Advertise on podcast: The love that loves you back

Valerie and Jonathan welcome contemporary sculptor, Abdollah Nafisi for a second round, return to a questioning what it means to be an artist in difficult times. From war and displacement to the pressures of the contemporary art world, they ask whether art can and should respond to political turmoil. Abdollah argues for slowing down and looking at ideas from the past rather than obsessing over the demand for constant originality. This episode considers what it means to live in the present, and whether artists can help imagine futures that are less obsessed with speed, consumption and certainty.

Simeon Nelson is an artist who’s always been preoccupied with systems and systems thinking, which has at regular intervals have landed him in the realm of science. In his most recent incarnation he is visiting art professor at the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Oxford University. Supported by an inaugural Faraday Discovery Award from the Royal Society in London, he is collaborating on a research project called “Responsive Disorder in Functional Materials”. We speak to Simeon about negotiating the broad spectrum of knowledge and experience between art and science, the possibilities for meaningful synthesis and how to work through the constraints.

As society rushes to automate creativity, we ask a difficult question, what happens when humanity begins outsourcing the very things that make us human before we’ve even understood our own humanity? Join hosts Valerie and Jonathan in conversation as they unpack AI participation in the creation and critique of art.

What happens when the preciousness of process in practice itself to be challenged? Join hosts Valerie Kabov and Jonathan Freemantle as they explore when to adopt a process and when to release it

Our special guest this episode is Abdollah Nafisi, a public sculpture artist born in Tehran, Iran, during the Iran–Iraq War. In his twenties, Nafisi travelled with nomadic tribes to learn traditional crafts and local material practices. Originally trained as a furniture maker in Iran and later relocating to the UK, he has developed a sculptural practice that considers the relationship between material, space, and identity. Working primarily with wood, his work often reflects a deep sensitivity to trees.

In Episode 23, Valerie and Jonathan propose some iconoclastic new paradigms for art fair business model, which would both promote economic equity and access as well as artistic innovation. Change must happen if art fairs are to survive and thrive! What changes would you like to see? Comment below, we would love to hear from you!

As promised Episode 22, our final for 2025 answers your major questions for us. We tackle - surviving your own opening, managing success, art prizes - yes or no and finally...will we survive 2026! Join us to find out!!

This episode explores the concept of a career, definitions of success, and the pursuit of stardom and measurable outcomes. It considers generosity of spirit in painting as a measure of a meaningful life and career. This episode is dedicated to the inspirational life and practice of Charles Hardaker, artist and lifelong mentor to host Jonathan Freemantle.

Jonathan and Valerie unpack the essences of art criticism and why it's return is vital to contemporary art.

In part 2, Craig Yee explores how subjective truth, embodied experience, and East Asian artistic traditions offer alternative frameworks for understanding contemporary art. Craig reflects on how cultural workers can help curate a more connected future.

In this episode, curator and director of Ink Institute, Craig Yee, shares insights on how engaging with different cultural and historical perspectives can deepen and expand the foundations of contemporary art. We dive into his work at Ink Institute, a gallery project dedicated to traditional Chinese calligraphy–based practice, and explore how art can become a space for dialogue.

Lawrence Lemaoana, South Africa’s leading conceptual artist and activist in conversation on art world realities and what it means to create access in a cultural sector still emerging from history of apartheid; how we can redefine success and what that means for artists as well as his relationship with the legendary Henri Vergon, founder of Afronova Gallery and how that connection shaped his path as an artist.

In this episode, we sit down with artist Lawrence Lamaoana to explore his remarkable career and artistic journey, from his early influences in sports and politics to finding his niche. We also trace the path that led to Occupying the Gallery, offering insights into creativity, community-building, mentorship and the power of art to sparking dialogue.

Jonathan and Valerie continue their discussion of portraiture in part 2, exploring the details of Jonathan’s personal approach and experiences as a practicing portraitist.

In this episode Jonathan and Valerie address the idea and history of portraiture with mild dissection of Jonathan's personal insights as a portraitist.