NEW YORK: A bronze sculpture by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti valued at more than $100 million and 20 works by pop art icon Andy Warhol headline New York’s fall art auction season next week.
Art worth at least $1.7 billion from impressionist and modern; post-war and contemporary go under the hammer at Christie’s and Sotheby’s at combined evening and day sales from Nov. 4 to 12.
The most expensive lot under the hammer is Giacometti’s 1950 “Chariot,” the highlight of Sotheby’s impressionist sale on Tuesday. The auction house calls it one of the seminal achievements of modern art and values it at more than $100 million.
“The market is rediscovering sculpture and they are now among the most desirable works of art,” said Simon Shaw, co-head of impressionist and modern art at Sotheby’s.
“This is really what collectors from Brazil, Asia, Russia are dreaming of.”
It is incredibly rare. Of Giacometti’s six chariots, four are in museums and the fifth is with a private owner who has no intention of selling.
The Sotheby’s “Chariot” considered a beacon of hope for the post-World War generation, has been in the same private collection for four decades.
“Given the $104.3 million achieved at Sotheby’s by Giacometti’s ‘Homme qui marche I’ in 2010, we believe that ‘Chariot’ could sell for in excess of $100 million,” said Shaw.
Sotheby’s also offers Amedeo Modigliani’s “Tete,” which like “Chariot” is coming up for auction for the first time.
Dating from 1911-12, it is one in a series of rare sculptures carved from blocks of stone scavenged from construction sites across Paris and valued at $45 million.
Tuesday’s third stand-out is Vincent van Gogh’s “Still Life, Vase with Daisies and Poppies,” which the artist painted three months before his death and valued at $30-50 million.
The highlight of Christie’s impressionist sale on Wednesday is “Le Printemps,” by French painter Edouard Manet. Valued at $25-30 million, it has been owned by one family for more than a century.
Depicting a famous actress of the day, it was painted in 1881 and exhibited in 1882 to critical acclaim while Manet was at the height of his powers and one of the most famous living artists. For the last 20 years, it has been on loan to the National Gallery of Art in Washington and Brooke Lampley, head of the impressionist and modern art department for Christie’s Americas.
Its estimate is based closely on the artist’s record, with $33 million set for a self-portrait in 2010 by Sotheby’s in London.
The second most expensive offering from Christie’s is “Les constructeurs avec arbre” by French cubist painter Fernand Leger, valued at $16-22 million.
Cubist canvases have been long undervalued and Christie’s is looking to capitalize on interest in a major cubism exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art featuring the private collection of billionaire philanthropist Leonard Lauder.
On Nov. 11 and 12, it is the turn of postwar and contemporary art, dominated by 20 works by Warhol, including portraits of 20th century icons and British figurative painter Francis Bacon.
Christie’s is offering Warhol’s “Triple Elvis” and “Four Marlons” for an estimated $60 million each, acquired from a German casino company and in storage for the last couple of years.
“They’re so masculine,” Sara Friedlander, head of evening sale for post-war and contemporary art, told AFP. In all, Christie’s is offering 11 Warhols and Sotheby’s nine, the highlight of which is a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor “Liz #3 (Early Colored Liz),” for an estimated $50 million.
“There’s a lot of Andy Warhol on the market, I think that speaks to a real insatiable demand on the part of the global marketplace to acquire works by Andy Warhol,” Friedlander said.
Christie’s last year set a new record for the most expensive piece of art sold at auction with a Bacon triptych — “Three Studies of Lucian Freud” — selling for $142.4 million.
NY art auctions set to break records
NY art auctions set to break records
Summer cinema: The blockbusters coming your way over the next few months
DUBAI: Here are eight blockbusters coming your way over the next few months.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’
Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Release date: July 26
In what will likely be the summer’s biggest box-office draw, the now-retired Wade Wilson — aka the indestructible mercenary Deadpool — is pulled from his sedate existence by the Time Variance Authority and forced into carrying out a mission with fellow anti-hero Wolverine, of X-Men fame. Both men reluctantly engage in a task that “will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
‘Hit Man’
Director: Richard Linklater
Starring: Glen Powell, Adria Arjona, Austin Amelio
Release date: May 24 (June 7, Netflix)
Action-comedy from one of the best directors around. Gary Johnson (Powell, who co-wrote the movie with Linklater) is a straight-laced college professor who moonlights as a fake hitman to entrap criminals for the local police department. But when he falls for a prospective client, Madisson (Arjona), Gary gets in way above his head, and his lies start to catch up with him. The bizarre premise is actually based on a true story (although Linklater has stressed that his film is not a faithful recreation of events).
‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’
Directors: Adil & Bilall
Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens
Release date: June 7
Detectives Mike Lowrey (Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Lawrence) are back for a fourth big-screen outing. This time, they’re investigating their own, when their late captain is accused of having been working with drug cartels. The two men set out to clear their captain’s name and find out who in the Miami PD could be responsible for framing him, only to be set up themselves and forced to go on the run.
