Quarter-Century of Art, Intellectual Discourse, and Non-Nostalgic Publication - Celebrating Two Decades of Inspirational Output
Brooklyn-based magazine Cabinet, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Founded in 2000 by editor and curator Sina Najafi, the nonprofit publication began as a quarterly print magazine showcasing visual art, design, literature, the history of science, and intellectual history in an ambitious and playful style.
Throughout its history, Cabinet has developed a reputation for unique exhibitions, events, and art projects. For example, they once put themselves on trial for lacking political commitment, bought and started documenting a half-acre of land in New Mexico named 'Cabinetlandia', and made headlines with an "absurdist multimedia spectacle of competitive, real-time art making" called Iron Artist.
As the digital age took hold, Cabinet transitioned its magazine arm online and delved deeper into book publishing, releasing both standalone titles and series. Their expansion led to the opening of an office in Berlin, where Najafi, managing editor Hunter Dukes, and a small editorial team now work.
In an interview, Najafi shared that, while the organization rarely reflects on past successes, they often ponder their failures. He noted that the early issues of the magazine were wilder and rawer, characterized by energy borne of ignorance and disregard for conventional rules. According to Dukes, however, there remains an underlying consistency in Cabinet's mission – one that promotes curiosity as a form of ethics and encourages meticulous research and factual accuracy.
When asked to describe the magazine's mission, Dukes emphasized Cabinet's knack for finding unconventional entry points into topics of interest. He noted that paying close attention to small phenomena often offers insights and fresh perspectives. This approach can be traced back to the inspiration behind the magazine's name, which references the portable collection of curiosities known as a Wunderkammer.
The move to Berlin occurred because Najafi wished to leave the United States and felt drawn to the city based on recommendations from friends. The vibrant arts and intellectual scene in Berlin, in addition to the influx of Arab intellectuals, filmmakers, and artists, caught his attention. Now, Berlin serves as the primary office for Cabinet, with more staff working there than in the United States.
Despite the challenges faced in the last year and a half, Berlin has enabled numerous current projects for Cabinet. This includes the forthcoming book by Yuliya Komska, which recounts an intriguing photograph of someone walking a high wire over Cologne's ruins. Such collaborations and discoveries, made possible by their connections in Berlin, are integral to Cabinet's ethos.
Looking forward, Cabinet plans to collaborate more with smaller Berlin magazines, such as The Diasporist. They also aim to organize an event series and secure an event space, potentially for shared use, to help bring their work and connections to life. In rainy Berlin, the pursuit of curiosity remains a key element, as the magazine continues to explore and challenge conventional perspectives.
The public is encouraged to visit Cabinet's website for further insights.
- In their expansion, Cabinet delved deeper into book publishing, releasing both standalone titles and series, such as the forthcoming book by Yuliya Komska.
- Cabinet's mission promotes curiosity as a form of ethics, encouraging meticulous research and factual accuracy, as reflected in their unique exhibitions, events, and art projects.
- To find unconventional entry points into topics of interest, Cabinet often pays close attention to small phenomena, much like the portable collection of curiosities known as a Wunderkammer.
- As part of their future plans, Cabinet aims to collaborate more with smaller Berlin magazines like The Diasporist and organize an event series in an event space, potentially for shared use, to help bring their work and connections to life.
