The countdown is on for the Grimaldi Forum’s highly-anticipated 2022 summer exhibition, dedicated to the wonderful world of fashion designer Christian Louboutin.
After the success of the Alberto Giacometti exhibit last year, the Grimaldi Forum is following up with another sure-fire hit for summer 2022, entitled Christian Louboutin, L’Exhibition[niste].
Curator Olivier Gabet, Director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, has redesigned the show from its Palais de la Porte Dorée version of 2020, giving it a new perspective for the Principality.
The exhibit will encompass 2,000m2 and unveil some new works as yet unseen by the public, which are tied to inspirations drawn specifically from Monaco, including a project in development with British artist Allen Jones.
Monaco’s ties to Louboutin go far back. Princess Caroline was Louboutin’s very first customer when he opened the doors to his Paris shoe salon in 1991.
Photo by Jean-Vincent Simonet for Christian Louboutin, source Grimaldi Forum
The summer exhibition will bring together pieces from Louboutin’s personal collections as well as artistic and historic works on loan from private and public collections, including some from the Principality, in what is being called the Musée Imaginaire room.
Meanwhile, themes that were cherished by the designer will be explored such as his love of dance, the legacy of the Ballets Russes, his adoration of African and Asian art, Andy Warhol’s Pop Art influence, the genius of photographer Helmut Newton, and his fascination with oceanography.
Shoes, naturally, will take centre stage, but visitors will also be treated to a selection of unique pieces that inspired his creations.
“Far from a classic retrospective, the exhibition path was designed as a joyful odyssey through three decades of abundant creativity infused with curiosity for all cultures and arts,” say the organisers of the event.
The exhibition will also present exclusive collaborations by Louboutin such as stained glass created by Maison du Vitrail, a silver Sevillian palanquin, and a cabaret sculpted in Bhutan.
Visitors will also discover the designer’s various projects with artists including the titillating photography collaboration with director David Lynch, multimedia work with Lisa Reihana, the leather sculptures of English designer duo Whitaker Malem, the choreography of Blanca Li, and the work of Pakistani artist Imran Qureshi, as well as an immersive space dedicated to sculptor and painter Allen Jones created especially with him for this exhibition.
Note: This article was originally published on 5th January
Photo by Jean-Vincent Simonet for Christian Louboutin, source Grimaldi Forum
“We want people to come together, Latin American style!”
Daniela Spanier is on a mission to create and strengthen links between the people of Monaco and Latin America. She tells us more about the root of her ambition in life, and reveals exciting details about the upcoming Mystical Bolivia AMLA gala in September.
The Monaco Latin American Association (AMLA) is a non-governmental organisation designed to promote cultural dialogue, solidarity and cooperation, and exchange of ideas and “dreams” between the Principality of Monaco and the countries of Latin America.
AMLA’s focus is on providing a platform and a community for Monaco residents to discover Latin American sociocultural heritage and lifestyle, through a series of charity events ranging from galas and workshops to music auditions and conferences.
Monaco Life: Can you tell us about yourself and where it all began?
Daniela Spanier: I’ve been very international since a very early age. I was born and grew up in Bolivia. I had a diplomat father and a mother who always worked with international organisations. In Bolivia and in Latin America in general, we’re very social, but especially in Santa Cruz where I grew up. Since it’s a small place in a poor country, the society was quite small and the social engagements were quite important.
My grandmother was always in Rotary, and I grew up with charity fashion events where even I had to parade when I was seven or eight. My grandfather was also in the Rotary and the Lion’s Club. My grandmother was also a co-founder of the university and a director, so I grew up like this… in an academic family where mainly the women were academic and socially engaged.
I always say that if I’m ambitious and if I have the capacity to dream, that it’s never too late, and this is thanks to my mother who allowed me to take every possible private lesson in everything I wanted, from gymnastics to piano, and this led me to think that there is always more I can go for, that there is more that I can do.
If I have to define myself, I am very forward-looking. I have a vision and I never think it’s too late to change things. I think every day is a starting point. I believe you don’t have to look at what’s before to actually set a new trend because it’s all a sequence. You can choose to use the sequence from yesterday or choose to start one from today. I believe the sky’s the limit.
