Modern Masters: Impressionism and Early 20th Century Art (Selling Exhibition, Hong Kong 26-28 November 2010)

Following the preview that took place in Beijing between the 22nd and the 25th of October, Sotheby's presents an Inaugural Selling Exhibition of Impressionist and Modern Art in Hong Kong.

Comprised of approximately 20 works by many of the most relevant artists active in Europe from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, the "Modern Masters: Impressionism and Early 20th Century Art" selling exhibition is a reply to the increasing interest throughout Asia and especially within China in the field of Impressionist and Modern Art.

The exhibition shows some of the most beloved and important subjects by the respective artists, such as Monet’s Haystacks, Renoir’s Portraits and Bathers and Chagall’s depictions of the Circus.

An in depth view of certain artists such as Picasso, includes works from many of the different phases of his career – his romantic, early Blue Period; the radical experiments
of Cubism which were then followed by the Neoclassicism of the 1920s; a depiction of his most famed lover, Dora Maar; and his late Expressionist paintings created after 1960.

With works priced from US$2 million to $25 million (HK$15.6 to $195 million), some of the highlights of the exhibition are "Mère Tenant un Enfant (La Maternité)" ,1901, by Pablo Picasso; "Jeune Fille aux Cheveux Noirs (Dora Maar)", a portrait of Dora Maar completed by Picasso in 1939; "Les Demoiselles de Giverny", painted by Claude Monet on the Plaine des Ajoux in 1894, and part of his Haystacks series; "Léontine et Coco (Claude Renoir)" by Renoir, depicting an interior scene portraying his son Claude, also known as Coco, in the company of Léontine, a young woman who worked in the Renoir household in the latter part of his life; "Danseuses au Foyer", a vibrant pastel painting by Edgar Degas; "Le Paysan Allongé", a dense and colourful composition where intense colour and spatial experimentation reflect the essence of Chagall's work.

The Modern Masters: Impressionism and Early 20th Century selling exhibition is taking place between the 26th and the 28th of November 2010 (11am - 7pm), at:
Chief Executive Suite,
5/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
1 Harbour Road, Wanchai

350 EARTH: A Global Scale Art Project

Consisted by monumental instalations created in several countries, the 350 Earth is a worldwide exhibit visible from space and is being documented by satellites moving at 17,000 miles per hour nearly 400 miles above the Earth, operated by Digital Globe.

Bringing together artists and other participants from across the globe, this global art project seeks to call the attention to everyone and especially to politians about the need to take effective measures to preserve our planet and its species.

350 EARTH will take place on the eve of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico where delegates will work to create an international climate treaty.

Founded in 2008 by Bill McKibben and a team of college friends, the 350.org is named after the goal of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere from its current level of 390 parts per million to below 350 ppm, what scientists say is the safe upper limit for the planet.

Irish Women Artists, 1800-2009: Familiar but Unknown

Throughout centuries women artists haven't enjoyed the deserved recognition as their male counterparts, and still today that is evident through acution results.

Names like Sofonisba Anguissola (also spelled Anguisciola), Rosalba Carriera, Rachel Ruysch were important precursors for women's emancipation as artists and the quality of their work conquered due recognition in their time, maybe more than it would in more modern periods.

But we could go further back in time and mention Helena of Egypt, daughter of Timon of Egypt.

Edited by Éimear O’Connor and published by Four Courts Press, the book "Irish Women Artists, 1800-2009: familiar but unknown" seeks to familiarise a wide-ranging readership with the work of many women artists who resided in Ireland, including the names of Miss Battersby, Sister Concepta Lynch OP, Evelyn Gleeson, Gabriel Hayes, Louisa Marchioness of Waterford, Margaret Clarke, Moyra Barry and Nano Reid.

Discussing subjects like the access to professional training, the concept of the ‘amateur’, class structure, the use of feminized language as a means to privilege the work of male artists and artistic concerns with the concepts of Celtic, Irish, national and international, this publication presents an overview about women and the visual arts in Ireland and the critical treatment of Anglo-Irish women artists between 1962 and 1984, as well as the importance of databases in nowadays, offering an insightful information for any art lover and especially for those interested in the development of the arts in Ireland from 1800 to the present.

The Trinity Irish Art Research Centre (triarc) and Four Courts Press will host a public reception to mark the publication of Irish Women Artists at 5.30pm on Tuesday 30 November in the Trinity Long Room Hub, Fellows Square, Trinity College Dublin.

