons: The Carved Room at Petworth House 04:56 mins
Marvel at the most spectacular surviving work by 17th century virtuoso craftsman Grinling Gibbons.
1 Minute 1 Work: The Sake-drinking Boy 01:16 mins
Shantell Martin shares her admiration for Hishikawa Moronobu’s inspiring use of line.
1 Minute 1 Work: Gerhard Richter, Ema (Nude on a Staircase), 1966 1:19 mins
Writer Robert Storr examines Gerhard Richter’s ‘dissenting’ painting ‘Ema (Nude on a Staircase)’.
1 Minute 1 Work: Palingenesis, 1971 01:06 mins
A sensuous vision of kelly green and hot pink, take a closer look at Lee Krasner's Palingenesis (1971).
What is: Land Art? 04.14 mins
Ben Tufnell maps out a definition of Land Art.
Albert Irvin: ‘Colours of Feeling’ 10:00 mins
Discover the life force behind Albert Irvin’s vibrant paintings.
1 Minute 1 Work: Dunham Massey, Bird’s-eye View from the South 1:10 mins
National Trust curator David Taylor remarks on a ‘portrait’ of a prosperous country estate near Manchester.
Paul McCarthy: ‘All for the Gut’ 15:04 mins
Can you stomach Paul McCarthy’s art? Critic Robert Storr makes the case that McCarthy is the ‘critical grotesque’ heir of much canonical satire, drawing comparisons to François Rabelais and James Gillray’s provocations.
1 Minute 1 Work: Beautiful People 01:10 mins
Curator Vincent Honoré reflects on David Wojnarowicz's final film, produced at ‘the climax of the aids crisis’.
Wen Zhengming’s Wintry Trees: Mourning and Reciprocity 07:36 mins
Craig Clunas confronts the mysteries of this 16th century Chinese hanging scroll.
From A-Z: Etel Adnan + Hans Ulrich Obrist 30:01 mins
In the form of an alphabet of ideas, a lively and at times profound dialogue between curator Hans Ulrich Obrist and artist Etel Adnan.
What is: Ceramic Art? 04:10 mins
Paul Greenhalgh celebrates the richness of one of the world’s most fundamental arts.
1 Minute 1 Work: Abstract No. 2 1:07 mins
Barbican Curator Eleanor Nairne traces the rhythms of Lee Krasner’s ‘jewel-like’ painting.
What is: Abstract Expressionism? 04:23 mins
What does an Abstract Expressionist painting look like? Eleanor Nairne unpacks some of the aspects of this divergent movement.
What is: Pre-Raphaelitism? 4:05 mins
Carol Jacobi introduces the work of a nineteenth-century rebel art movement.
Rembrandt: Facing the Darkness 10:56 mins
ARTiculation prize winner Zach Taylor reveals the power of light and dark in Rembrandt’s self-portraits.
Reflecting on Gerhard Richter 11:49 mins
An exploration of the processes of leading artist Gerhard Richter as presented through his glass sculptures and paintings.
Faith and Doubt in Art 12:13 mins
Julian Spalding discusses the impact of religious belief and spiritual doubt on paintings across time.
Master of Realism: Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait 5:20 mins
Martin Gayford presents some of the mysteries behind one of art history’s most recognisable paintings: The Arnolfini Portrait.
The Awakening Conscience: The Story of a Pre-Raphaelite Muse 12:27 mins
Discover the ‘psychological drama’ behind William Holman Hunt’s ‘The Awakening Conscience’.
Rachel Maclean: Cutting Up the Canon of Art History 13:12 mins
The male gaze, misogyny, porn. Rachel Maclean discusses issues surrounding female identity in the history of art as tackled in her film ‘Make Me Up’.
The Art of Liu Xiaodong: Man and Machine 07:24 mins
Liu Xiaodong discusses how conflict and urban change influenced his radical new painting method.
Building Brasília 15:47 mins
'To create an entirely new capital, from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, was an extraordinarily ambitious thing to try and do...' Prof. Richard J. Williams.
Glenn Ligon: ‘I AM A MAN’ 07:56 mins
Gregg Bordowitz explores the work of Glenn Ligon through the lens of his highly charged painting ‘Untitled (I Am A Man)’, 1988.