On the other hand, growing up like that makes you feel like you are missing something, because if there’s always more you can have, it means you’re never full. That’s something I’ve had to work on the last 15 years. Now my ambition is coming from a place of wholeness.
What brought you to Monaco? What was your vision coming here?
I grew up in Bolivia and went to German school, then when I was around 11, my mum got a job at the UN in New York, so we moved to New York until I was about 13. We then went back to Bolivia and I started at the international school in Santa Cruz, before moving onto La Paz (capital of Bolivia). At 18, I went to study in Germany, as I speak German.
I then moved to Switzerland where I was working in private banking, then as a head-hunter, and back to private banking. This is where I met my husband… and he brought me to Monaco, though our first dates were not ideal. We didn’t really match. But after six months, he proposed and we moved to Monaco.
I did know Monaco because my dad lived in Nice and he brought me here where I saw the cathedral, the palace, the aquarium… so I knew Monaco, but I didn’t come looking for Monaco. I’ve made my life here and made amazing friends. It also slowed me down being here. I wasn’t constantly running after the next big position. I have three kids, I had to settle down, but I must say, I found myself in Monaco.
Daniela Spanier (centre) at the ‘A Story of consciousness, connection and balance’ gala in 2021
It must have been difficult to go from a very academic, female-driven family, and the banking industry in Zurich, to a place like Monaco where your focus was being a mum. How have you managed to balance that innate drive to succeed with the reality of what is here in Monaco?
It was difficult for me to find value as a female, because I always competed with men. I took on men’s roles, but I still am quite feminine and sensitive and emotional… so it has been a release, though at the beginning it was difficult. When I first arrived, there wasn’t anything for children, either, they didn’t have ‘Munchkins’.
It was liberating, but it took years. At the beginning, I didn’t speak a word of French. With nothing to do for children, it was boring and quite shocking because when I walked down the street I didn’t see any men. I saw only women with babies at the park.
After a few years, I learned French and ‘Munchkins’ opened and I started making friends and it was nice. I accepted my role. My husband was always travelling so it wasn’t easy.
In 2017, I met these three Latina girls and we were like, ‘Why don’t we open an association?’ For me, after five years in Monaco, I felt like I was going to have a chance to “be” professionally something.
Can you tell us about the Mystical Bolivia gala?
The AMLA Gala events honour a different Latin American country every year. This year in 2022 we will immerse Monegasque and international guests in the unique DNA of the Bolivian cultural melting pot.
We are bringing No Finish Line (NFL) to Bolivia next year, so we’re exporting Monaco to Latin America at the gala so people can see what Bolivia is really like.
The gala will be held on 17th September at the emblematic Monaco Yacht Club, starting with a sunset cocktail with Bolivian drinks, traditional cocktails and live cooking by Bolivian barmen and chefs who will be happy to tell our guests the stories behind them, just as the artists attending the auction will do.
We will also connect by Zoom to the No Finish Line organisers in Santa Cruz, who will be launching the NFL during the international exhibition Expo 2022. It will be an opportunity to introduce our iconic NFL Ambassadors living in different parts of the world.
Cocktails will be followed by a dinner animated with folkloric dances (los Tinkus, la Diablada, los Caporales, los Tobas), a fashion show, unique music performances, more storytelllng by our celebrities and lots of fun discovering and sharing culture.
Voyage to Colombia gala in 2019
Why did you create the AMLA association?
I am privileged to have been able to study and have parents who pushed me to try things and grow. So, I wanted to give something back. I’m a proud Latina and I’m also aware there are some cliches. Even though in Monaco it is much less, you do experience a little bit of racism and categorisation being Latina. I had to clarify that there are Latinos in good positions all over thew world. I wanted to be a door between Latin America and Monaco.
We originally wanted to help local charity organisations because we thought it was a good way to make sure the money got to where we wanted it to go. We chose organisations we knew personally, or that had contact with people we knew locally. This means we can hand-pick the little projects we are interested in.
Long term, I hope to one day explore economic options. A dream is to send a Monaco delegation to Bolivia, like they did with Brazil; to look at us as access to Latin America.
How are you building the profile of AMLA?
