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ArtEscape
September
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September 2011
PICASSO IN MONACO
There are more than a dozen art galleries in Monaco that culture vultures must not miss. My favourite is the Opera Gallery situated in the golden square at Palais de la Scala, 1 Ave Henry Dunant, Monaco. I was met by Gilles Dyan, founder and chairman of Opera Gallery and Didier Viltart, the gallery’s director in Monaco and I had a chance to view the exhibition of the works of “Picasso.”
There are more than a dozen art galleries in Monaco that culture vultures must not miss. My favourite is the Opera Gallery situated in the golden square at Palais de la Scala, 1 Ave Henry Dunant, Monaco. I was met by Gilles Dyan, founder and chairman of Opera Gallery and Didier Viltart, the gallery’s director in Monaco and I had a chance to view the exhibition of the works of “Picasso.”
SHAIKH RASHID
on Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Arne Quinze,
Rotraut Uecker and the French Riviera
on Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Arne Quinze,
Rotraut Uecker and the French Riviera
There were 33 selected artworks on display all created between 1905 and 1969 illustrating Picasso’s many paths and explorations of genre as well as the techniques he employed. With the exception of some historical pieces, the majority of the works exhibited were produced during the 50s and 60s when the artist lived in the South of France. It was the most important collection of Picasso masterpieces brought together by a French gallery in more than 20 years. Opera gallery has 10 branches in major cities in the world showcasing the works of Picasso, Buffet, Dali, Gauguin, Miro, Braque, Chagall etc.
Don't forget to wander around the marina and look at some of the magnificent boats you will see there. Take your time exploring the Oceanographic Museum, considered by experts the best of its kind in the world. Or perhaps play a round of golf at the Monte Carlo Golf Club.
WHERE ARTISTS MEET
The artists' village of Saint Paul, located on the hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean sea to the south and the snowcapped Alpes in the north makes it a favourite location for artists including contemporary masters like Picasso, Matisse and Chagall to name a few. It is the most coveted destination on the Côte d'Azur.
The medieval character of the village with its picturesque ivy-covered cobblestone streets, ancient fountains and stone facades remains intact.
Don't forget to wander around the marina and look at some of the magnificent boats you will see there. Take your time exploring the Oceanographic Museum, considered by experts the best of its kind in the world. Or perhaps play a round of golf at the Monte Carlo Golf Club.
WHERE ARTISTS MEET
The artists' village of Saint Paul, located on the hilltop overlooking the Mediterranean sea to the south and the snowcapped Alpes in the north makes it a favourite location for artists including contemporary masters like Picasso, Matisse and Chagall to name a few. It is the most coveted destination on the Côte d'Azur.
The medieval character of the village with its picturesque ivy-covered cobblestone streets, ancient fountains and stone facades remains intact.
L-R. Didier Viltart (Opera Gallery Director), Me and Gilles Dyan (Chairman of Opera Gallery) in Monaco
The village is brimming with galleries; I was en route to the sprawling garden in Chemin des Trious of Gallery Guy Pieters. Lieven De Bucks the gallery’s proprietor gave me a tour of the summer exhibition. On display were works by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, Belgian conceptual artists Arne Quinze and German born French artists Rotraut Uecker.
Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures in mixed media and painted resin have a celebratory quality depicting gods from various cultures, snakes and still life. They are decorative, playful and highly colourful. She was a self-taught artist who matured in the company of some of the 20th century’s most important artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns and her second husband Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely who encouraged her to develop her own style. In 1982, she created her own perfume “Niki de Saint Phalle.” She worked until her death in 2002.
I feel the complexity of Arne Quinze's structure in “Chaos box 260111” - the layers, textures and colours reflects dynamism and energy. Another one is the “Red eye C U Stilthouse.” It is a highly complex wooden sculpture that has several stilts or legs with a photo of an eye and individual timbers suspended throughout the structure which is a typical Quinze's trademark. He started out as a graffiti artist and in 2006 at the Burning Man Festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada he presented and burned his first sculpture “Uchronia,” a 30m high and 60m wide wooden construction. It caught a lot of attention and has since been conquering the world with his wooden neon orange sculptures.
The works of Rotraut Uecker, in painted aluminium sculptures adorned the gardens of Gallery Guy Pieters. The “Big Red Man” is like a silhouette, a combination of line and colour and the gesture is a brilliant hybrid, which migrate back and forth reminiscent of abstraction and figuration. Beautiful, ornate and colourful they appear so cheerful and uplifting. Rotraut worked as an au pair for French artist Arman where she met the celebrated painter and conceptual artist Yves Klein. The two were married after five years.
There is just so much art I can go on and on. And a must-see is the La Colombe d'Or. This famous hotel and restaurant played host to some of the hottest names in modern and contemporary art like Miró, Picasso, Klee, Dufy, Utrillo and Calder and you can view their works on display too.
Lieven De Bucks (proprietor of of Gallery Guy Pieters)
Lieven De Bucks and Me amidst Niki de Saint Phalle’s sculptures
Arne Quinze's “Chaos box 260111”
Rotraut Uecker sculptures being set on gardens of Gallery Guy Pieters
Where the masters dine
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ART ESCAPE at the French Riviera is a little unknown to art worlders because the very name conjures up visions of international celebrities stepping out of sports cars, young jet setters tanning on the beach, elegant couples in dinner suits and fancy evening gowns in stylish casinos, mega yachts moored at glamorous marinas and holiday makers wandering along the Promenade des Anglais, the famous waterfront street of Nice. And of course all these images would be true, because the Riviera can be all things to all people. July weather is a little too hot for comfort, but the whole of Europe seems to descend on the Riviera in this month.
To the many that visit the Riviera without knowing where to go and what to see often miss out on some of the best and most fascinating modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Perhaps, then, I shall share my exploration on the more interesting places that draws me back to the Riviera year after year.
To the many that visit the Riviera without knowing where to go and what to see often miss out on some of the best and most fascinating modern and contemporary art exhibitions. Perhaps, then, I shall share my exploration on the more interesting places that draws me back to the Riviera year after year.
For more history, just outside the town walls, a giant pagoda like structure rising from a hill in a pine forest is Fondation Maeght, an avant garde building by architect José Luis Sert. On the lawn is a Calder rising like some futuristic monster. In the courtyard, in a sort of surrealistic garden are sculptures by Giacometti in bronze and Miró’s in marble and Chagall’s mosaics. Also for a bit of solitude, you can pass by the cemetery where Marc Chagall was buried.
Arne Quinze's “Chaos box 260111”
Arne Quinze's “Red eye C U Stilthouse”
One of Niki de Saint Phalle's work
More of Niki’s work
FONDAZIONE ANTONIO PRESTI -FIUMARA D’ARTE
International Museum of Image
Terzocchio Meridiani di Luce - Sole di Mezzanotte
(ThirdEye Meridian of
Light - Midnight Sun)
Librino,Catania
Deadline: Ongoing
Terzocchio Meridiani di Luce - Sole di Mezzanotte
(ThirdEye Meridian of
Light - Midnight Sun)
Librino,Catania
Deadline: Ongoing
Call to Artist
So there you have it. All my favourites of the Riviera that can deepen your appreciation of art!. But there's much, much more. And the only way you can find out just how much there is, and how fascinating this area can be, is to go there yourself and discover all there is to see.
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- Artists' Opportunities
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