Why Art Wonderment?
Creator and host Joana P. R. Neves advocates for a somewhat lost meditative exploration of visual culture, especially in contemporary art.
The art of wonderment will not teach you how to..., why to... or 5 methods to...
Rather, it will reclaim wisdom in experience through language explorations, spending time with the unknown, being comfortable with what we don't understand, because "understanding" is not the point.
Who wants to stand under?!
Wandering, meandering, letting go, while tightening the core is what it's all about.
Dr. Joana P. R. Neves
Creator & Host
Dr. Joana P. R. Neves is a contemporary art curator and writer with over 20 years of experience in the contemporary visual art field. Artistic director of Drawing Now Paris since 2018, she has curated solo museum exhibitions for female artists such as Irma Blank, Isabelle Ferreira and Susana Inglada. In 2020, she obtained her PhD in Art History focusing on the legacy of the French inventor who combined our current visual language (photography, recording data technology) in the 19th century, Etienne-Jules Marey, and the artists who engaged with it. She co-launched the art non-profit Worlding (London). In 2024, she created the podcast Exhibitionistas–Notes on Art, complemented by her publication Art Thinkosaurus on Substack.
Her goal is to demystify contemporary art by blending art history, theory, and personal reflections to root art in today's world rather than a sensationalist list of auction prices in the media. A polyglot, she grew up in Lisbon, studied and lived in Paris, to finally settle in London with her artist husband, four children and two cats. Her latest projects aim to not teach anything to anyone, but rather stimulate wonderment–painfully absent from education, institutions and the media.
Creatively deep
Love to hear Joana’s take on everything! The episode on the Invention of Morel took me on a journey. Thanks for staying true to your love of art and sharing it with us. Keep podcasting!
Loved it
A beautifully crafted episode with a truly captivating voice. Joana brings both depth and atmosphere to her storytelling. I was completely drawn in and even left wanting to read the book myself.
Entertaining and insightful
I feel like I learn new things every time I tune into this show and it’s really showing up in the way I engage with art as well. Wonderful!
Lauren Halsey episode
Thank you for the context and explaining the practice of Lauren in depth. Made me loved much more the exhibition and glad I saw it. L
Refreshing approach to art!
What a pair! Funny real and meaningful podcast… Love how clear this podcast shows that to be touched by exhibitions one only needs to bring its own experiences and open mind. I was really touched by this approach: not always easy to find in contemporary art and life in general.
Interesting format
…to inform about artists and exhibitions. Looking forward for the next episode.