Mia Maestro: Blue Eyed Sailor

The Argentine Actress Turned Chanteuse Premieres Her New Single

Inspired by the mysterious quiet of artist Cecilia Paredes’ “photoperformances”, the video for Mia Maestro’s single “Blue Eyed Sailor” depicts a perpetual metamorphosis. The visuals are the product of a directorial collaboration between Academy Award-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro and new media artist Juan Azulay, while the track itself was produced by the Björk and CocoRosie cohort Valgeir Sigurðsson, and arranged by composer Nico Muhly. Covered in ornate body makeup, Maestro is camouflaged against matching backdrops as she sings at once about the breed of butterfly that inspired key visuals in this clip, and of a bygone romance with an enchanting character who transformed repeatedly over the course of a courtship. “You see a body trying to morph into a background, an exile intending to blend into a foreign context,” she says. Having initially carved out a career in film, appearing in features such as The Motorcycle Diaries, Frida and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, the Argentine notes that songwriting is an art form she now prefers over acting: “Writing songs feels a lot more personal—I’m more vulnerable when I’m doing music. I’ve always believed that there’s a deep connection between singing and showing a glimpse of your spirit.”

STATS FROM ON SET

Number days spent shooting
Three.

Favorite camouflage scenario
Black, swallowed by the forest.

Total time spent being painted
23 hours.

Total time spent washing paint off
Eight minutes.

Amount of soap used
The usual. Paint was water-soluble.

Hardest thing to do whilst covered in paint
I was actually naked when I walked to the bathroom in front of 150 people at Mirada Studios.

Total number of butterflies filmed (both painted and real)
Over 100? I tend to exaggerate.

Total number of articles of clothing worn
One pair of shoes, one skirt, one white shirt.

Total number of make-up artists needed to apply the body paint
Three.

Humorous on-set moment
While lying naked in a blue bliss, one of the backgrounds fell to the ground and almost killed me. Thankfully we had a good bottle of mescal to wash away the scare.

December 10, 2012

Solange Knowles for Saint Heron: Eldorado Ballroom

Supported by Ferragamo and Ilia, Solange Knowles for Saint Heron curates Eldorado Ballroom, featuring six programs across three major Houston venues: Jones Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the historic Eldorado Ballroom. The series aims to honor the legacies of Black artists while showcasing new voices and innovation in music. As a celebration of Houston's musical legacy, the program features nights of classical works by Black female composers, spiritual/gospel music, contemporary and performance art, and many other tributes to the city's sound culture. Two free film screenings accompany the series. 10 - 16 June.

UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

Initiated by Charlie Porter, the Tate Modern displays the entire UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, bringing its 42 quilts and 23 individual panels to the Turbine Hall. Visitors will have a rare oppurtunity to view the work, which spans the entire floor of the hall and represents 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is a chapter of the largest community art project in the world, continuously aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing AIDS pandemic. There will also be an opportunity to warch unseen documentary There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1995), screening in the Starr Cinema, along with a live reading of the names, and a special choral piece by the London Gay Men’s Chorus. Until 16 June.

David Hockney 25

David Hockney, one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, has taken over the entire building of the Fondation Louis Vuitton for an exhibition that is exceptional in its scale and originality. David Hockey 25 brings together more than 400 of his works (from 1955 to 2025), including paintings from international, institutional, and private collections, as well as works from the artist’s own studio and Foundation. The exhibition shows how the artist has continually renewed both his subjects and his mode of expression, reinventing his art with the use of new media to become a champion of new technologies. Until 31 August.

NOWNESS