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Month: May 2023

The life of Michael McKee: from Monaco Grand Prix to Monaco Fine Arts

by: Stephanie Horsman
17/05/2023
michael mckee monaco

When Formula 1 driver Michael McKee wrote to Prince Rainier III in 1960 asking to open a new gallery in the Principality, no one would have believed the result would be a vibrant place for the contemporary art scene that still thrives today.  

Tales of former racing car drivers abound in a place like Monaco, where the Grand Prix has taken on legends of mythic proportions, but not many have taken such a volte face as Michael McKee.  

RACING YEARS 

McKee was a racing driver of the old school, who took part in the Monaco Grand Prix Junior in 1960, Le Mans and Goodwood, racing alongside the likes of Stirling Moss and Graham Hill. His promising career ended early, not due to a tragedy like many drivers of his time, but due to a flurry of amazing opportunities.  

“At the end of the 1961 racing season, I decided to retire from motor racing,” says McKee in his as-yet unpublished autobiography, “not because I had lost interest, but because I had developed a number of businesses and wanted to expand them for the future.” 

BIRTH OF MONACO FINE ARTS

One of these businesses was a budding career in art. McKee had already dabbled in art in a small way, buying up works by 19th century students from a local art school. This led to the opening of a gallery in Norwich to showcase these and other works, then another in London.

Wanting to expand his horizons, and on a whim knowing that Prince Rainier III was interested in making Monaco a cultural hub, McKee wrote to him and asked if he could open a new gallery in the Principality.

That simple letter made into the hands of the Prince and before long, McKee had been invited to come to Monaco where he met with the Prince’s chief minister, Pierre Notari, who secured a space for him on Casino Square. It was a windowless hole in the wall that had been a former ladies cloakroom for Le Sporting d’Hiver, but McKee knew a good prospect when he saw one and leapt at it.

 

michael mckee monaco
A racing car sponsored by Monaco Fine Arts at a recent Historic Grand Prix in the Principality. Photo supplied and owned by the McKee family

CELEBRITY CLINTELE 

This hole in the wall became Monaco Fine Arts, which opened its door in 1976 with glamourous patrons who included Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, who were great supporters, David Niven, Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant. The gallery featured an eclectic – and exclusive – mix of works by established contemporary artists sharing wall space alongside impressionist masters, such as Renoir. It was soon a place that art lovers from all walks could appreciate.  

That being said, Monaco’s clientele was far different than London’s. Here they wanted more pieces in the modern art vein, which meant McKee had to decide what made the cut.  

“I admit that when it came to choosing works to display in the gallery, I had to rely on nearly 50 years of experience,” said McKee. “Obviously many artists would come into the gallery offering their work. On average, we had five people a week coming in and we probably ended up accepting two a year. I was selling between 80 and 90% of paintings by modern living artists because they were a lot easier. You could ring them up and commission work that exactly suited the client’s needs.” 

The gallery quickly became so popular that McKee was even asked to sponsor a Formula 1 race car driven by Ronnie Petersen at the 1976 Monaco Grand Prix; a rare example of a small private business advertising at an enormous event where big corporate sponsors reign.  

McKee’s interest in racing, and art, continued until his death in 2016 at the age of 82, just a few years after selling Monaco Fine Arts. The building has now been demolished and replaced with One Monte-Carlo, but the gallery still thrives at its location on Avenue Henry Dunant under the direction of Evelina Giannoulidi.  

 

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Photos supplied and owned by the McKee family

Can I water my garden during the drought?

by: Elsa Carpenter
17/05/2023
water garden drought

Monaco Life explains the latest rules and restrictions on watering gardens, potagers and green spaces that are affecting residents in the Principality and the French Riviera. 

Authorities in Monaco recently made the decision to declare and activate a drought plan. Stage Two or the “alerte” level came into force on Saturday 13th May. 

This brings the Principality somewhat into line with much of southern France – and further afield – where water restrictions have been in place since early 2023.  

Alongside new rules on car washing, which is forbidden unless at professional sites with high-pressure equipment and water recycling systems, and boat cleaning, which has been limited to specific time periods, one of the principal targets in Monaco’s restrictions is green spaces.  

