Nº88: Rita Chamberlain
The artist and writer talks Tokyo, Clarice Lispector, and the intrinsically valuable.
We’re back with Rita Chamberlain. Read on to find out what she’s into, and if you’re new here, hit subscribe for artist’s recommendations every week.
Rita Chamberlain writes and paints about the eternal tension between Apollo and Dionysus, art and nature, control and chaos. She is also the creator of the art events app Sappho.
☞ GOODREADS: My reading list grows daily—I’ve somehow accumulated 531 books I need to read.
☞ FICTION: The Passion According to GH, by Clarice Lispector. In short, an unhinged masterpiece where a woman has an existential crisis after crushing a cockroach. In long, well I have written a whole essay about it.
☞ NON-FICTION: Eros the Bittersweet - Want to know more about desire? Anne Carson has got you covered.
☞ UNDER THE SPELL: is an art space in Stockwell beneath the @moonstruck.cafe. a truly wonderful and thoughtful place with clear intention! It also serves delicious coffee!
☞ WE DON’T TALK ABOUT GREEK MYTHOLOGY ENOUGH: The Greek pantheon offers rich insights into human nature, but I’m particularly fascinated by Apollo and Dionysus. Apollo represents order and rationality through music and poetry, while Dionysus embodies creative chaos and raw emotion through wine and theater. Their tension perfectly captures the balance artists must strike between technical mastery and creative abandon. Art itself is fundamentally Apollonian - it’s an attempt to capture and make sense of raw experience, transforming chaos into structured meaning. Nature is its opposition.
☞ TOKYO, JAPAN: It was always a dream of mine to visit, and it did not disappoint. The food is INSANE/ INCREDIBLE! I also caught the Hello Kitty train to get to the airport.
☞ A SECOND HAND BOOK: I particularly love finding one with notes in from its previous owner.
☞ ADVICE: Don’t buy for convenience, buy something you deem truly valuable. Not in monetary terms but intrinsically. That way you waste less and enjoy more. Surround yourself with beautiful things, don’t buy into ugly, discardable, overproduced items.
☞ SAPPHO: You can download us on the App Store/Google Play Sappho is an art events platform that connects artists, curators, and art enthusiasts. The platform simplifies event hosting and discovery while fostering meaningful connections within the arts community. Our goal is to serve as a central hub for exhibitions, shows, and artistic gatherings throughout the city. The app takes its name from the Greek poet Sappho, whose fragmentary works have been uncovered gradually over time. Each find is a gem to uncover. We want our app to mimic this process. For users to slowly uncover art and an audience. You should definitely join the app and follow us on Instagram ! We’d love to have you! x
♪ LISTENING TO:
Mariette in Ecstasy, Ron Hansen: I listen to Audio books mostly
Saved These Words, Laura Marling: Or any Laura Marling song
☠ HATES:
Dust – I am allergic to it
Hanging up the washing is so Dull
Thanks Rita! Follow Rita here!
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