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Month: July 2023

Discover the world through the eyes of Mary Ronayne at Monaco Art Week

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/07/2023
mary ronayne monaco

Carefree and blithe at first glance, but rich in allegory and satire when you take a second look, Mary Ronayne’s solo exhibit at YellowKorner certainly stands out from the crowd. Experience her work for yourself at Monaco Art Week. 

Mary Ronayne’s solo exhibition at the YellowKorner gallery opened just in time to entice the first avid art lovers descending on the Principality for Monaco Art Week, which began on Tuesday 4th and runs until Sunday 9th July.  

Found in the Carré d’Or, at 1 Avenue Henry Dunant, YellowKorner Monte-Carlo has teamed up with House Of Fine Art (HOFA), a London-based gallery, to exhibit the works of this up-and-coming talent, who has come to the Principality on the back of a sell-out show in London. 

HOFA has described the Irish-artist’s works as “a tribute to life… even when their undercurrent of Hogarthian satire and allegory are hard to deny”.  

This phrase neatly sums up the Irish artist’s unique approach to her subjects, a style somewhat farcical but undeniably charming.  

“What she does is quite difficult,” said Francesco Marchiaro, HOFA Marketing Director, during a press tour attended by Monaco Life. “She paints with enamel on wooden boards, so not canvas. It is tricky to paint with this medium because it drips, she needs to paint on a flat surface and it needs to all be done at once before it dries… Once you start, you can’t stop. You can’t fix any mistakes.” 

Marchiaro continued, “There’s a lot of symbolism in her pieces, a lot of characters inside, a lot of things happening. The more you look, the more you see.” 

The family theme is prominent in her work, but so are historical narratives as well as opera. Ronayne is also known for taking an older portrait and reworking it in her own independent style.  

Click on the images below for a snapshot of the exhibit and its preview event…

 

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e-Boat Rally captures imaginations at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/07/2023
monaco energy boat challenge

The opening day of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge’s 10th edition came off without a hitch, with Prince Albert II on hand and a brand new event to be enjoyed in the form of the inaugural e-Boat Rally. 

The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge, which kicked off on Wednesday 5th July, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.  

Since its inception, the eco and tech-focused event has been gathering steam to become the leading occasion for the ecologically-minded yachting world to discover what innovative new ideas are in the works from teams of top engineers and designers from all over the planet.  

As President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, Prince Albert II was of course there in person to launch this year’s four-day event, alongside the establishments vice-presidents, Pierre and Andrea Casiraghi. The trio spent a good deal of time on site examining and admiring the entries and talking to competitors. 

Prince Albert photographed in the competing teams’ paddock ahead of the e-Boat Rally. Photo credit: YCM / Studio Borlenghi

A BRAND NEW EVENT 

The first day was marked by the first-ever Yacht Club de Monaco e-Boat Rally, organised in partnership with Aqua superPower. The gathering was a 21-nautical mile endeavour from Monaco to Ventimiglia and back.  

“Monaco was the first to recognise the potential of electric propulsion and [its] capacity to transform the yachting industry,” said Luisa Bonello, the co-founder of Aqua superPower. “Aqua supports the Yacht Club de Monaco in its efforts to progress this vision by working with all electric boat brands to create the infrastructure that will make electric boat navigation immediately possible.” 

To accommodate the boats, an e-Dock, a specially designed bamboo pontoon equipped with AC and DC chargers able to supply fast power to more than 20 boats at the same time, was unveiled on the waters off the Yacht Club de Monaco. It will act as a fast-charging floating platform for DC compatible boats. 

The 46 teams competing at the inaugural e-Boat Rally raced from Monaco to Ventimiglia and back. Photo credit: YCM / Studio Borlenghi

FANTASTIC TURNOUT 

The event has attracted 46 teams representing 21 countries and 31 universities, who all used a variety of different forms of sustainable power to propel their boats.  

“We have 46 teams from prestigious universities, but also companies,” said the chairman of the international jury and the director of EODev, Jérémie Lagarrigue. “This year, we have noticed how involved the yachting industry is and that there’s a close relationship between the two worlds. The students are passionate about what they’re doing and [are as] keen to come up with new solutions as the sector is to meet owners needs for something affordable and reliable. Here you will find a whole range of innovations, particularly relating to hydrogen propulsion, battery storage and solar panels across the three categories: Energy Class, Solar Class and Open Sea Class.”  

RACES, CONFERENCES AND MORE

Further races will continue throughout the course of the event, the complete programme for which can be found here.

There are also numerous round tables and conferences, with hot topics such as sustainability and the future of hydrogen power on the schedule. Additionally, the teams themselves will be presenting their projects in a series of “Tech Talks” to the public and any interested parties, where they will discuss their innovations and the technology being used.