Lawns, flower beds and pots 

For areas classed as alert level, which includes Monaco and some parts of the Alpes-Maritimes and Var, watering is only permitted between 8pm and 8am to reduce evaporation. The amount of water used should also be reduced by 20%.  

In the areas that find themselves in an “alerte renforcée” or “crise” classification, watering is banned except for trees and shrubs that have been planted directly in the ground for less than a year and outside of water restrictions. In this case, night-time watering is permitted. 

Vegetable gardens 

Similarly, vegetable gardens and potagers can also only be watered between 8pm and 8am. The difference here is that vegetable plots in the highest “crise” level of water restrictions can continue to be watered at night if they have a drip irrigation system installed.  

Ponds and fountains 

Under Monaco’s new rules, public and private fountains are closed unless they operate “on a closed circuit or using a push button system”. Residents are also banned from filling, topping up or emptying garden ponds unless they important to local wildlife.  

Swimming pools and jacuzzis 

The filling of whirlpools, jacuzzis, paddling pools and public or private swimming pools is now prohibited in Monaco unless “absolutely necessary” or as part of works already underway. Similar rules apply over the border in France.  

 

Read more:

Monaco to impose water restrictions from Saturday

Can I fill up my swimming pool during the drought?

 

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 Photo source: Priscilla du Preez

4.1 magnitude earthquake felt in the south of France

by: Elsa Carpenter
16/05/2023
barcelonnette

An earthquake registering 4.1 on the Richter scale was recorded early on Tuesday morning to the north of Barcelonnette in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It was felt as far south as the Roya Valley above Monaco. 

At 8.24am on Tuesday 16th May, as many were on their way to work or dropping their children at school, an earthquake rumbled five kilometres down beneath the village of Saint-Paul-sur-Ubaye, close to the Italian border and home to some 180 inhabitants.  

Though mild, at a magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale, the earthquake was felt as far to the south as the Roya Valley, which sits just above Menton and to the northeast of Monaco.  

Earthquakes between 4 and 4.9 on the Richter scale are classed as “light”. They are easily felt by those in the region of the quake, but don’t tend to cause any significant damage to infrastructure or threat to life.  

Previous to Tuesday’s tremor, the last earthquake in the area was recorded by the Bureau Central Sismologique Français on Christmas Day in 2022. That event was considerably weaker, at just 1.9 on the Richter scale.  

 

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Photo source: Ubaye – Vallée de Barcelonnette / Facebook

Prince Albert Foundation launches Re.Generation to support the leaders of tomorrow

by: Cassandra Tanti
16/05/2023

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has launched a new programme designed to shape the leaders of tomorrow so they can be equipped with the necessary visionary skills to mould a sustainable planet.

Since its creation in 2006, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has worked in close collaboration with the younger generations, supporting young experts – scientists, activists and entrepreneurs – by awarding scholarships or by direct support for the development of their projects.

In the space of 15 years, this community has grown, integrating an increasing number of talents committed to the fight against climate change, and the preservation of the ocean, the polar regions and living soils.

The next step, according to the Foundation, is to help these remarkable people develop their leadership and amplify their visibility and their impact.

It is with this mission in mind that the ‘Re.Generation Future Leaders’ initiative was designed and built. It revolves around three major objectives: supporting the growth of these future leaders by developing their leadership and communication skills, increasing their international visibility to make their voices heard, and bringing this generation together within a community to pool their efforts and encourage new projects.

A summer campus in Monaco

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will welcome, for two weeks to the Principality, a dozen young talents under the age of 35 who have diverse geographical and professional origins, such as scientists, activists, entrepreneurs and media professionals, reflecting the Foundation’s holistic approach.

The people selected will not only have demonstrated a strong commitment to the preservation of the Planet, but they will also have significant achievements already and a stated ambition to drive change.

The campus programme will include: personalised training aimed at strengthening their leadership and communication skills, provided by the University of Edinburgh and INSEAD; inspiring master classes from renowned personalities such as Alejandro Agag, founder of the Formula-E championship; an exchange at the Prince’s Palace with Prince Albert II of Monaco, sponsor of the initiative; and visits related to the environment as well as networking sessions.

