Autumn Issue 2023

TANK was founded in 1998  as a magazine that considered a whole range of cultural forms such as art, fashion, architecture and literature as interrelated fields that interact with and impact one another, as it is widely acknowledged. Our project has evolved much but our basic mission hasn’t changed even as the world has – this issue celebrates 25 years of putting the think in the tank.

To mark the occasion, we have collaborated with the American artist Theaster Gates to curate 100 pages of our anniversary issue. Theaster has spent the past two decades creating continuous dialogues across art, fashion and culture, bridging the gap between cultural silos. Through discussions with friends, collaborators and fellow travellers Theaster illustrates – and celebrates – a practice built of cultural hybridity and interrelation.

In this issue, Honey Crawford gets beatific with the Black Image Corporation, Arthur Jafa talks gods and monsters and Terence Nance imagines an alternative future for the SAG-AFTRA strike. Joseph Zeal-Henry imagines a new architectural paradigm, while Corinne Bailey Rae talks archives and artistry. Leading designers shed light on the importance of handcraft, we publish new poetry from Claudia Rankine and Benjamin Clementine gives Florentine glamour in Givenchy. Our Radio TANK imagines Sun Ra as a superhero and Theaster gets his skates on with Margiela.

This autumn’s fashion manifesto unravels the past quarter century of fashion trends, and Louboutin celebrates 30 years of well-heeled heritage. Prada pays a visit to the potteries in Tokoname and Manolo Blahnik show us their metal. Plus, we speak to Solange Knowles on taking up space, Elizabeth Alexander on monument as metaphor, Darren Walker on opulence and Honey Dijon on Daisy Dukes.