Summer of Love

Editorial #18

Article

No. 18 • June 2020

Everything about this summer issue is new and different: it consists almost entirely of images printed on heavier paper that you can tear out. But dip into it and you’ll see that one thing never changes: love – the heartbeat of life.

To capture something of its unrestrained beauty and emotion, we asked artists, writers and connoisseurs to pick works of art they feel represent love. The result is an extraordinary collection that you can use to mount your own exhibition at home or elsewhere.

Fig 1. Tina Modotti, Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas

We asked for love. And when you go looking for it, the response is not usually so indulgent. Force the issue and the goddess turns her back on you and sulks. But this time we asked for love and got it. She yielded instantly and laughed at us as gaily as Frida Kahlo and Chavela Vargas in the photo by Tina Modotti. As the world held its breath and life went into lockdown, we sent out a note containing one straightforward question: ‘What work of art do you feel represents love? ‘Lovely to ponder,’ replied Pipilotti Rist. ‘MANY THANKS for thinking of me’, wrote Wangechi Mutu. While Paul Noble said ‘Yes to your Summer of Love.’ And ‘Brilliant! So excited. Love V.’ At a historic moment in time – certainly reflected in the selected works (not much flesh or lust) – there was a tangible undercurrent of desire to focus on what really matters. See All This art magazine presents Summer of Love 2020, produced together with people who dared to address a theme as all-embracing as love.

– Nicole Ex, founding editor See All This kunstmagazine