Ms Fiona Ross, Director of the National Library, will launch the book.

Art Basel Miami Beach 2010

Between the 2nd and the 5th of December (media reception is on the 1st) at the Miami Beach Convention Center, takes place the 2010 edition of the Art Basel Miami Beach, the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel and considered the most important art show in the United States.

Art Basel Miami Beach will host more than 250 galleries from around the world, including some of the most famous ones, showing 20th and 21st century artworks by over 2000 international artists, from emerging to renowned ones.

The art fair will also include special exhibition sections and events featuring young galleries, performance art, public art projects and video art.

Parties and crossover events featuring music, film, architecture and design, will also be part of the programme.

Exhibition sites will be located in Miami's Art Deco District.

Other worth visiting events include the top-quality exhibitions in the museums of South Florida and special programmes for art collectors and curators.

The Art Basel Miami Beach 2010 edition is an opportunity for art lovers to keep up to date with the lastest trends of the art world, namely how artists are embracing the new technologies, and to meet them personally, which is always a rewarding experience.

Utrecht and SCAD 7th Annual Self-Portrait Contest

Utrech Art Supplies co-sponsored by Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) presents the 7th Annual Self-Portrait Contest.
The contest is divided into two sections: students currently enrolled in grades 9-11 and grade 12 (seniors), both with a GPA of 2.5 or greater.

Students interested in participating can enter with only one work, which has to be original in order to be considered.
All media, with the exception of cumputer generated artwork, photography and sculpture is eligible.

The Grand Prize winner of the grades 9-11 will win a Full Scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design Summer Seminar all inclusive: Full Tuition, Room, Board & Workshop Supplies. Plus a $300 ArtSmart Gift Card.
Grades 9-11 winners of the 2nd and 3rd prizes will receive a Gift Card in the value of $200 and $100 respectively.

The Grade 12 Grand Prize winner will earn a Featured Artist Profile on utrecht.com, a $500 ArtSmart Gift Card and a SCAD Gift package.

Don't forget to observe the Utrecht 7th Annual Self-Portrait Contest submission guidelines, as failing to do so may void your participation.

Entries must be received by Friday, January 21, 2011 (by midnight EST)

Metro Global Photo Challenge 2010

In some countries the submission of photos for the Metro Global Photo Challenge 2010 is still open.
If you are a creative photographer and want to have your work eventually seen by millions of readers just for participating, this is a competition that you don't want to lose.

There are three categories to choose from: "Emotions", "Favorite Spot" and "Everyday Travel" and the global winner of each category will win a trip for two people to any city where the Metro is published, besides the international exposure through the publication of the winning photographs alongside with an interview in all Metros.
The photos taken during the trip will be published globally as a photo story.

Verify by carefully reading the rules and checking the dates, if you are still in time to enter the Metro Global Photo Challenge 2010 competition, since the deadlines are not the same on every country.

Applications Open for Director at Artspace (Auckland, New Zealand)

With 23 years of existance, Artspace is a leading contemporary art project that usually presents eight exhibitions every year, as well as performances and public programmes.
Recent exhibitions and projects has featured works by Ann Veronica Janssens, Beatriz Santiago Muñoz, Dan Arps, Daniel Knorr, Francis Alÿs, Harun Farocki, Kate Newby, Kim Beom, Koki Tanaka, Layla Rudneva-Mackay, Liam Gillick, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Sean Kerr, Superflex, Shigeyuki Kihara and Tehching Hsieh.

During its history, seven directors have shared their experience and perspective on contemporary art, contributing to the continuous development of this project.

Now Artspace is seeking for a new Director for a three year period starting on April 2011.
With required experience as a curator or initiator of art projects, the successful applicant will own an in-depth knowledge of contemporary practice, strong networks and sector support, good editorial skills, and preferably will hold a post-graduate qualification in a relevant field.

The Director oversees a small team of staff and volunteers, and establishes parterships with cultural and funding agencies, actively encouraging and contributing to the development of the gallery through patronage contacts and public initiatives.
A strategic plan is set by the Board of Trustees, to whom the Director reports.

Applications close 10 December 2010.

"Coca-Cola [4] Large Coca-Cola" by Andy Warhol sold for $35,362,500

On the 9th of November 2010, the Contemporary Art Evening Auction at Sotheby’s in New York reached a total of $222,454,500 (£138,067,589, €160,103,711), with five new artist records established.