A jobs forum and corporate mentoring programme giving students and industry leaders a chance to meet will run alongside the main activities.

Students from dozens of universities worldwide are participating in this year’s “Tech Talks”. Photo credit: Martin Messmer

Click on the images below to see more…

 

 

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Photos credit: YCM / Studio Borlenghi

 

Sotheby’s Monaco announces summer exhibitions: Chagall, jewellery and watches

by: Cassandra Tanti
06/07/2023
sotheby's chagall

This summer, Sotheby’s Monaco will play host to a solo exhibition of 22 exceptional works of art by Marc Chagall, shining a spotlight on the artist’s last three decades spent in the south of France, as well as fine jewellery and luxury watches.  

Marc Chagall’s life-long love affair with the French Riviera sparked a profusion of joyful imagery and rich colour palettes that enriched the figures that populate his beguiling dreamworlds. From the moment he arrived in Vence in 1949, Chagall was captivated by the Mediterranean light, later choosing to settle permanently in Saint Paul de Vence from 1966 to 1985, having divided his time between Russia and France.

In these works on display from 3rd July to 15th September, all of Chagall’s favourite themes are beautifully evoked – from the embracing couple and the blooming bouquet of flowers to the appearance of the Moon and the donkey – whilst being imbued with light and visibility brightened by the influence of the picturesque region and coastal landscape.

Chagall’s L Porteur de Croix will form part of Sotheby’s summer exhibition

Among the key pieces on view is La Sirène au Poète. A quintessentially lyrical work produced in preparation for a lithograph in 1967, it encapsulates Chagall’s love of experimentation and the thorough research he carried out. The central figures – a poet and a siren lost in each other’s gaze – and the double moon are highlighted by the choice of a vivid, contrasting chromatic palette, playing out harmoniously on a large-format.

A further highlight is Le Porteur de Croix, representative of Chagall’s fascination with religion, and particularly the Bible, a source of much inspiration throughout his oeuvre. The work was produced following the publication of the artist’s illustrated Old Testament for legendary art dealer Ambroise Vollard, and harks back to earlier paintings on this theme.

The full list of works on view, all of which were formerly in the artist’s estate, can be found on the website: www.sothebys.com/Monaco.

Hannah Martin’s Ring of Fire

Contemporary jewellers and more 

Alongside the art is a curated edit of luxury pieces available for immediate purchase, including fine jewellery, watches and handbags.

The highlight of the luxury curation is a series of four contemporary jewellery collections by some of the most original and sought-after emerging designers in the world today.

Hannah Martin, Silvia Furmanovich, Lola Fenhirst and MJ Jones are the designers headlining the luxury selling exhibition, contributing nearly 30 pieces collectively that will all be presented for the first time in Monaco.

Beyond the contemporary jewellery selection, the selling exhibition features 10 beautiful fine watches, worth a combined €1.2 million, by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Voutilainen, and several rare handbags by Hèrmes.

 

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Featured image: Chagall – Gouache préparatoire pour la lithographie d’interprétation Sirène au poète; Hannah Martin – Delirium Trance Amulet; Rolex, 6265, yellow gold chronograph wristwatch with champagne dial, circa 1979, €215,000

 

By Monaco Life with press release

 

 

Five of the world’s Top 10 universities are in Europe

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/07/2023
QS World University Rankings eth zurich

European universities have laid claim to half of the Top 10 spots in the latest edition of the well-respected QS World University Rankings. 

According to the landmark 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings, five of the world’s Top 10 universities are to be found in Europe. 

This globally recognised and respected annual assessment features 1,500 institutions and calls on data collected from 17.5 million academic papers as well as the opinions of more than 240,000 faculty members to reach its conclusions, making the rankings an exceptionally thorough appraisal.  

THE TOP OF THE PILE 

As it did in last year’s edition, the top spot goes to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a perfect 100 rating.  

Next come two historic English establishments: Cambridge University, with 99.2, followed closely by Oxford, with 98.9.  

Two more American universities take fourth and fifth place, with Harvard just beating out Stanford with scores of 98.3 and 98.1 respectively.

In sixth is Imperial College London with 97.8, and then comes the only non-British European school to get a look in in the Top 10, ETH Zürich, with a rating of 93.3.

The National University of Singapore achieves eighth place with 92.7, and is notable as the sole Asian institution to reach the upper reaches of the list.  

The Top 10 rounds out with ninth place University College London, which scored 92.4, and the University of California, Berkeley, the only public American school to get top honours, with a 90.4. 