Building a community through an association is difficult. AMLA has been successful because of the quality of the events we do. Our events don’t make people feel like they are there to impress or to be seen. People are literally there to have fun. We want to be open to everyone! We want people to experience the Latin American way… being amongst friends, listening to nice music, with good cocktails, decorations and other nice people. The idea is to awaken interest in Latin America. We do need to position ourselves as more than just parties though, and this is the next challenge.
Moving forward?
I see myself as a window to an association with a proven track record. I want to build membership, anyone can join, you don’t have to be from Latin America. The idea is to say ‘you come to AMLA, and AMLA hooks you up with the world’.
By Cassandra Tanti & Stephanie Horsman
Nice airport cuts waste by donating confiscated items
For the last three months, banned items confiscated from passengers at security checkpoints at Nice Airport have been handed over to the charity Restos du Coeur rather than being binned as waste.
Since 2006, airline passengers attempting to go through security with containers holding liquid of more than 100 millilitres have been confiscated, whether it be water, perfumes, toiletries or alcohol, as well as certain foodstuffs and items such as knives and aerosol cans. This leads to tons of perfectly good, brand new products being put into landfills or otherwise destroyed, a waste by any standard.
In an attempt to stop this practice, Nice Airport has agreed with charity Restos du Coeur to donate suitable unused items. Teams from the charity come to the airport twice a week to collect between 70 and 100 kilos of products which are then redistributed.
“In normal years, Terminal 2 alone removes 120,000 items and groceries from baggage. Half could be donated to charity instead of being destroyed.” Aymeric Staub, an airport spokesman for the Cote d’Azur, said.
The system is only currently up and running in Terminal 2, though negotiations are underway with the security company who manages Terminal 1 to incorporate the practice also. If an agreement is settled on, it is estimated that the collection volume would double.
This redistribution system is the first for France airports, though if successful, it is hoped that it will catch on in other places as well.
Following a busy month of May, the circulation of Covid-19 in the Principality has begun a steady rise after falling to its lowest rate in six months.
According to the government’s weekly Covid communication, there were 1,812 PCR and antigen tests conducted in Monaco from 6th to 12th June. Of those, 15.2% were positive, boosting the incidence rate to 467, compared to 347 the previous week, and 148 the week before that. Circulation had not been so low since November 2021.
Coincidentally, these figures are taken from the week after the Monaco Grand Prix, during which thousands of people descended upon the Principality, as well as the busy Historic Grand Prix, and the ePrix, all of which attracted large crowds.
Meanwhile, hospitalisations have also increased. There are currently 16 Covid-positive patients in the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, including 12 residents. There are still no patients in the ICU, however, which has been the case for a number of weeks now.
Additionally, 103 Covid-positive residents are being cared for by the Home Monitoring System.
The last “Covid wave” in Monaco reached its peak in the last week of March 2022, when the incidence rate hit 1,050, before it began a steady decline and the government relaxed most of its restrictions.
Photo by Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life
CHPG gifted with CaliNange device for hospitalised newborns
The CHPG has been given a new device designed to maintain the connection between parents and hospitalised newborns, easing the worries of parents and the stresses on fragile babies.
Every year, 8% of babies are born prematurely. These tiny infants are usually hospitalised, with stays ranging on average from two weeks to three months – a period that is difficult for both parents and the child, who requires contact in order to thrive.
Though parents are allowed to stay nearby, and there are methods such as “kangaroo care” whereby the baby and parent share skin to skin contact for short periods, it is no substitute for the interactions that would normally take place in a non-hospital setting.
This problem was brought to light for Aurore Saintigny when her baby was born prematurely. It inspired her to create a new way of ensuring that preemies get the most possible contact from parents and loved ones, even when circumstances prevent actual contact.
Called CaliNange, the system, which works without screens or waves, comes in the form of a small heart-shaped device that is personalised for each child. It allows the baby to hear its parents’ voices and the heartbeat of a loved one, to smell its mother’s scent on a cloth cover that encapsulates the device, and provides a soft and light environment.
This approach has many benefits including the improvement of a child’s well-being when close proximity isn’t an option, prolonging the bonding time through the presence of one or both parents, as well as being a source of comfort to those children who are hospitalised for long periods for other illnesses.