Penny Woolcock: Parallel Worlds 14:48 mins
How can the arts help repair rifts in the community? Penny Woolcock speaks of her art of filmmaking that contributes towards real social change.
Go Crystal Tears: The Art of Melancholy 25:39 mins
A survey into why and how artists have portrayed the melancholic throughout art history, with accompanying lute music.
Colourful Language: Red, White and Blue 24:05 mins
Discover the symbolism, significance and spirituality of the colours red, white and blue throughout the history of art.
The Bed in Art: From Titian to Emin 20:50 mins
Death, sex, birth, childhood. Uncover how the bed has been represented throughout art history.
1 Minute 1 Work: Gerhard Richter, Annunciation after Titian, 1973 1:14 mins
Learn about Richter’s ardent commitment to Titian’s canvas — and the impossibility of such a painting for our times — with writer Robert Storr.
Maths, Alchemy, Art: The Sculptural Practice of Conrad Shawcross 10:58 mins
Discover the mesmerising mathematical phenomenon of moiré in Conrad Shawcross’s monumental works.
Making Magic: Inspiring Children with Art 9.26 mins
See how ‘Magic Matt’ inspires a group of Hackney schoolchildren with the power of art in this dynamic art history workshop on the theme of 'winter'.
Omar Victor Diop: Black Subjects in the Frame 14:17 mins
‘What gets remembered and what doesn’t?’ Mark Sealy examines searing moments in Black history through the lens of Omar Victor Diop’s powerful portraits.
City of Fantasies: Reyner Banham and the Architecture of LA 12:30 mins
Prof. Richard Williams explores the lure of Los Angeles.
Paula Rego: Giving Fear a Face 12:50 mins
From the personal to the political, every picture tells her story.
Josiah Wedgwood: Tycoon of Taste 09:08 mins
Tristram Hunt traces how Josiah Wedgwood changed the face of the decorative arts in Britain with his ambitious pottery designs.
The Outsider Genius: David Bomberg’s Self-Portraits 11:53 mins
Art historian Richard Cork examines the psychologically charged self-portraits of this once overlooked artistic master.
Jo Spence: The Feminist Photography of a Cultural Sniper 14:37 mins
Learn how a British photographer attempted to take down cultural stereotypes using her own body as a weapon.
A Portrait of Humanity: The Compelling Story of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo 07:35 mins
Discover the unexpected tale that lies behind ‘the face of abolition’, as painted by William Hoare.
Subversive Dreams under the Soviet Regime: Ilya and Emilia Kabakov 12:27 mins
Robert Storr tells the story of an artist couple born under the Soviet Regime.
The Ambassadors: The Mysteries of Holbein’s Masterpiece 10:41 mins
Discover the astonishing skull hidden in plain sight in Holbein’s masterpiece, The Ambassadors.
Seurat’s Circus Sideshow: A Hypnotic Work 9:18 mins
Roll up! Roll up! Come and see the strange spectacle that is Seurat’s ‘Circus Sideshow’.
Dazzled! How a British artist transformed the seas of WWI 10:22 mins
Dr James Fox tells us how artist Norman Wilkinson came up with a dazzling solution to protect Britain’s navy from the enemy in WWI.
Building St Paul’s: The Nation’s Church 11:19 mins
Out of the ashes of the Great Fire of 1666, rose a building designed by Sir Christopher Wren which would define the skyline of London.
Rachel Maclean: Myth, National Identity and Power 11:13 mins
Rachel Maclean explores the playful ways her video art questions contemporary politics.
The Secrets of the Witham Shield 10:32 mins
Teach your eyes to see the powerful symbols hidden in Celtic designs.
The Modern Woman: Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère 07:56 mins
Griselda Pollock unpacks some of the questions raised by Manet’s enigmatic last masterpiece.
The Revolution of the Black Square 14:52 mins
How Kazimir Malevich’s painting of a simple Black Square changed the direction of modern art.
Louise Bourgeois: ‘A prisoner of my memories’ 10:58 mins
Robert Storr explores how this influential artist channelled her psychological pain to create some of the most visceral works of the twentieth century.
