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Throughout history artists and writers have documented the collective traumatising experiences. With their unique outlook on the world and almost foreign, futuristic approach we can view some events without judgment. In these difficult times art still manages to bring communities together. Here are a few exhibitions that may put current events into a perspective and be of service in distraction from a newsfeed fixation.

For my Milanese friends, there are Henri Cartier-Bresson's photographs at Mudec. The series left a remarkable spirit in photo journalism as it covers the establishment of the communist regime (throughout 1948-49) and the "Great leap forward" of Mao Zedong (in 1958). Military, propaganda and the unique view of a French man on the foreign land I personally find quite intriguing.

Henri Cartier-Bresson was fascinated by Surrealism and started off his artistic career with painting (which he returned to later in his life). Among his achievements is the iconic participation in co-founding Magnum Photos in 1947.

This major exhibition hosts 200 masterpieces from the legendary collection of Mikhail (1870 - 1903) and Ivan Morozov (1871 - 1921). The artworks are divided between the Pushkin Museum, Tretyakovskaya Gallery and Hermitage. Perhaps you will find yourself at contradiction with cancel culture after viewing Repin, Korovin, Golovin, Serov, Larionov, Goncharova, Malevich, Mashkov, Konchalovsky, Outkine, Saryam and Konenkov. As to why the exhibition has been extended and the interesting conversation the French media is having I have covered here.

There is a talk on decolonisation of museums and what that really means in contemporary culture, but not a lot of drastic change. How to reflect upon the legacy, and create change in the museums with self reflection in mind is a tough cookie to crack without bringing the cancel culture and alternation of history to the table. Hierarchies and structures are rooted in all sorts of establishments and the arts can be a forefront in subtle improvement. This is a great opportunity to learn how to put theories in practice and which tools to use to do so. The conversation is also streamed online.

By far the most fascinating and not culturally deaf is CCCB in Barcelona with their “The Mask Never Lies” exposition. It is not (surprisingly so) about the pandemic, but instead addresses the political masks, control of identity, cultural resistance to being identified and anonymity. Curated by the writer and cultural activist Servando Rocha, it is based on his essay Algunas cosas oscuras y peligrosas. El libro de la máscara y los enmascarados (Certain dark and dangerous things: The book of masks and the masked). With the help of the head of exhibitions at the CCCB Jordi Costa they have managed to pull quite a number of interesting, international artists and those that made history. “ (This exhibition) allows us to understand the of the mask (Pussy Riot balaclava, Mexican wrestler masks, gas masks etc.) as the contexts in which the concealment of the face has taken on a political aspect (Masonic objects, activist pamphlets, weapons etc.)”.

By Marie Nova

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