“It seemed to me completely in line with what Princess Grace achieved and carried out, to propose the CaliNange to the team of Dr Haas at the CPHG to maintain the parent-child bond,” said Carla Shechter-Fadoul, President of Monaco Liver Disorder-MLD, who brought the system to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre on Monday 13th June. “Family is essential for the improvement of the development and the follow-up of the child.
“Giving additional means of comfort and relief to caregivers during painful care is also one of our strongest wishes. It is not always possible to take your child in your arms when they need it, which is why discovering and supporting a solution that allows the parent to be as close as possible to their baby, even in an incubator, even in a sterile bubble, even in the operating room or for paediatric services, immediately spoke to us.”
CaliNange is produced in France, with 98% of the pieces sourced in a radius of less than 100 kilometres. The components are all washable and sterilisable and are compatible for use in an incubator. Safety has been tested in independent labs for both medical and home use and the lighting is suitable for a newborn, using comparable radiation to the baby’s belly exposed to full sun. Sounds are emitted at frequencies that are soothing to the child and are created according to algorithms. For more info, visit the website at www.calinescence.fr.
Top photo: Presentation of the CalinAnge by Carla Shechter, President of Monaco Liver Disorder-MLD, to Dr Hervé Haas, head of the Paediatric department of the CHPG, by Clement Martinez
AS Monaco Basketball face Lyon-Villeurbanne in the first-leg of Betclic Elite final on Wednesday, attempting to exact their revenge on the opponent that defeated them in the 2019 final.
Prior to the crucial clash, Roca Team head coach Sasa Obradovic and Yakuba Ouattara spoke to the press on Tuesday, as they prepare to depart for the Astroballe.
Obradovic told Monaco Life that he understands the importance of the fixture. “My personal feeling is we all understand the importance of the games and the importance of winning the title, for the fans, for the people of Monaco. For them, you have to be at the maximum to allow yourself a chance to win.”
On a personal level, Obradovic isn’t changing his methods in the build-up to the match. He was manager of the Roca Team in 2019, when, in a thrilling five-leg tie, Lyon defeated Monaco 3-2 to deny his side the title.
“We can’t overload them with information. We already know our opponent. Adding too many new things can be confusing. We have to keep it simple and focus on our strengths and what we can do,” said Obradovic.
The Serbian coach added, “Even though this could be their first title in the French league, on the second attempt, I never put too much pressure on myself. I’ve done everything that is in my own power, in terms of preparation and dedication. Each day I show it.”
Asvel have a culture of winning. They have won the title twenty times, whilst Monaco are hoping to do so for the first time. Nevertheless, Obradovic doesn’t see his side as the under-dogs. He told Monaco Life, “I wouldn’t give one side more of a chance than the other. No-one has the role of the favourite, no matter what is on the paper. If you match up the energy and the physicality then we’ll have a better chance.”
Roca Team player Ouattara told Monaco Life that he agrees with his coach’s evaluation, saying, “It’s 50/50. There isn’t really a favourite. ASVEL has a court advantage to begin with. It’s the team that wants it the most that will win the final.”
The weight of history weighs on the shoulders of the Roca Team, whilst they also go into the tie having had less time to prepare. Asvel wrapped up their semi-final with three consecutive victories, whilst Monaco were forced to play another match against Pau-Lacq-Orthez as they eventually overcame their opponents 3-1.
“The extra match against Pau doesn’t need to be a factor,” said Obradovic. Ouattara meanwhile, said that their decreased preparation time could be spun two ways. Asked by Monaco Life whether they were at a disadvantage, he said, “I would say yes and no. Yes because we’ll have to adjust to having less time to prepare. But also no because we keep more rhythm going into this match against Asvel.”
After a spectacular season that saw a Euroleague adventure that surpassed all expectations, Monaco now have the chance to finish the season with silverware, and they are ready to fight for it. “I know that it will be a great battle. It will be a fight,” said Ouattara.
Monaco will be hoping to vanquish the memories of 2019 with a revenge victory over Asvel, with the first leg in Lyon on Wednesday before basketball returns to the Principality next Monday.
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