BOOK: Marguerite Humeau-Auguries, White Cube
Marguerite Humeau’s “Auguries” by White Cube Gallery is far more than a conventional exhibition catalogue or artist monograph. It functions as an immersive extension of the artist’s speculative practice, inviting readers into a world where contemporary art, ecology, mythology, scientific inquiry, and material experimentation converge. Beautifully produced and intellectually ambitious, the publication succeeds in translating Humeau’s complex installations into a tactile and reflective reading experience.
The book brings together three interconnected bodies of work—“meys”, “Orison0”s, and “Dust”—revealing the conceptual threads that unite them. Rather than documenting artworks in isolation, “Auguries “traces the systems of thought that underpin Humeau’s practice. From the extraordinary architecture of Australian termite colonies to the vast atmospheric landscapes of Colorado’s San Luis Valley, the artist investigates natural phenomena not simply as subjects of observation but as forms of intelligence that challenge anthropocentric ways of understanding the world. The publication demonstrates how Humeau transforms scientific research into poetic speculation, creating artworks that occupy the fertile space between fact and fiction.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to contextualize the artist’s work through a rich combination of critical essays and conversation. Petra Lange-Berndt’s contribution presents Humeau’s studio as a laboratory where empirical investigation meets imaginative experimentation, while Esther Leslie explores the mystical, symbolic, and philosophical dimensions that permeate the projects. The interview with curator Susanna Greeves provides valuable insight into Humeau’s own thinking, addressing pressing contemporary issues such as technological development, environmental crisis, and humanity’s uncertain place within planetary futures. Together, these texts enrich the visual material without overwhelming it, making the publication equally rewarding for readers familiar with Humeau’s work and those encountering it for the first time.
Visually, “Auguries” is exceptional. Lavishly illustrated with high-quality reproductions, installation views, and research imagery, the book mirrors the immersive quality of Humeau’s installations. Its thoughtful design extends beyond aesthetics to embody the publication’s ecological concerns. Printed on Gmund’s Bio Cycle paper—a sustainable material produced from fibres including wheat straw, grass, cotton, and hemp—the book becomes an object that reflects the artist’s commitment to environmental thinking. The textured pages provide a sensory dimension that reinforces the organic themes explored throughout the publication.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of “Auguries” is its refusal to offer definitive answers. Like Humeau’s sculptures and environments, the book encourages readers to embrace uncertainty, speculation, and interconnectedness. It asks us to reconsider intelligence beyond the human, to recognize hidden ecological systems, and to imagine futures shaped by more-than-human perspectives. In doing so, it positions contemporary art not merely as a site of representation but as a means of generating new ways of thinking about the living world. – Efi Michalarou
