We want to celebrate and learn more about the characters driving the renaissance of the London gallery scene, and what better way than to resurrect THAT’s Interesting.
Last time we had Ted Targett this time out we have Julia Gardener.
I am the co-founder and director of Hot Wheels Athens London, which I established together with Hugo Wheeler. The gallery took shape through dialogue with artists and curators following documenta 14 in 2017. Since then, it has sustained a programme in Athens and, as of November 2023, expanded to a new space in Bloomsbury, London.
What’s interesting in Art:
I’m excited about the long-awaited new building of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw (my hometown!), which opened to the public last October and will continue its unveiling in late February with exhibitions focused on the museum’s collection. It’s a remarkable and important achievement, especially in a country that’s gradually emerging from a long period of politically driven cultural suppression. I also can’t think of another contemporary art institution that occupies such a central and symbolic position within its city.
What’s interesting in Design:
Last year, I received two hooks designed by Martino Gamper as a gift, and ever since, I’ve kept them in mind as the perfect housewarming present. Gamper is known for his hooks – his Hook Book features over one thousand designs and he’s exhibited many of them over the years – so there is something whimsical (and practical!) for everyone.
What’s interesting in Culture:
I’m increasingly convinced that email newsletters have become the most interesting platform for accessing personal, well-researched, and niche cultural content. One of my favorites is a Substack by Marta Weronika Orlikowska, which I started reading after my husband gifted me a yearly subscription. She moves beautifully and thoughtfully through the world–whether she’s recommending an old shop in Warsaw that’s been selling handmade brushes and combs since the 1950s, sharing a recipe for bilberry buns to enjoy in the spring, or describing a hidden bar in the center of Venice with the most precious terrazzo floors.
What’s interesting in Style/ Fashion:
I’m drawn to designers who are deeply committed to crafting a distinct narrative while embracing conscious production. One standout label is Rier, founded by Andreas Steiner in Paris in 2019 following his tenure at Prada and Miu Miu. The brand is rooted in Steiner’s South Tyrolean heritage, reimagining traditional garments with a contemporary sensibility: think elegantly tailored wool mini skirts, warm fleeces in slate grey or a vibrant marigold yellow, and structured jackets adorned with embroidered Alpine flower motifs.
What’s interesting in Tech:
A clever and thoughtful set up of Focus Mode or any of its time-saving variations.
What’s interesting in Music:
I recently had the unexpected pleasure of sharing a taxi with Polish pianist and composer Hania Rani, who just moved to London. I’ve been a fan ever since. She’s currently touring her new album, Ghosts, with an upcoming concert at the Barbican on April 5th.
Museum / Gallery show recommendation:
Though this recommendation is poorly timed (since it closed last week!), the 15th Baltic Triennial, curated by Maya Tounta and Tom Engels, stands out as my most important, moving, and thought-provoking exhibition experience last year. I felt very fortunate to have two artists that we work with, Maria Toumazou and Marina Xenofontos, be part of this moment, and I encourage everyone to seek out the show’s documentation, reverberations, and forthcoming catalogue – definitely something to look forward to!
I’m nominating Ilenia Rossi, whose namesake gallery opened in Shoreditch in October 2023.