‘Inside Out 2’
Director: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black
Release date: June 14
The sequel to Pixar’s much-loved “Inside Out” — about a young girl called Riley and the five personified emotions that determine her thoughts and actions — finds Riley entering her teenage years, and ushering in some new emotions (Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment and Envy) who throw off the delicate equilibrium achieved by the veterans Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust.
‘The Bikeriders’
Director: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Jodie Comer, Austin Butler, Tom Hardy
Release date: June 21
Nichols’ tale of the exploits of the fictional Chicago-based biker gang the Outlaws MC over the course of the 1960s is inspired by the photo-book of the same name by Danny Lyon. What, at first, is intended as a place of refuge and sanctuary for local outsiders where they can feel free to be themselves evolves — or devolves — into a violent crime organization.
‘Despicable Me 4’
Director: Chris Renaud
Voice cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin
Release date: July 3
Gru — once a supervillain, now an agent for good — is living happily with his wife (and fellow agent) Lucy, their three adopted daughters, and their newborn baby boy. But when Maxime Le Mal, the dangerous criminal that Gru helped put away, escapes from prison, Gru and his family (and, of course, his Minions) must go on the run.
‘Fly Me to the Moon’
Director: Greg Berlanti
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Anna Garcia
Release date: July 12
Set in the Space Race of the 1960s, Berlanti’s romantic comedy-drama finds NASA director Cole Davis preparing for the launch of Apollo 11. An already stressful situation is made worse when he falls for marketing specialist Kelly Jones, whom the government has appointed to stage a fake moon landing in case anything goes wrong with the real deal.
‘Borderlands’
Director: Eli Roth
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black
Release date: August 9
With video-game adaptations no longer the dross they used to be, thanks to the success of TV shows like “The Last of Us” and “Fallout,” hopes are high for this star-studded take on Gearbox Software’s all-action looter-shooter. Blanchett plays Lillith — a much-feared outlaw who returns to her home planet of Pandora on a mission to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful man, Atlas. To achieve her goal, she teams up with a band of misfits to tackle monsters and bandits and find the girl.
The Roundup: 3 pop culture highlights from across the region
DUBAI: Here are three pop culture highlights from across the region.
‘Drawing Time: Duets’
This exhibition, from the collection of Sharjah Art Foundation, runs until August 4 at Al-Mureijah Art Spaces. The show, the organizers say, “grew out of a two-year research project into conserving paper” and brings together works from 15 artists (including Baya, whose “Femme au paon” is pictured here) that “present a composite picture of what drawing is and could be today.” It also “delves into the concept of the double” by presenting the works in “artistic duets.”
Gultrah
‘Revival’
The popular Tunisian alternative outfit’s second studio album is billed as “Tunisian reggae,” a “distinctive fusion” of “innovative blends” that “delves deep into introspection and self-acceptance.” With touches of funk, ska, and Afrobeat, the nine tracks on “Revival” address a number of social issues as well as “the quest for inner peace,” and should help Gultrah build on the success of their hit single “Win.”
Dima Ayad
The Dubai-based Lebanese fashion designer’s latest collection of dresses, pants and coats is based around “a harmonious fusion of nostalgic 90s style elements with contemporary sensibilities,” according to a press release. The collection features “warm earth tones,” blacks, whites, and splashes of bright pink, while the new one-shoulder dress provides “a unique twist to the (designer’s) knitted signature fabric.”
Saudi film ‘Norah’ makes history with Cannes Film Festival screening
DUBAI: Saudi film “Norah” had its official screening at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, becoming the first film from the Kingdom to screen as part of the official calendar at the event.
The movie, filmed entirely in AlUla and directed by Tawfik Al-Zaidi, is running in the “Un Certain Regard” section of the festival.
The film is set in 1990s Saudi Arabia when conservatism ruled and the prefessional pursuit of all art, including painting, was frowned upon. It stars Maria Bahrawi, Yaqoub Al-Farhan, and Abdullah Al-Satian and follows the story of Norah and failed artist Nader as they encourage each other to realize their artistic potential in rural Saudi Arabia.
“Norah” is in competition with 19 other films from around the world.
On Wednesday, the cast, director and CEO and chairwoman of the Red Sea International Film Festival Mohammed Al-Turki and Jumana Al-Rashed, respectively, appeared together on the red carpet for French adventure drama film “Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.”
“Norah” was backed by the Red Sea Fund — one of the Red Sea Film Foundation's programs — and was filmed entirely in AlUla in northwest Saudi Arabia with an all-Saudi cast and a 40 percent Saudi crew.
‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan ‘hyper-aware of what’s happening in Rafah’
- The first four episodes of Season 3, in which Nicola Coughlan plays the revolving lead role, reached 45.1 million views during its opening weekend
DUBAI: Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, known for her role as Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s hit series “Bridgerton,” demonstrated her solidarity with Palestine this week by wearing the Artists for Ceasefire pin during an interview with USA Today as she promoted the latest season of the show, in which she plays the lead role.
