RAM NETA
Ram Neta, Philosopher, on James Turrell’s Danae (1983) GB Tell me why you find this beautiful. RN First of all, it feels like magic. I remember walking into the room […]
MICHAEL STREVENS
Michael Strevens, Philosopher, on a view of the Canyonlands in Utah MS This is a view of the Canyonlands area in southern Utah. It is taken from the Landsat 8 satellite, […]
KWAME ANTHONY APPIAH
El Anatsui (Ghanaian, born 1944). Red Block, 2010. Aluminum and copper wire, Two pieces, each measuring 200 3/4 x 131 1/2 in. (509.9 x 334 cm). Courtesy of the artist […]
STYLE | NICK RIGGLE
GB Does style matter? NR Style is confusing. On the one hand we tend to think that pursuing style is somewhat trivial or superficial—that there are far better things to […]
CHRIS LEBRON
Chris Lebron, Professor of African American Studies and Philosophy, on the Michell Focus One turntable GB Tell me why you chose this as an object of beauty. CL I am […]
GIDEON ROSEN
Gideon Rosen, philosopher, on Marcel Duchamp’s ‘3 Standard Stoppages’ GB Tell me why you chose this? What was your reaction when you first saw it? GR When I was […]
ROBERT HOPKINS
Robert Hopkins, philosopher, on The Death of Socrates by Jacques Louis David. GB Tell me why you chose this. RH The painting’s appeal for me is both immediate and hard-won. […]
ROSS ANDERSEN
Ross Andersen, deputy editor of Aeon magazine, on the crescent moon GB: Tell me why you chose the crescent moon. RA: When you asked me to pick something beautiful, I […]
TOP POSTS OF 2013
Many many thanks to everyone who has supported Gilded Birds so far. Have a wonderful 2014! The most popular posts of 2013 were: MARINA ABRAMOVIĆ “I think for me beauty comes from the inside, not the outside, it radiates. It’s an energy that gives off a kind of glow. It’s the same with people and objects. Every good work of […]
JASON STANLEY
Jason Stanley, philosopher, on a photograph of St Petersburg by Alexey Titarenko GB Tell me why you chose this particular image from the series? JS The photos in this series were taken in St. Petersburg between 1992 and 1994, during and just after a terrible economic crisis that accompanied the switch to democracy and capitalism. Countless Russians died of starvation […]
KWAME ANTHONY APPIAH
Kwame Anthony Appiah, philosopher on El Anatsui’s ‘Red Block’ sculpture. GB Tell me why you chose this. KAA First of all, I love it. It’s part of a sequence of […]
MICHAEL MORRIS
Michael Morris, philosopher, on Rembrandt’s ‘Return of the Prodigal Son’. GB Tell me why you chose this. MM I think I need to explain exactly what I’ve chosen. It’s not […]
MICHAEL ROSEN
Michael Rosen, philosopher, on David Hockney’s illustrations of a Wallace Stevens poem : The Blue Guitar GB Tell me why you chose this. MR To be quite honest with you […]
JIM HOLT
Jim Holt, philosopher, on his miniature replica of the Rietveld chair. GB Tell me why you chose your chair. JH I have the aesthetic of a mathematician, even though I’m […]
MICHAEL TANNER
Michael Tanner, philosopher, on the ass of Donatello’s statue of David. GB Tell me why you’ve chosen the ass of Donatello’s statue of David. MT It’s just the left cheek […]
RALPH WEDGWOOD
Ralph Wedgwood, philosopher, on the view looking North-West (towards the Scottish mainland) from the Northern summit of Blaven on the Isle of Skye. GB Why did you choose this view? RW […]
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