Staff picks

with Dr. Alex Alberda, Curator of Indigenous Perspectives

This quarter, Dr. Alex Alberda, Curator of Indigenous Perspectives, shares what’s been catching her interest. Discover the artworks, conversations, and moments that have been capturing her imagination.

What have you been reading?

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. I enjoy reading and watching to see how cross-cultural and -medium adaptions reflect the source material while also making it their own, mostly between comics, animation and books. I love how Hayao Miyazaki did that – making it distinct to his craft but retained much of Sophie’s characters complex and subtle attitude/mannerisms that Diana Wynne Jones made. Next up I want to read the Earthsea books by Ursula Le Guin. 

What have you watched lately?

I am always watching some anime, like Apothecary Diaries, but recently have gotten into Korean historical dramas. I love how their narrative arcs are so different from the classic Euro-American quest arc, as these are much more exciting with constant ups and downs and turns. Plus I love their humour. I recently finished watching Alchemy of Souls. 

Anything you’ve been listening to?

I like to listen to music and would all day if I could. My interest is all over the place but recently stumbled on WING’s (BEATBOX) song Dopamine and his other work. I am humbled by his talent. I will never be as masterful at anything like that and when I first heard it I listened to it over and over just appreciating what it would take to be able to make that music. 

What’s sparked inspiration? Or something you’ve strongly related to recently?

I overheard two people talking on the train recently that made me feel seen. This dude was really flabbergasted that his friend sometimes takes the train to work by himself with no entertainment and asked “what do you do?!” And the friend said “I look out the window and make up worlds.” Me too, bro. Me. Too. Then I put my headphones in and looked out the window to return to one of the many worlds I have made up for my own entertainment. 

Have you seen an exhibition or visited a museum recently? 

I recently saw the new Dinosaur Garden at the Natural History Museum in London. It was quite a fun space that I can imagine my niblings rushing around reading facts and/or touching the tactile elements. With the cafe right next to it I feel it is a really nice spot.