Listening, Reading, Thinking, Shopping, Watching / 16
My summer so far; the influential feminist philosophical work I'm currently reading; cookie pizzas in Paris; the things I make and the photos I take; and more
For this week’s letter, we’re back to our regular series, ‘Listening, Reading, Thinking, Shopping’, which is essentially a glimpse inside my mind: open tabs, Screenshots folder, Search History, notes app, etc. These round-ups are a carefully curated compilation of things that I’ve seen and have been inspired by over the course of the week or so. This edition includes the discovery of a new photographer whose work has chic Irving Penn vibes; the cookie pizzas in Paris I can’t wait to try; two articles on the effects of over-tourism in Florence; Cy Twombly’s home in Rome, and other recent inspirations and observations.
PS This email may be truncated in your inbox. If so, simply click on "View entire message" to see everything. Tap the heart below to like it xo
A little glimpse of a typical London summer: fancy negronis on outdoor terraces, sailboats on the Thames, pains au chocolat, and the Tate; slow mornings and all the neighbours’ hydrangeas; a kitty-cat who has come to say hello (one of many ⎼ I’m the kind of dog person who attracts all the cats); sunshine and moody skies, bicycle rides to Hampton Court, pizza slices and red wine in Covent Garden, and so on…
READING /001
Here are two articles by the same author, written three years apart, that discuss the effects of over-tourism in Florence:
Is overtourism killing Florence's dining scene?
This article highlights how mass tourism and social media trends are transforming the city's character and affecting local businesses and residents. The author discusses the closure of an innovative restaurant due to changing tourism patterns, the proliferation of tourist-oriented businesses at the expense of local shops, and the negative effects of viral social media trends like popular sandwich shops causing long queues.
The 11 best panini in Florence that aren’t *that* panino
This article discusses the transformation of Via dei Neri, a street in Florence, Italy, from a residential neighborhood to a tourist hotspot due to the unexpected popularity of a local sandwich shop. The author, a former resident, describes how the area changed over the past decade as a result of one shop being named the top restaurant in Florence on a popular review site. This led to long queues of tourists and a dramatic shift in local businesses, with most shops converting to cater to visitors.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I love the Irving Penn vibe of the work of Melbourne-based Stephanie Stamatis, an art director and set designer specialising in food and still life photography. Evolving from her roots in interior design, Stamatis has developed a distinctive style that blends nostalgia with contemporary aesthetics. Her work, which often features artful objects and culinary subjects, transforms everyday scenes into poetic and sometimes surreal visual narratives.
DÉCOR
We featured the home of American painter and sculptor Cy Twombly way back in 2015, and it’s still one of our most popular posts, and you can see why. It’s a classic that still resonates with readers today. The timeless appeal of Twombly's home, with its blend of artistic sensibility and lived-in charm, continues to inspire and captivate design enthusiasts. Its eclectic mix of antiques, modern elements, and personal artifacts creates a space that feels both curated and effortlessly elegant. The home's ability to remain relevant and fascinating years after its initial feature speaks to the enduring nature of truly great design and the lasting influence of Twombly's artistic vision, even in his personal spaces.
READING /002
Currently reading Simone de Beauvoir's influential feminist philosophical work The Second Sex (originally published in French as Le Deuxième Sexe in 1949). I’ve only just begun, but have already highlighted so many things, including these paragraphs, which discuss the author’s assertion that humans are not merely biological beings, but are shaped by history, culture, and society—that is, we don't simply exist in nature, but actively shape and transform it—among other important things:
“Humanity is not an animal species: it is a historical reality. Human society is an anti-physis1: it does not passively submit to the presence of nature, but rather appropriates it. This appropriation is not an interior, subjective operation: it is carried out objectively in praxis.2 Thus woman cannot simply be considered sexed organism: among biological data, only those with concrete value in action have any importance; woman's consciousness of herself is not defined by her sexuality alone: it reflects a situation that depends on society's economic structure3, a structure that indicates the degree of technical evolution humanity has attained.
We have seen that two consciousness of herself is essential traits characterize woman biologically: her grasp on the world is narrower than man's; and she is more closely subjugated to the species. But these facts have a totally different value depending on the economic and social context.”
THE THINGS I MAKE, THE PHOTOS I TAKE
On my external hard drive (which is basically my life), I save a collection of some of the things we make (and have made) along with a few of the photos that I take (and have taken ⎼ with the exception of No. 04, which was taken by
) as a sort of reminder of all the beautiful experiences I’ve had so far. This collage contains a few of my current favourites. The architectural shots are from London, Paris, and Valencia.COOKIE PIZZAS
And while we’re on the topic of Paris, was reading in Vogue that Cédric Grolet opened a new coffee shop, Cédric Grolet Café, at 6 rue Danielle Casanova. On the menu is the cookie-pizza, with options that include Cacahuète, Fraise, Framboise, Pistache, Noisette, and Pécan. The cookies come pre-sliced and served in pizza boxes.
VINTAGE FASHION EDITORIAL
The vintage fashion editorial “Roman Holiday”, featuring Claudia Schiffer ⎼ one of the most iconic supermodels of the 1990s ⎼ first appeared in the December 1994 issue of Vogue US. It was extremely difficult to track down and we’re not certain we managed to find the complete editorial, but what we did find is a work of art.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Sehnsucht is a German word that describes a feeling of intense longing or yearning for something that is unattainable or distant. In the context of a love of life, "Sehnsucht" could describe a longing for experiences, places, or people that are not currently present in one's life but are deeply desired. It can be a bittersweet feeling that combines both the pain of absence and the hope of fulfilment.
At TIG, this week’s links include beautiful Olympics photos and the 25 best spots to get coffee in Paris; how nose jobs went viral; an artist’s Art Nouveau apartment in Barcelona, and much, much more.
(Yes, he wrote a serious essay and I made a kitschy collage to go with it.)
LAST LOOK
Mesmerised by this kitchen in Florence with its incredible marble sink and curtains instead of cupboards. Everything is cosy and charming and you can only imagine the kind of food that is made here… Carb heaven, I would think.
That’s all for now. Until next time…
à bientôt / see you soon,
P.S. If you enjoyed this post, please click on the heart at the bottom or the top of this email ⎻ it helps others discover Hyperreality. Thank you 🖤
Recently from the archives…
If you’re reading this post in your inbox, you can find a shareable version online here. Please share this newsletter with friends, leave a comment with your thoughts, or tap the heart to like it. Additionally, you can also follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.
"Physis" is a Greek term meaning nature. By calling society "anti-physis," de Beauvoir suggests that human society doesn't passively accept nature but actively modifies and appropriates it.
This term refers to the process of putting theoretical knowledge into practice. De Beauvoir emphasises that our interaction with nature is not just mental but occurs through concrete actions.
De Beauvoir suggests that the significance of biological differences between sexes depends on the societal and economic structure. The value placed on these differences is not inherent but socially constructed.
Your photography is so beautiful!