G&M Design Gallery is hosting Boy George’s first ever art exhibition ‘Scarmen & Other Imperfections’, which premiered on Friday night at a cocktail party attended by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.
It is the first time that the 1980’s music legend has publicly shown the works that he has been creating for a number of years now and which all feature a face as its theme.
MAC President Christian Moore, Boy George, Karin Torriani from Powers Properties and Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage. Photo: Claudia Albuquerque
His piece ‘Scarman’ first appeared on promotional artwork and clothing for Boy George and The Culture Club’s new album Life.
Victoria Silvstedt and Christian Moore. Photo: Claudia AlbuquerquePrincess Grace Foundation USA CEO Brisa Thrinchero, Boy George, and Lady Tina Green. Photo: Claudia Albuquerque
Boy George was thrilled to have sold his first ever painting, Prince, after an exclusive private interview with Monaco Life on Friday (stay tuned for the story). The following cocktail party was attended by many of the Principality’s well known personalities, including Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.
‘Prince’, Boy George’s first piece sold in the exhibition
Scarmen & Other Imperfections will be on show at the gallery until 1st February.
Top photo: Prince Albert, Boy George and Princess Charlene. Photo: Claudia Albuquerque
Read Monaco Life for Editor Cassandra Tanti’s exclusive one on one interview with Boy George coming up this week.
Prince and Princess gift residents at Monaco Red Cross
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have continued a long-standing tradition as part of National Day celebrations, distributing gifts to the elderly at the headquarters of the Monaco Red Cross.
The event was held on Friday 15th November, during which the Princely couple handed presents in white paper bags emblazoned with the charitable organisation’s emblem to elderly residents of Monaco.
The gifts were also offered to the town halls of the bordering communes.
The residents who received gifts then gathered on the steps leading up to the Red Cross headquarters on Boulevard de Suisse for a photograph with the Princely couple.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian and development network, with millions of volunteers in 190 member National Societies.
Government representatives, business leaders and officials from free and special economic zone nations around the world have come together for the first Su-MEET conference in Monaco.
Held in the Crystal Room at the Fairmont Hotel, the two day event organised by the World Federation of Free and Special Economic Zones (FEMOZA) with the full cooperation of the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) met from 13th to 15th November and brought together developers from Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and investors for meetings, networking opportunities and round table discussions under the theme ‘Past, Present & Future of Free and Special Economic Zones’.
The Su-MEET summit focused heavily on the One Belt One Road policy initiated by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which encourages the use of green working environments, digital transition policies and flexible labour standards that accommodate a simplified transfer of technology.
Talks also highlighted successful cities, new activities to the zones, real estate opportunities, outsourcing, manufacturing procedures and banking services. Additionally, it was a forum for asking and answering questions and bridging gaps in knowledge with regard to how things work in these special zones.
FEMOZA President Juan Torres, a Barcelona native, has been an advisor on international trade, free zones and export processing zones since 1986. His underlying desire to create this event was to bring together professionals from the Free and Special Zones to formally sign agreements in a single place. He looked to Monaco as a good fit due to its position as a financial centre and its special financial status.
A Free and Special Economic Zone is an area within the borders of a country that adhere to their own set of business and trade laws, differing from the rest of their country. The goals of this type of set up is to increase the trade balance and investment, create jobs and streamline administration. Currently, there are upward of 1,800 of these areas in existence.
Incentives are given to encourage companies to enter these zone agreements such as special taxation, trade, customs and quota benefits, as well as different regulations pertaining to labour.
Marta Grigorieva has forged a career creating the most difficult of all painting genres – realist portraits. The Russian native spoke to Monaco Life about her most famous subjects and how she approaches the difficult art of portrait painting.
Monaco Life: When did you decide to become a painter?
Marta Grigorieva: I am originally from St. Petersburg and since the age of 10 I wanted to paint, but I went to music school studying violin and piano. Then I studied economics, and later fine arts after moving to New York, where I subsequently worked at Christie´s and Sotheby´s. In New York I had a privilege to study with the leading American portrait painter Nelson Shanks. I left the corporate world and decided to pursue painting full-time in Italy. Obviously, all the corporate experience is still useful today. But essentially, I enjoy creating art and giving joy to people in that way.
