“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” - Pablo Picasso

My Comment: Pablo Picaso is one of the best artists in the world whom I admire!





Pablo Ruiz y Picasso, more well-known worldwide as Pablo Picasso, was an outstanding Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer

(Image below of the art work "Yo, Picasso" by Pablo Picasso)

Though not easily recognizable like his other works, Picasso’s 1901 self-portrait is highly prized on the fine art market. 

The painter's full name  is “Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso”. 

• Artist: Pablo Picasso
• Year: 1901
• Year of Sale: 1989
• Sale Price: $47.85 million
• Currency Adjusted: $83.2 million

Congratulations to Saatchi Gallery's New Sensations 2012 & Absolut Blank Commission!

Saatchi Gallery & Channel 4 Announce the Winners of

New Sensations 2012 and the Absolut Blank commission
Plus Resounding Sales Success

London, 18 October 2012

The Saatchi Gallery & Channel 4 are delighted to announce the winner of the 2012 New Sensations Prize, Nicolas Feldmeyer.

The judges have also awarded a Special Commendation to Steven Allan.

The winner of the ABSOLUT Blank commission, a new element of this year’s Prize, is Antonio Marguet.

Nicolas Feldmeyer’s work opens a contemplative perspective onto the world. Inspired by archaic monuments, the Sublime and Taoism and working in a wide range of media, his work articulates "a quiet quest for what lies beyond or before words".

He was born in 1980 in Switzerland, and after completing an MSc in architecture in Zurich, studied Fine Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute on a Fulbright Grant. He graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art, London, this year with an MFA with distinction.

 Nicolas Feldmeyer, Untitled (Woven Portico), 2012

Steven Allan completed his MA this year at the Royal College of Art in London. He was born in Scotland and has spent the last 8 years living and painting in London.

(Steven Allan, Peely Wally, 2012)

(Antonio Marguet, Untitled, 2012)

Much of Steven Allan’s work contains biographical references or layers of meaning gathered from everyday imagery. His recent paintings have explored the humanisation of objects such as bananas, tea bags and paint tubes.

Antonio Marguet, originally from southern Spain, creates “object-sculptures” which he photographs, and it is only the image that lasts in his exploration of our fetishisation of objects.

For this year’s ABSOLUT Blank commission he made a work inspired by the distinctive shape of the ABSOLUT bottle.

The works of these three winners were shown at the New Sensations exhibition, along with works by 17 other shortlisted artists.

The exhibition, which was on during Frieze week at Victoria House in Bloomsbury, was a huge success with over 70% of works sold.

New Sensations was launched in 2007 to find and support the most imaginative and talented artists graduating in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

This year’s ABSOLUT Studio Fund, with works donated by Mat Collishaw, Chantal Joffe, Hew Locke and Yinka Shonibare, raised prize money to help fund studios for the winners.

The judges for this year’s New Sensations Prize were the artists John Stezaker and Richard Wilson; Shonagh Manson, Director of the Jerwood Charitable Foundation and Jerwood Visual Arts; Jake Miller, founder of The Approach, London; Nancy Durrant, arts commissioning editor of The Times; Tabitha Jackson, Commissioning Editor, Arts, Channel 4; and Rebecca Wilson, Director of the Saatchi Gallery.

New Sensations 2012 Shortlisted Artists:

Steven Allan Alex Ball Bartosz Beda Olivia Poppy Coles Nicholas Dedics Amanda Doran Nicolas Feldmeyer Eimear Friers Rachel Hunt Hyojun Hyun

Jin Han Lee Antonio Marguet Aileen McEwen Claire Moore Natasha Peel Eoghan Ryan Amba Sayal-Bennett Rafal Topolewski Aleksandra Wojcik Tereza Zelenkova

SAD & SHOCKING NEWS! 7 Stolen paintings from Dutch museum Rotterdam City included Monets, Picasso, Matisse and Gauguin!
The Kunsthal Rotterdam in the Netherlands lost seven valuable paintings in a theft at about 3:00 a.m. on October 16, 2012.

Those paintings were part of a special exhibition of 150 works in the Triton Foundation's collection as part of the museum’s 20th anniversary celebration.

After the thieves had set off an alarm and the police came within 5 minutes, but the art works and burglars were gone.


My comments:

How will these shameless---but definitely not tasteless!---thieves resell or financially benefit from stealing these 7 high-profile, well-documented art works by famous painters?

It seems there are more brazen art thefts in Europe nowadays?

Why was this museum so lax or careless in its security precautions? Will this incident alerts other museums and galleries worldwide?