Picturing Power: Elizabeth I and Frida Kahlo 10.10 mins
What do Elizabeth I and Frida Kahlo have in common? Penny Huntsman unpacks the portraits of the Tudor Queen and Mexican Surrealist.
Duchamp’s ‘Readymades’ and the Making of Contemporary Art 08:14 mins
What is contemporary art? Why is it so hard to define? Ralph Rugoff argues that Marcel Duchamp is to thank - or to blame.
David Batchelor: The Fear of Colour 11:45 mins
Are you a chromophobe? Artist David Batchelor discusses the fear of colour which lurks within much Western cultural and intellectual thought.
Asafo Flags: Stitches Through Time 07:04 mins
Gus Casely-Hayford explores the ways in which Asafo Flags play a vital role in defining Fante identity and history.
‘A Physical Essay in Power’: The Striking Story of an Ivory Mask from Benin 07:23 mins
Gus Casely-Hayford reveals the secrets of a West African ivory mask created over 500 years ago, depicting a 'steely and ruthless' queen mother.
Ely Cathedral’s Lady Chapel: Devotion and Destruction 09:45 mins
Paul Binski describes how the apotheosis of English medieval decoration fell victim to 'hammer happy' religious reformers.
Pisa Pulpit: ‘Judge by the correct law!’ 09:17 mins
Jules Lubbock solves the puzzle of how to read Giovanni Pisano's Pisa Pulpit.
Titian’s Diana: Poetry in Paint 08:05 mins
Curator Caroline Campbell on the poetic Roman myths behind two of Titian's finest paintings.
‘Swingeing London’: Art, Drugs and Wormwood Scrubs 08:37 mins
Harriet Vyner discusses the image which symbolised the establishment's backlash to the 'Summer of Love'.
Art & Soul at St Paul’s Cathedral 06:49 mins
Sandy Nairne explores how the art in St Paul's Cathedral captures changing ideas of spirituality.
Damien Hirst visits Peter Blake’s studio 16:16 mins
Damien Hirst visits the studio of Sir Peter Blake, one of the leading figures of British Pop art.
Building Fleet Street: The Golden Age of Newspapers 10:30 mins
The golden age of newspapers was also the heyday of Art Deco. Edwin Heathcote tours Fleet Street's iconic press headquarters.
Jonas Mekas: The Making of Andy Warhol’s ‘Empire’ 09:10 mins
Experimental filmmaker Jonas Mekas recalls the making of Andy Warhol’s radically sparse film ‘Empire’.
Emotional Enigma in the Sculpture of Michelangelo 07:39 mins
Alison Cole discusses the emotional impact of Michelangelo's 'Taddei Tondo' (c.1504-1505) and the enduring power of his art.
Jeremy Deller: ‘It is what it is.’ 11:00 mins
Artist Jeremy Deller examines the art of war and how his own works serve as a kind of 'public inquiry' into the nature of conflict.
HENI Talks Trailer 03:08 mins
Stories of Art from the world’s leading experts
William Hogarth and the Foundling Hospital 07:33 mins
Discover how William Hogarth's work with the Foundling Hospital laid the foundations for the contemporary British art scene.
Henry Moore’s Vision 10:13 mins
Godfrey Worsdale explores the bucolic epicentre of Moore's creative production: Perry Green.
The Mona Lisa: Painting beyond Portraiture 08:53 mins
Who was Mona Lisa? Why is this painting so important? We asked leading Leonardo da Vinci expert, Martin Kemp.
Ashley Bickerton: ‘Looking for Something Beyond’ 08:44 mins
Join Ashley Bickerton on the Hawaii beach where he first caught a wave to hear how a nomadic lifestyle has influenced his practice.
California: Designing Freedom 07:58 mins
Deyan Sudjic explores how the spirit of freedom in 1960s California inspired a generation of designers.
Paul Nash: The Landscape of Modernism 09:13 mins
David Boyd Haycock traces the life and career of Paul Nash, who 're-dreamt the landscape in a Modernist manner'.
Under the Gaze: The Art of Cindy Sherman 09:21 mins
Hal Foster discusses how the self-portraits of artist Cindy Sherman presaged the selfie culture of our times.
Van Gogh’s Olive Trees 07:06 mins
Frances Fowle reassesses the work of one of the world's most popular but misunderstood artists, Van Gogh.