What brought you to Monaco?
I was in London and my clients introduced me to Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. When I came here his friends commissioned his portrait for his 45th birthday. Then Stelios commissioned a portrait of Frank Sinatra and Luciano Pavarotti for an apartment that he had just purchased here. From there, painting requests just started flowing in, and I gradually moved from London to Monaco. That was eight years ago.
What was it like to create a portrait of Sir Stelios?
The portrait was to be a surprise from his friends so I was given a selection of photographs and we chose the one with the best composition – he was looking like a “commandante” holding the wheel of a sailing yacht. But as a serious businessman, I could not portray him as he was in this picture – in a baseball cap, t’shirt and no shoes. So, I flew to St. Barths to take photos of him while he was navigating a sailing yacht. And that’s how it often works, it’s never an interpretation of just one photograph, rather many details are taken from various photos in addition to meeting in person to make a complete portrait.
Photo of the artwork taken by Valentina Eade
Have you painted any other well known personalities?
I recently completed a portrait of Dr. Elena Ambrosiadou, called a ‘Fairytale’. It is a large painting, 130 cm by 170 cm, depicting a landscape in Capri Island. It is from a picture taken at the wedding of Espen Oeino and Sabrina Monteleone during a full moon eclipse. Dr. Elena Ambrosiadou is on the right and on the left is Norwegian veterinary Doctor Trude Mostue. It took me 10 months to complete it. I actually painted for an extra month after I was paid in full because I knew I could do better, searching for more harmony in painting, improving personality likeness as well as retouching the sea waves . This was a very challenging painting because the photo was taken on an iPhone in the middle of the night, and I had to replicate that happy, joyful moment.
What technique do you use in your painting?
I paint with oil on canvas, academic painting with Impressionist colours. So, it is a direct approach to painting without a preliminary drawing or study. It is really interesting because it looks like an Old Master painting yet you can see it is painted today, as the colours are vibrant in that Impressionistic palate.
I see you also do animal portraits, are they popular?
Indeed, I had an exhibition at the Yacht Club of Monaco in May 2019 as part of a family office conference from London and I was asked to make a portrait of a horse and a dog for the organiser of the conference. While in London I went to the countryside to photograph the horse and dog and made a drawing; it was a black and white portrait of these two wonderful animals. Sadly, the dog has since passed away, but he has now been immortalised in this painting. I also had a client who lives in the Odeon Tower requesting a portrait of their dog named Lily. I called her Lucky Lily because she was found with a homeless person in Juan les Pins, and the couple brought her to Monaco. Now she has a perfect life and is a very important part of their family, and they all admire her portrait in their family collection.
Would you prefer to paint people or animals?
People are more challenging of course, but I do prefer to paint people. I also enjoy painting landscapes; driving out of town to paint en plein air is more of an exercise.
What does it feel like, after working for months on a portrait, to finally hand it over to the person who is the subject of your work?
I have a very big responsibility in painting portraits but handing it over, finally, is a wonderful experience. It’s a celebration, essentially.
Tell us about your philosophy in terms of how you approach your work as an artist?
I lost my father when I was 18 and I realised that life is precious. I want to paint because I wanted to leave a legacy, and I know my paintings will survive me. My paintings are held in private collections throughout Europe, Russia and the US, and they are usually positive. I never paint when I am unhappy or in pain. I try to recover, and only work when I feel good, so there’s a positive vibe resonating off the canvas.
What’s next for Marta Grigorieva?
I am about to release an illustrated e-book I created about Monaco for children and adults. It’s called ‘The Secret Life of Napo in Monte Carlo’, and it’s about a dog who runs away and explores the region, meets new friends, and discovers the local culture and landmarks throughout his adventures.
Top photo: Marta Grigorieva with her painting, Dr. Elena Ambrosiadou is on the right and on the left is Dr Trude Mostue
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