A EUROPEAN-ONLY VIEW 

Other European schools to rank highly include the University of Edinburgh, Université PSL Paris, the University of Manchester, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the Technical University of Munich.  

On the continent, the stand-out feature is a focus on internationalism and international research collaborations.

This is key, said QS Rankings Manager Andrew MacFarlane to Euronews: “To break down the world’s challenges, you’re going to have to work across borders, solve challenges together and be more transparent. And it’s Europe that’s really leading the way on this.” 

 

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Photo credit: ETH Zürich / Alessandro Della Bella

Monte-Carlo Summer Festival: Who’s playing next week and are there still tickets available?

by: Elsa Carpenter
06/07/2023
monte-carlo summer festival norah jones

Starting next Monday, four major concerts will kick off this year’s Monte-Carlo Summer Festival, setting the stage for more than a month of great music at Monaco’s Salle des Étoiles and Opéra Garnier.  

Up first is American crooner Chris Isaak, who will be opening the Société des Bains de Mer-organised festival on Monday 10th July. This is a seated concert within the illustrious Opéra Garnier and a jacket will be required for male guests. The doors open at 8pm and tickets are still available at €120 per person.  

Next up is a big one: the Ricky Martin Symphonic on Tuesday 11th July. This concert will be unlike any previous Ricky Martin performances as the Latin American icon will be backed up by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, led by Yvan Cassar. It will be a dinner show at the Salle des Étoiles, beginning at 8pm. Again, proper attire is required. Tickets cost €400 per person. 

Then on Wednesday 12th July, the timeless tones of Norah Jones will take over the Opéra Garnier for a seated concert from 8pm. Jones has performed many times in Monaco and has a great following within the Principality. Jacket and correct attire are requested, as with the other concerts, and tickets are available for €120 per person.  

Rounding off next week’s performances is the legendary Seal on Sunday 16th July. Known for his ability to flit between genres, the British star will entertain guests at a dinner show within the Salle des Étoiles, with his set starting at 10.30pm but doors opening at 8pm. A dress code will be in place. Tickets are still available at €400. 

Plenty more music and entertainment is in store for concert goers at the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival this summer, which will run until Saturday 19th August. Click here to find out more about the line-up. 

Read more:

Robbie Williams, Seal, Chris Isaak… The full Monte-Carlo Summer Festival line-up is revealed

 

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Photo via Monte-Carlo SBM

Monaco the source of inspiration for George Condo showcase at Hauser & Wirth

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/07/2023

Hauser & Wirth are dedicating the gallery’s artmonte-carlo booth this year to a selection of drawings by George Condo, with a particular focus on pieces created whilst living in the Principality.  

American artist George Condo is a man of many talents. He’s made a name for himself in the art world over several disciples, from painting to sculpture, as well as from printmaking to drawing.  

The 65-year-old currently has a major – and very popular – solo exhibit at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM), which runs until 1st October, but prestigious art gallery Hauser & Wirth are giving fans another chance to admire his works at this weekend’s artmonte-carlo. 

MONACO AS MUSE 

From 7th to 9th July, the gallery’s artmonte-carlo showcase booth will host a series of drawings done by Condo whilst preparing for his NMNM show and during his stay at the Hotel Hermitage in Monaco in May 2023.  

Pieces such as Anger in Monte-Carlo are “directly inspired by the region”, whilst others are homages to past works, such as Scenes from a Ballet and Ballerina Drawing, both references to a stage curtain the artist designed for Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in 1998 as well as costumes and scenography done for the company’s Artistic Director Jean-Christophe Maillot’s Opus 40 ballet in 2000.  

He also drew, quite literally, people on the streets of the Principality with abstract precision and not a little comic relief.  

artmonte-carlo
George Condo, Scenes from a Ballet, 2023 © George Condo, Hauser & Wirth, Jean-Christophe Lett

VISUAL THINKING 

Drawing, or “visual thinking” as Condo refers to it, is the cornerstone of his work. Using traditional techniques to create unconventional pieces filled with human-but-not-quite-human images and a cacophony of colour incongruously splashed onto canvases, he creates spell-binding work that is at once a bit disturbing as well as oddly joyful.  

His exhibition pieces are all in pen, ink and crayon, and are textured and layered to incredible effect.  

ALSO ON… 

In addition to the Condo show, Hauser & Wirth are championing the quirky sculptures and touching poetry of the late American artist John Chamberlain. Drawing from work done in the 1980s, the gallery’s curators have paired artworks with his poetry to dramatic effect.  

Also part of the exhibition is the public statue that sits in the gardens next to the gallery, 2008’s Nightynightcap. The Chamberlain show runs until 2nd September. 

 

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Featured photo: George Condo, Looking Both Ways, 2023