When asked about the pin, the artist said: “It’s very important for me because I feel like I’m a very privileged person. I’m doing my dream job and I’m getting to travel the world, but then I’m hyper-aware of what’s happening in Rafah at the moment.”
The actress, whose family lived in Jerusalem in the late 70s, said her father was in the Irish army and was part of the United Nation’s Truce Supervision Organisation which worked towards brokering peace in the Middle East.
“I feel very passionately about it. I’m Irish also, so it’s sort of a different perspective,” Coughlan added. “I just feel, if I have this global platform, which I do at the minute, I think if I can hopefully raise funds for aid organizations — I have a fundraiser on my Instagram right now for Medical Aid for Palestine and if people would like to donate to that or share it, I think it would be a wonderful thing to do.”
Coughlan has continuously shown her support by wearing the pin during various occasions, including the premieres of the third season of “Bridgerton,” promotional events and her television appearances such as “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “Good Morning America.”
Season three of Netflix’s Regency-era drama has become the most successful season so far based on viewership numbers, Forbes reported this week.
With part two set to drop in June, “Bridgerton” Season 3: Part 1 was the most-watched title on Netflix from the period of May 13 - 18, according to Variety. The first four episodes, released on May 16, reached 45.1 million views during its opening weekend.
‘Untouched’ Red Sea shores inspire designers of luxury resort
RIYADH: Located on the private Ummahat Island, which can only be accessed by chartered boat or seaplane, The St. Regis Red Sea Resort is quickly making a name for itself as something of a celebrity magnet.
It’s easy to see why Saudi Arabia’s football elite vacationed here this spring — with 90 overwater and beachfront villas, a signature spa, high-tech gym, outdoor pools, water sports center, and a children’s club, the resort would impress even a seasoned luxury traveler.
But besides the butler service and handful of culinary options, what really stands out about the resort is its design. This is no cookie-cutter hotel — Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and interior design firm Kristina Zanic Consultants made sure of that.
“One of the briefs was that we had to make sure that this whole project was offering a barefoot luxury experience that really works in harmony with the nature,” Zanic told Arab News. “This was an untapped, untouched part of Saudi Arabia and a lot of those islands are pristine.”
Considering the white sand beaches and azure water, it’s no surprise that the Red Sea’s famous coastline was designed to be the star of the show, but Zanic and her team decided to base their design pitch on something rather unexpected — the wind.
“The way the wind flows … the breeze flows through the actual resort itself, you know, keeping it cool. The whole narrative we created was about wind that you experience there. A lot of our patterns and materials were inspired by the way the wind shapes the island,” she said, referencing, in part, the high-to-low pile carpets in the Dune Villas that mirror maps of the area’s wind vectors.
Respect for nature is also visible in the structures themselves, with Nicola Maniero, Partner at Kengo Kuma & Associates, explaining that the project “does not seek a camouflage with nature, but aims to establish a relationship of continuity with it through a language that departs from merely imitating the basic reference.”
To that end, the Dune Villas reflect the shape of sweeping desert sand formations while the Maldives-style overwater Coral Villas take the form of shells.
A nature-inspired design ethos did not come without its challenges, however.
“The water villas were initially supposed to rest on the surface of the sea as if emerging from it in a continuous spiral. However, the level of the villas had to be raised to 2.6 meters due to possible storms and rising water levels caused by climate change,” Maniero said.
He added that the villas’ circular floor plan “adds interest, but poses difficulties in terms of layout solutions.”
It’s a sentiment mirrored by Zanic, who explained that the Dune Villas’ striking curved formations posed unique hurdles due to differing ceiling heights from room to room.
Challenges aside, the design team did manage to have some fun with aesthetic quirks. The wooden floors of the villas, for example, consist not of planks, but of angular slabs of tessellated wood resembling a turtle’s shell.
That attention to detail is visible in everything from bespoke door handles and durable wall finishings designed to withstand the salty sea air, to the handmade textile art that is slightly different in each of the villas.
“Each piece looks sort of the same, but they (aren’t). That feeds into the whole concept of a luxury experience. Each person gets their own little piece of art for the weekend,” Zanic said. “Everything is bespoke and it gives the resort a unique identity.”
The spa, too, has its own defining motif — a henna-like detailing embossed on the walls — while the St. Regis Bar hosts a large mural depicting a local folk tale.
Tilina, the resort’s overwater restaurant, features exposed radial beams on the ceiling that mirror sea waves, while the tiles on the walls reference iridescent fish scales.
Maniero highlighted Tilina’s unique structure.
“It diverges from completely imitating the water villas because it doesn’t have a central courtyard, it’s more like a shell with a split circular floor plan that is slightly shifted,” he said. “However, there is still a connection to the water villas derived from the use of materials and the circular, organic floor plan.”