Let all of us use the far-reaching power of the Internet and social media to spread the words as well as the images of these stolen art works, so no gullible or clueless people out there shall be victimized. Look at the 7 images below, do not forget them, do not buy them and report if seen...


(Matisse’s “La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune")




(Monet's “Charing Cross Bridge, London”)



(Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge, London”)




(Gauguin’s “Femme Devant une Fenetre Ouverte, dite la Fiancee” )



(Lucian Freud's "Woman With Eyes Closed")



(Meyer de Haan’s “Autoportrait”)



(Picasso work“Tete d’Arlequin )




Below, I share one of the news reports about this art theft:


Thieves Exploited Security Flaw to Steal Monets, Picasso

By Catherine Hickley of Bloomberg. Oct 23, 2012

The thieves who stole seven paintings including works by Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet from the Rotterdam Kunsthal on Oct. 16 probably exploited a flaw in the locking security system, the museum said in a statement.

The museum said it has an electronic locking system that responds to the alarm. After some time, the electronic system deactivates automatically, although the doors remain mechanically locked, according to a Kunsthal e-mailed statement sent today.

“The investigation into the theft that took place on Monday evening has revealed that the burglars probably forced the locks” after the electronic locking system automatically deactivated, the Kunsthal said. Camera images show the burglary took just two minutes, the museum said.

Seven paintings, including works by Picasso, Monet, Henri Matisse, Paul Gauguin and Lucian Freud were stolen from the Kunsthal in the Dutch port city. The combined value may be as much as $130 million, making the burglary one of the most spectacular art heists of the last few decades.

The paintings stolen were Picasso’s “Tete d’Arlequin”, Monet’s “Waterloo Bridge, London” and “Charing Cross Bridge, London;” Freud’s “Woman with Eyes Closed;” Matisse’s “La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune;” Gauguin’s “Femme Devant une Fenetre Ouverte, dite la Fiancee,” and Meyer de Haan’s “Autoportrait”.

Fire System

The museum has since made adjustments to its locking system, according to the statement. Its alarm, camera and entrance control systems were all inspected in the past months and a new fire alarm and smoke detectors were installed earlier this year, it said.

The theft took place at about 3.15 a.m. on Oct. 16, the Rotterdam-Rijnmond police said. Investigators have released camera pictures on which the faces of the thieves are unidentifiable. They are hoping that people may recognize the combination of two or more figures and their distinctive bags, a statement on the police website said. Investigators have received 60 leads so far, it said.

CONGRATULATIONS to writer Craig Davidson, to literary arts & the written word!               

2012 London Film Festival "Best Picture" award goes to French-Belgian movie Rust and Bone  based on the short story collection of the same title as the movie and authored by Craig Davidson


(Photographs of the writer)



Craig Davidson is a Canadian writer of short stories and novels.

His first book, The Preserve, was a horror novel written under a pseudonym.

Craig's first short story collection, Rust and Bone, was published in September 2005, by Penguin Books Canada.

(Below is an image of Canadian edition of the book, plus another picture of the author on the right)




Here, a poster of the award-winning French-Belgian movie...





(an old photograph of the writer)

Rust and Bone, Jacques Audiard's soaring French-language movie about love, loss and killer whales, won the best picture award at the London Film Festival on October 20, 2012.

This cinematic thriller/melodrama tells the story of a boxer (played by actor Matthias Schoenaerts) and a whale trainer (played by Oscar Award-winning actress Marion Cotillard), how the guy fells in love even as the woman suffers a tragic accident at work.

Rust and Bone (French language: De rouille et d'os) is a French-Belgian film based on Craig Davidson's  short story collection with the same name. The tale is of an unemployed 25-year-old boxer in love with a killer whale trainer.

My Recommendation
I highly recommend that we all read the book first before watching the movie adaptation.

Impressive new art center for Asia! On Oct. 6, 2012 afternoon, I made my first visit to Singapore's Gillman Barracks art area and spent over 3 hours there.






This art lover is so very impressed with the visionary, entrepreneurual and cultured government of Singapore for this new project to convert the former British colonial era Gillman Barracks into a complex for international and Singaporean art galleries and other artistic establishments.

Economic progress indeed isn't enough without cultural and spiritual renaissance!

This city-state of Singapore is serious about its bid to outshine Hong Kong an d others to become the arts hub of Asia.

Not all the art galleries and facilities have opened, but from what I have already seen during my October 6 afternoon visit, this Gillman Barracks will be a great success!