The Foundation will officially introduce the members of the class of 2023 during a press conference on Monday 10th July.

Increasing the visibility of young leaders

The Foundation will then open the doors of its network to these young talents to give them maximum visibility by multiplying the opportunities available to them: speaking at international events, participation in media programs or interviews, and dedicated articles on the Foundation’s communication channels.

“This tailor-made support in communication and public relations is one of the major and differentiating assets of the Re.Generation initiative,” said the Foundation in a press statement. “The Re.Generation network will be active throughout the year to promote exchanges between its members and to stimulate a group dynamic which could give rise to new projects in favour of the protection of the environment.”

The Re.Generation programme has received the backing of National Geographic, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Euronatur, One Young World and Jackson Wild.

“The world urgently needs strong and ethical leadership and One Young World believes that young leaders are best positioned to create this movement for systematic change. With the launch of the Re.Generation Future Leaders program, One Young World is proud to work with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to support the world’s brightest young leaders. Together, we will identify leaders from diverse backgrounds who are protecting the environment. Their dedication and capacity for innovation is key building a sustainable future,” said Kate Robertson, a co-founder of One Young World.

Re.Generation also has the support of the Cuomo Foundation and the Boustany Foundation.

“It is undeniable that sustainability is the crucial issue facing us all and that we have a historic responsibility to equip the world’s youth with the necessary visionary skills. Our partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation began over a decade ago with the IPCC Fellowship Program, and we are delighted to extend our support to their new environmental initiative,” said Elena Cuomo, the president of the Cuomo Foundation.

 

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By Monaco Life with press release. Photo from left to right: Dominic Moross – Mécène Privé, Francisco Diaz – Fondation Cuomo, Olivier Wenden – Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Majid Boustany – Fondation Boustany. Source Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

 

 

 

EU economic outlook: recession has been avoided

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/05/2023
eu economic outlook

The European Union’s economic forecast this spring is decidedly rosier than winter’s, with growth expected to reach 1% in 2023.  

Back in winter 2022, the economic outlook of growth in the European Union (EU) was a not-so-exciting 0.8% for 2023, with 2024’s forecast doubling to 1.6%.  

These figures have since been revised upwards, after the bloc saw a better-than-expected start to the year. Now the forecast for growth is sitting at a solid 1% for 2023 and 2024’s projections at 1.7%. 

GDP UP, ENERGY PRICES DOWN 

Similar upward trends have been shown for gross domestic product (GDP) growth, which is now predicted to be 1.1% this year and 1.6% next. The only rise that is not so welcome is inflationary pressures, which have gone up since winter to an estimated 5.8% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024.  

The brighter picture is thought to be in part due to the ability of the Schengen community to limit the effects of the war in Ukraine, including enduring the energy crisis, which turned out to be more temporary and less dramatic than anticipated thanks to rapid branching out of supply chains and a drop in gas usage.  

“Wholesale prices of gas and electricity in the EU have come down significantly from the peaks of last year, and continued declining even after the winter forecast,” said the EU Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni. “Thanks to effective diversification of supply and a sizeable fall in consumption – also supported by mild winter temperatures – the major concern for the European economy, that is a disruptive shortage of gas supply, did not materialise.” 

LABOUR MARKET STRONG 

The job market’s strength and record low unemployment of 6% in March 2023 have made for a powerful tool in fighting economic slowdown. Employment growth is anticipated to only react slightly to slower growth, and is forecast at 0.5%, before going down slightly in 2024 to 0.4%.  

Wages have gone up since last year, but inflation has chipped away at any gains employees would have seen. On the positive side, with the labour market being tight, more wage hikes are thought to be coming in several countries to ease strain.  

PUBLIC DEFICITS DOWN 

The pandemic and then the energy crisis brought on by the war led to extraordinary public spending, with the EU aggregate government deficit in 2022 at 3.4% of the GDP. This year, with Covid and energy support measures being phased out, the deficits are expected to fall to 3.1% and then to 2.4% in 2024.  

