Visitors to this year’s Venice Biennale can stroll through the Pavilion of Shamans—just one example of the increasing presence of shamanism and mysticism in the work of contemporary artists.
This uptick comes amid a reexamination of ideas that were once associated with the countercultural movements of the 1960s and ’70s, including a second look at psychedelics. On this episode, we explore the wider history of shamanic practices across the globe—and how they’ve intersected with the art world throughout the decades.
Top comments
The editors at the world’s largest online art marketplace discover and decode art every day. Now, you’re invited to join the conversation. Alongside the leading voices in fashion, music, design, and beyond, Artsy is untangling the art world and its role in the cultural landscape—one episode at a time.