By the way, not many Singaporeans know yet the exact location of this place whether young or old, because it is a new redevelopment. But I was lucky to ride a taxi with a middle-aged driver who knew exactly the address I gave him, when I asked why he knew the place, he replied that he used to be a soldier and those were their military barracks! :)



Gillman Barracks
Address: 9 Lock Road, Singapore 108937
Opening Hours: 11:00-20:00 (Sunday until 18:00)
Closed on Monday
http://www.gillmanbarracks.com








Here are some of the galleries and works I saw in the Gillman Barracks complex (I went to all!):


This is a work by a Japanese artist inside a hall, all by itself....

Space Cottonseed

Address: 47 Malan Road, #01-24, Singapore 109444

This South Korean gallery has an on-going exhibit titled "Prelude" and will last up to today October 21, 2012. One of the artists I admire there based on his beautiful works is that of Lee Sea Hyun. Below is one of his works:

LEE SEA HYUN
Betweenn Red-84, 2009

Sundaram Tagore Gallery Singapore

Address: 5 Lock Road, #01-05, Singapore 108933

New York's Sundaram Tagore Gallery has numerous impressive works in Singapore, like some works below from "The Big Picture" photography exhibit now on-going up to Nov. 10, 2012. The photographs range from images of Hollywood and other celebrities to landscapes of various places worldwide, etc. Astounding variety, range and quality of works!

Photograph by SEBASTIÃO SALGADO
Sahara, Algeria (Man Praying), 2009




Photography by ANNIE LEIBOVITZ
David Bryne, Los Angeles, 1956





Hiroshi Senju at Sundaram Tagore Gallery Singapore
Photo below of his work by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop




ROBERT LIDORI
Salle de Crimée Sud, (99) ANR.02.036, Salles de I'Afrigue, Aile du Nord - 1er étage, Château de Versailles, France, 1985

Mizuma Gallery

Address: 22 Lock Road, #01-34, Singapore 108939

This Tokyo-based gallery's Singapore branch in Gillman Barracks was showing a Korean artist Hyung Koo Kang's works when I visited, and I lingered on for quite a while to admire the paintings. I even bought an autographed book! Titled "Crossing Gazes", the solo exhibition of the newest pieces in Korean painter Hyung Koo Kang’s series of huge bigger-than-life portraits was quite impressive. Among my favorites were the paintings of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor and others.

HYUNG KOO KANG
Audrey Hepburn, 2012

HYUNG KOO KANG
Gandhi, 2012

Partners & Mucciaccia

Address: 6 Lock Road, #02-10, Singapore 108934

From Picasso to the New Roman School The never-ending cult of beauty in contemporary art

This exhibit of European works awed me not only with the beauty of the paintings, but also due to such world-famous names as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. The show is up to Nov. 30 2012

GIORGIO DE CHIRICO
Italian Square, 1947/1972

The Drawing Room

Address: 5 Lock Road, #01-06, Singapore 108933

Exhibition

Short Memory

Now - 24 Oct

This event surveys most of the artists exhibiting with The Drawing Room, and gathers major works that represent dynamic inquiries into artistic formats and practices that happen within the mingling of cosmopolitan and arcane cultures in Manila. The artists' critical and experientially-grounded methods portray a specific Philippines in constant flux.

KAWAYAN DE GUIA

Self and the Other (2012)

Silverlens

Address: 47 Malan Road, #01-25, Singapore 109444

Silverlens' first art exhibit, which I was able to see on my visit, was that of Philippine artist Luis Lorenzana.
Photo below of his work by Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop




Other Gillman Barracks images below...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspiring!

Stolen Roy Lichtenstein art work returned after 42 years!

Among the most inspiring stories from the art world are those of stolen or lost paintings and other works which have been rightfully returned to their real owners or the owners' heirs. From Holocaust survivors to other people, those who have gotten back lost art works---these are feel-good tales and news which we should all support.

We shouldn't condone, in any way, the stealing of art works.

(Associated Press photo below: Barbara Bertozzi, the widow of American art dealer Leo Castelli, standing beside the Roy Lichtenstein painting "Electric Cord" which was missing for 42 years)

Here, allow me to share good news which I read from the October 17, 2012 article by Bloomberg writer Katya Kazakina. 

(New York) --- A $4 million Roy Lichtenstein painting that disappeared 42 years ago when it was sent out for cleaning was returned Tuesday to its owner in Manhattan.

The painting was returned to Barbara Bertozzi Castelli, the widow of art dealer Leo Castelli, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and the FBI said at a press conference.

The 1961 painting "Electric Cord" was purchased by Castelli in the early 1960s for about $750 and displayed in the Leo Castelli Gallery in Manhattan, according to a statement by Bharara's office. In January 1970, the painting was sent to art restorer Daniel Goldreyer and it disappeared, according to the statement.