The bottom line: recession has been avoided, growth is subdued but, all in all, economies are bouncing back at a slow and steady pace in the EU, giving reason to be optimistic.  

 

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Photo source: Guillaume Périgois on Unsplash 

Monaco Auction Week: A fresh focus on design in 2023

by: Stephanie Horsman
16/05/2023

Artcurial’s Monaco Auction Week is back this summer with an incredible array of watches, jewellery and handbags, but there’s also a new-for-this-year addition: a design department.  

For some seriously impressive luxury accessories, sculptures and objets d’art, Artcurial’s summer Monaco Auction Week can’t be beat. The event, planned for 16th to 19th July at the Hotel Hermitage, is always a popular occasion, bringing together some of the most exquisite pieces to be had, including rare gems from private collections that haven’t been on the market for years, if ever. 

WATCHES 

The watch auctions are split into two with the men’s timepieces going under the gavel on 16th July at 6pm and the women’s on 17th July at 2pm. 

A plethora of rare and vintage watches will be up for sale, including a 2007 men’s FP JOURNE Tourbillon Souverain platinum wristwatch with power reserves that is estimated to go for €150,000 to €300,000.  

The FP JOURNE Tourbillon Souverain 2007. Photo credit: Artcurial

Le Temps est Féminin, the women’s sale, features a 1968 Daytona Panda with a cream dial and black sub-dials. A piece like this is almost impossible to find except at exclusive events like Monaco Auction Week.  

“For several years, Le Temps est Féminin has established itself as the most glamourous watchmaking event on the French Riviera. Whether it’s the astonishing creativity of the 1950s, or the extravagance of the 1970s, our next sale will discover original pieces that we rarely see appear on the market,” said Marie Sanna-Legrand, Director of the Collection Watchmaking Department at Artcurial. 

JEWELLERY  

Also on 16th and 17th July, at 2pm and 6pm respectively, the auction house will hope to revisit the success of their winter event in January, which saw fine jewellery and stones sales bring in €3.3 million.  

This department is packed with treasures, including a gorgeous platinum ring set with an 8.44 carat pear-shaped diamond, certified colour I with VVS2 purity, with an estimated going price of €60,000 to €80,000.  

“Boucheron, Mauboussin, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Buccelatti, René Boivin, etc… Our next sale already augurs surprises and very good auctions… Lovers of precious stones will be spoiled for choice in the colors: white, blue, red or green,” enthuses Julie Valade, Director of the Artcurial Jewellery Department.  

HANDBAGS 

Hermès and other luxury brands come up on 18th July at 2pm. For two decades, this has been a highlight of the auction season in the Principality and once again, the choices will be unbeatable. One example is a 2018 Hermès limited edition Birkin Touch 30 in sapphire blue bull calf leather and navy blue matte alligator. This elegant bag is set to be sold for between €22,000 and €32,000.  

The 2018 Hermès limited edition Birkin Touch 30. Photo credit: Artcurial

SCULPTURES 

Also on 18th July, at 5pm, the fourth edition of the Monaco Sculptures auction will be held. Artcurial will take over gardens across the Principality in an incredible display of 40 or so pieces that will be on display until the end of July.  

NEW FOR 2023: DESIGN 

Finally on 19th July, a first for Artcurial’s Monaco Auction Week: a design showcase coming from a private collection of transalpine design. More than 90 pieces from architects and designers such as Gio Ponti, Gino Sarfatti, Fausto Melotti and Gabriella Crespi will be up for grabs along with exceptional pieces from the Campana Brothers, such as the Settimio cabinet. Only three of this piece exist, including one on display at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris. 

“It is an honor to present this magnificent collection of Italian design at the Artcurial luxe sales in Monaco,” said Justine Despretz, Artcurial’s Italian Design Consultant. “This collection tells us the story of a woman passionate and in love with art, architecture and design, but above all with Italian know-how and craftsmanship.”  

For a full list of all items at the auction and to see other events hosted by Artcurial, please click here. 

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photos courtesy of Artcurial