The Metamorphosis

The former site of the 西单 (Xīdān) restaurant in 北京 (Běijīng), China, with a history of more than 300 years, reopens as a digital art and museum space. Photo: 宋佳儒 (Sòng Jiārú)/Getty Images.

Lonely But Not Alone

Tommy Fung, That uncomfortable moment when a stranger sits next to you when there are plenty seats, 2018. Photomontage © Tommy Fung/My Surreal Life in 香港 (Hong Kong).

Wuthering Heights

Tommy Fung, Hard to Get, 2020. Photomontage © Tommy Fung/My Surreal Life in 香港 (Hong Kong).

In Search of a Crown

Gábor Molnár, Queen Without a Crown. Artwork © Gábor Molnár (@dformer).

(In)visible

Visitors dominated by an immersive art installation, Machine Hallucinations — Space: Metaverse, by media artist Refik Anadol, at the Digital Art Fair in 香港 (Hong Kong), China. Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters.

Water on Earth

A visitor looks at the digital art exhibition “Aquarium by Naked” by the Japanese artist Ryôtarô Muramatsu at the 嘉德艺术中心 (Guardian Art Centre) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Photo: How Hwee Young/EPA.

Ad libitum

Ad libitum | Artwork © johnnyluckyrabbit

The Marriage Plot

Dan (@AntonSquaredMe)

Me, Let’s Hope I Make It

Photo © Ben Zank

As to Edna, I don’t know whether she will like him or not

Photo © Ben Zank

The Bind

Lisa Hilli, In a bind. Inkjet print on Platine fibre rag, 760mm x 515mm. Edition of 8. Photo courtesy of lisahilli.com.

The Overtaking

Artwork © Kapten-N

Overflowered

A woman disappears into a projection of flowers at the teamLab: Living Digital Forest and Future Park exhibition underway in 北京 (Běijīng), China (May 20, 2017 – October 10, 2017). Photo: Roman Pilipey/EPA.

Magic’s Pawn

Laudantem Selium cenae cum retia tendit accipe, sive legas, sive patronus agas: “Effecte! Graviter! Cito! Nequiter! Euge! Beate!”. “Hoc volui! Facta est iam tibi cena, tace”. When Selius is spreading his nets for a dinner, take him with you to applaud, whether you are reciting or acting as counsel. “How consummate! Weighty that! How ready! A hard it! Bravo! Splendid!”. That is what I wanted. You’ve got your dinner now, so hold your tongue. Quando Selio ti tende le reti a scroccarti una cena, senti come ti loda, se tu difendi o declami: “Pronto! Profondo! Mirabile! Eh, furbo! Imbattibile! Evviva!”. “Questo volevo. La cena è guadagnata. Ora taci”.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 2, XXVII
English translation by Holden Caulfield
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Arcovazzi’s ground on earth

Septima iam, Phileros, tibi conditur uxor in agro. Plus nulli, Phileros, quam tibi reddit ager. Already, Phileros, your seventh wife is being buried on your land. Better return than yours, Phileros, land makes to no man. Filero, nel tuo campo hai dato alla settima moglie sepoltura. Nessuno al mondo prima di te c’è stato cui maggiormente renda l’agricoltura.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 10, XLIII
English translation by Holden Caulfield
Italian translation by Franco Zagato

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Quid mihi reddat ager quaeris, Line, Nomentanus? Hoc mihi reddit ager: te, Line, non video. You ask what my estate at Nomentum produces for me, Linus? It produces this: that I don’t see you, Linus. Vuoi tu sapere, o Lino, il frutto del mio poderetto? Questo mi frutta, o Lino: che là stando, mai ti vedo.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 2, XXXVIII
English translation by Craig A. Williams
Italian translation by Holden Caulfield

A Dress in a Window

Artwork © amanda-kn

Strange Case of Miss Mermaid and Mrs. Whale

Artwork © racookie3 (& Edward Scissorhands)

Out from Behind

Pinxisti Venerem, colis, Artemidore, Minervam: et miraris, opus displicuisse tuum? You have painted Venus, Artemidorus, While Minerva is the object of your veneration, And do you wonder that your work has not given pleasure? Artemidoro, hai dipinto una Venere, e adori Minerva; e ti stupisci che poco piaccia quest’opera tua?

Martial, Epigrams, Book 5, XL
English translation by Henry George Bohn
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Artwork © Yaro42

A Gift from the King

Munera qui tibi dat locupleti, Gaure, senique, si sapis et sentis, hoc tibi ait “Morere”. If you were wise as well as rich as sickly, You’d see that every gift means, “Please die quickly”. Gauro, chi doni ti dà, a te che sei vecchio e sei ricco, se un poco ancora intendi, ti viene a dire: “Crepa!”.

Martial, Epigrams, Book 8, XXVII
English translation by James Michie
Italian translation by Giuseppe Lipparini

Artwork © Bonekrishna