The Bulletin #7

THE RECORD

THE CONVINCER / Nick Lowe (2001)

Nick Lowe's 2001 album offers the quintessential portrait of his third act, showcasing sincerity, maturity, and a fascination with the spaces where musical genres intersect. Beneath Lowe's pre-Beatles songwriting craft, his band simmers with the understated heat of Memphis soul.

Take a quick glance at the cover: staring straight at the camera, with a wry grin, Lowe appears clean-cut, grey, and effortlessly dapper. The rock’n’roll ruffian has become a debonair charmer—and The Convincer reflects just that. Its minimalist production brings out the refined precision of each song.

There are no unnecessary elements here—only what’s essential to bring the music to life. It’s a quiet joy to listen to. Over 20 years later, the opening track "Homewrecker" still ranks among our all-time favorites. Highly recommended.

THE EXHIBITION

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL / Faith Ringgold (January 31st – July 2nd)

Faith Ringgold has been a major figure in American engagé and feminist art. Her work bridges the rich heritage of the Harlem Renaissance with the contemporary African-American art scene. Through her reinterpretations of modern art history, she creates a visual, critical dialogue with early 20th-century movements.

Born in New York City in 1930, she expresses her revolutionary vision of Black Power through a bold, innovative use of color theory and technique. Merging modernity with vernacular traditions, text, and image, she has developed a deeply original practice—one that continues to inspire a new generation of artists.

This is her first retrospective in Paris, held at the Musée Picasso until July 2nd. Absolutely worth a visit if you’re in town. Bonus: it’s just a couple of blocks from the Serica Boutique—so no excuse not to come say hi!

Musée Picasso

5 rue de Thorigny, 75003 Paris

THE BOOK

JAPANESE DESIGN / Patricia J. Graham (2014)

While Japanese aesthetics are often easy to appreciate, they can be more challenging to understand for those seeking to dig deeper into their roots and underlying concepts. In this book, Patricia J. Graham offers clear and accessible explanations, providing context and examples that help us grasp the intuitive and emotional appeal of Japanese sensibility.

With over 160 stunning photographs and thoughtful commentary, the author walks us through ten key elements of Japanese design. She explores how visual principles, along with the religious traditions of Buddhism and Shinto, have shaped an artistic language rooted in craftsmanship and simplicity.

THE FILM

3-IRON / Kim Ki-Duk (2004)

Silence speaks louder than words in Kim Ki-Duk’s hypnotic 3-Iron. A man who never speaks, a woman trapped in silence, and a series of abandoned homes become the backdrop for an ethereal love story. A film where presence and absence collide, where stillness is poetry.

Minimalist, mysterious, and deeply moving, 3-Iron is a cinematic meditation on freedom and the invisible ties that bind us.