Katarina Kroslakova. Photography by Pierre Toussaint. We all know that change is constant, but we don’t often pause to reflect on the moments that mark new beginnings. In our “Renewal” issue we’ve done just that, pulling together stories that highlight the experience of starting over — or perhaps keeping on — to create something truly exceptional. From radical creative and ecological projects to people and places in states of transformation, these stories capture the hopefulness, pragmatism, boldness and challenges that go with forging new paths into the future.
The actor Austin Butler has walked a long road to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand artists. In “The Careful Crafting of Austin Butler” (page 82), the Oscar-nominated “Elvis” star — who takes the lead in the director Jeff Nichols’s upcoming release, “The Bikeriders” — talks about his career journey. “It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am,” he says, reflecting on times when he missed out on parts in his early 20s. “It was very humbling for a long time.” As his celebrity status grows, the actor is also bringing a modern energy to the notion of a leading man — recasting it as something less old-school alpha and more thoughtful and respectful, which feels just right for the times.
Closer to home, change is also afoot on the local comedy scene. We speak with four female stand-ups — Jenny Tian, Alexandra Hudson, Sashi Perera and Kate Dolan — who are winning over audiences and, in the process, helping to dismantle a historically male-dominated field and the once-pervasive (and always ridiculous) idea that women can’t be funny. For Perera, her cultural heritage adds another dimension to her work. “You’re not taught to be loud or funny as a Sri Lankan woman — you are silent and quiet and obedient,” she says. “And so I think it took me a long time to speak openly. And be OK with how loud I was and how open I was.” Read more on page 66.
In “Art in the Age of Content” (page 28), columnist Lance Richardson meditates on how creativity is being shaped by the influence of online platforms — and whether it’s a search for meaning or mindlessness that ultimately drives our media consumption.
The question of what is considered art is also central to “Off the Wall” (page 76), which examines the growing presence of collectible design in fine art galleries. Writer Susan Muldowney explores how pieces — such as hair-trimmed shelves by the Alice Springs-based designer and artist Elliat Rich, or sustainable, sculptural furniture by the Tasmanian-born, London-based designer Brodie Neill — are fusing storytelling with functionality, and why they are becoming increasingly sought after by collectors.
Further afield, we discover the imaginative cocktail bars that are reimagining local flavours in Bangkok (page 38); the eco-conscious tourism model that’s helping to restore life to South Africa’s last remaining sand forest (page 88); and the renovated French department store that has been described as a temple to the Parisian lifestyle (page 31).
The story of British marine biologist Dr Emma Camp (page 30), who has identified a range of “super corals”, is especially notable — her work, as part of the Future Reefs Team at the University of Technology Sydney, is providing hope for our oceans in the face of climate change. Camp’s optimism and fearlessness are inspirational.
I hope you enjoy the issue.
Katarina Kroslakova — publisher, editor-in-chief