In July, Manhattan art dealer James Goodman received an offer to buy the painting, Goodman said in a telephone interview Tuesday. The sellers e-mailed him a photo of "Electric Cord" and said the work was at Hayes Storage in Manhattan.

"As soon as I saw the image, I knew what it was," Goodman said. The Lichtenstein Foundation, a nonprofit group dedicated to the artist's legacy, published an image of the painting on its holiday greeting card in 2006 and asked for help in finding the painting.

Goodman said he remembered the card. "For an old guy, I have a very good memory," he said.

Goodman said he alerted the foundation, and a representative accompanied him to the storage facility to view the work. The foundation notified Bertozzi Castelli.

"I did my Good Samaritan thing," said Goodman.

The FBI discovered that the storage facility had received the painting from the Quinta Galeria art gallery in Bogota, Colombia, which had received it on consignment from Goldreyer's widow, Sally Goldreyer, authorities said.

Goldreyer told authorities that when her husband died in 2009, she and others cleaned out the lockers of his company's employees, including one named Ben Dolinsky, according to the statement.

She said the contents of Dolinsky's locker were boxed and given to a friend, who, three years later, asked her to sell the painting for him, according to the statement. She offered to sell it to the Quinta gallery but refunded the gallery's deposit when she saw a missing notice for the painting posted on the Internet, according to the statement.

On Oct. 9, Goldreyer and Bharara's office "entered into a stipulation" in which Goldreyer relinquished all rights, title and interest to "Electric Cord" and return it to Castelli, authorities said.

Bertozzi Castelli said she may hang the painting in her home.

"Thank you for everything you did," she said to authorities at the press conference. "It's the first time I have seen it in my life. I came to the U.S. in 1993. I got married to Leo in 1995. And the painting was missing since 1970. I actually can tell you that Leo spoke on several occasions to me about this painting. He was saying it was a really beautiful painting."

Authorities value "Electric Cord,' which measures 28-by-17 inches, at $4 million.

"We are delighted to have played a role in securing the return" of the painting, Bharara said in the statement. "Returning stolen art and artifacts is an important mission of this office, and it is always gratifying when we are successful."

(Photograph of artist Roy Lichtenstein by Michael Fredericks)






"Photo: © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein© VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2012"

Congrats Larry Gagosian for his new (and second) art gallery in Paris!

Inaugural exhibit on Oct. 19, 2012: German artist Anselm Kiefer

The world's biggest mega art dealer Larry Gagosian  is opening another presence in Paris, France in the private jets airport of Le Bourget. This will be his second art place in this beautiful city, two years after opening his gallery in Paris.







(Art dealer Larry Gagosian as featured in the French newspaper Le Figaro. Credits photo: Patrick MC Mullan Photo; Photo BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan.com)





Location of new art gallery: Le Bourget. A former 1950s private airport hangar, 2 storeys, with area of 1,650 square meters or 17,760 square feet. In the outskirts of Paris City, France.

Gallery address: 800 Avenue de l'Europe 93350, Paris, Le Bourget

Telephone:  +33.1.48.16.16.47
Fax:  +33.1.70.24.87.10

Email: P A R I S @ G A G O S I A N . C O M

Designer of new art space: French architect and Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel


Some informations on the inaugural art exhibition of Anselm Kiefer works

First art exhibit: "Morgenthau Plan" art exhibit by conceptual painter Anselm Kiefer of Germany

Opening reception for the artist: Thursday, October 19th, from 4:00 to 8:00pm

Opening schedule to the public: October 19, 2012

End of Kiefer show: January 26, 2013

Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays 11 am  to 7 pm


(German artist Anselm Kiefer)





(The new Gagosian gallery)




(Photo below: Interior shot of new Gagosian Gallery at Le Bourget, just outside Paris. Photographer: Thomas Lannes/Jean Nouvel/HW Architecture/Claudine Colin Communication via Bloomberg)




For detailed informations about the inaugural art exhibition of Anselm Kiefer, click this link: http://www.gagosian.com/exhibitions/anselm-kiefer--october-19-2012

 

To view map of the art gallery location, just click this link https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Avenue+de+l%27Europe,+%C3%8Ele-de-France,+France&aq=&sll=48.910901,2.40886&sspn=0.005987,0.013937&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&geocode=FaL86gIdR0QlAA&split=0&hq=&hnear=Avenue+de+l%27Europe,+%C3%8Ele-de-France,+France&ll=48.95453,2.442312&spn=0.002991,0.006968&t=m&z=18