Some Recent Pleasures: An Update
Pleasurable Recommendations by Yours, Truly
“I felt cold and dry, like a Martini.” ― Ursula Parrott, Ex-Wife
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about Pleasure. What it is, what it does, what purpose it serves. Like a cold splash of water, Pleasure can provide a shock to the system, a much needed jolt. And thus, I’m infusing some new energy into this column, with the addition of a Pleasurable Encounters series, a way to better focus on the recent Pleasures I’ve had the privilege of experiencing. I’d love to share them with you below.
Coming Soon: Pleasurable Prescriptions…
…A new advice column in which I provide an Rx Prescription for those in need of Pleasure. Are you Weary, Lethargic, Lacking Vigor? Drop me your Pleasure queries below, and I’ll write a prescription to boost your Pleasure in forthcoming installations.
Might you…
…Need a way to add some light into these darkened months?
May I recommend….
…Brightening up with a new book, in the spirit of a personal favorite, Dud Avocado, that takes you far and away? I also love this recommendation series I discovered through recent Pleasures guest,
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Might you…
…Need a bit of alone time?
May I recommend….
…diving into the nooks and crannies of The Met Museum archives and finding treasures such as these?
Or, in the spirit of self-care, maybe spending some time walking around in awe and admiration of your own home? This is a quote I think about a lot:
my morning routine is me walking around my house going “WOW”
Can you tell I’ve been reading lots of 1940s and 1960s-era literature? But more on that in a future newsletter…
This Week’s Pleasurable Encounters
An invigorating experience at the Instituto Moreira Salles in São Paulo, a stunning exhibition space that has a giant Richard Serra piece in the back courtyard, jutting up to the sky.
I saw an incredible photography exhibition while there, Stefania Bril: disobedience through affection, that left me in awe of the quietly powerful work. Here’s a bit of background:
Stefania Bril (1922-1992), Jewish, Polish, Holocaust survivor, arrived in Brazil in 1950, already graduated in chemistry. After working in the biochemical and nuclear industries and raising her two daughters, in the late 1960s she joined the field of photography in São Paulo, initially as a photographer and later as a critic and curator, playing a prominent role in the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo and moving the photography circuit, creating festivals, events and, in the end, directing an important cultural center such as Casa da Fotografia Fuji.
Intensely linked to the photographic production of her time, it is strange that her name has practically disappeared from the scene. As has happened with many authors – especially when it comes to women – Stefania's lack of recognition in discussions about photography prevented her work from becoming a reference in the visual culture of the country.
I also loved this exhibition: Thomaz Farkas, Allthepeople. “Born in Budapest in 1924, Thomaz Farkas arrived in Brazil at the age of six. Between 1940 and 1990, he produced more than 34,000 images that captured decisive moments in Brazil. He beautifully captured the modernization of São Paulo and revolutionized Brazilian photography with Fotoptica and Galeria Fotoptica.”
I hope discovery has given you some added Pleasure. What other Pleasurable recommendations would you like to see? Do let me know below.
In Case You Missed It:
Pleasures, Curated
Each week a member from The Pleasure Lists community curates a selection of their Pleasures, along with a Q&A about what makes them tick. Become a paid subscriber so you don’t miss out!
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Pleasure Lists are a summary of what you need, want, or have, or see at a particular moment in time. They are a survey, an overview, a summary of the crucial facts of the state of one aspect of your life. It’s a kind of blueprint that can be a guide to the future.
Mull it over and if you’re moved to, send me a list.
Questions? Comments? Send any recommendations or suggestions for what you’d like to see in these newsletters my way. I’d love to hear more about what you’re currently finding Pleasure in.
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Cocaine an instantaneous cure for a toothache. Bahaha. I bet it's instant haha. Anytime someone says they want to go back in time, I want to remind them that first, no you don't. They didn't have tampons then, and nobody washed their hands. BUT here I am, seeing that we went straight to cocaine with a toothache, and yeah, maybe it wasn't so bad.