But the star of the evening session was Andy Warhol's "Coca-Cola [4] Large Coca-Cola" (1962), an acrylic, pencil and Letraset on canvas (81 3/4 x 56 3/4 in. 207.6 x 144.1 cm.), which surpassed the high estimate ($20/25$ million) to sell for $35,362,500 (price include's buyer's premium).

Warhol's painting, which was the last of four paintings of individual Coca-Cola bottles executed in 1961 and 1962, and the largest of the group, was disputed by eight bidders.

The other highlight of this evening's sale was Mark Rothko's Untitled, a major 1955 painting included in the Abstract Expressionist works and acquired for $22,482,500.

Arte Lisboa 2010 - Contemporary Art Fair

The 10th edition of Arte Lisboa 2010 - Contemporary Art Fair will take place between the 24th and the 28th of November, 2010.

Due to the fact that the NATO summit will be hosted at the International Fair of Lisbon (FIL) facilities during November, this year's event will be shown to the public in the River Pavillion of the Lisbon Congress Center(Pavilhão Rio do Centro de Congressos de Lisboa) located in the Industries Square (Praça das Indústrias)

Projected by the architect Keil do Amaral and inaugurated in 1957, the building has 3800 sqm of open space without any columns, featuring a system of natural light which can be opted out through a blackout system if so desired.

As the only contemporary art fair at national level, Arte Lisboa 2010 will present to the public a selection of 45 galleries (41 in the general programme) showing the work of emerging and seasoned artists in the national market and abroad.

The fair will also include a selection of works from EDP Energias de Portugal Collection and from Fundação PLMJ Video Collection.

Art Collectors, curators and international art critics are guests to the event, which organized with other partners aims to promote the aquisition of the exhibited artworks and provide visits to the city, including to studios and art centers.

Visitors will have the opportunity to attend and interact in discussion panels with the participation of artists, galerists, museum directors, collectors, art critics and other relevant personalities of the art world.

Curated by Filipa Oliveira, the Arte Lisboa 2010 - Contemporary Art Fair offers to the public in general and especially to art lovers, the chance to discover new works of art, in particular from portuguese artists, but also from other countries.

The Preview & Vernissage will take place on November 24 (18:00 - 23:00) and will be open to the general public between the 25 and the 28 (16:00 - 23:00).

The Art Inquirer wishes to thank the information provided by Filipa Lucena (AIP)

Was the "Cadillac Moon 1981" Already Defaced ?

According to news on several publications, The Art Inquirer informed its readers that the painting "Cadillac Moon 1981" by Jean-Michel Basquiat had been scribbled on its lower left side during the retrospective dedicated to the artist at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris.
However, a comment made by Olivier draws the attention to news that contradict the eventual time of that act, where photographs that prove that the scratches were made earlier, quite probably even before the exhibition at the Fondation Beyeler, are mentioned.
The Art Inquirer has contacted the museum and is now waiting for a conclusive answer.

Bronze Statues Stolen in Nijmegen, Netherlands

The City Council of Nijmegen has decided to remove ten bronze statues from their pedestals, following the theft of three bronze statues and another one mistaken for bronze since April this year.
Between the removed ones by the Council is the one of Mariken van Nieumeghen, which normaly stands in the main market square.

The decision was made to preserve those statues that could easily be sawed through.
Substituting the bronze statues for copies made of less expensive materials or embedding GPS chips are being pondered.

With near sixty bronze artworks in public locations, Nijmegen is a city and municipality located in the Gelderland province on the Waal River, Easten Netherlands.
Considered the oldest Dutch city, it celebrated its 2000th anniversary in 2005.

Photo (C) Frans van den Muijsenberg

Basquiat's "Cadillac Moon 1981" Vandalized at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris ?

After the recent theft of five paintings of Braque, Léger, Matisse, Modigliani and Picasso during the night between the 19th and the 20th of May, valued in 100 million euro, and until now not recovered, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris (Musée D'Art Moderne de la ville de Paris) was supposedly victim of another illicit act this last week.

The painting "Cadillac Moon 1981" belonging to Jean-Michel Basquiat, appeared scratched with a couple of small marks on its lower left side, made with a felt tip.

Exhibited since October 15, the painting has now been removed while the investigation takes place.

Mr. Fabrice Hergott, the museum's director, stated in an inconsolable tone that it's a dark period for the museum: "On n'a pas de chance, c'est vraiment la série noire"

Until January 30, 2011, the Museum of Modern Art is dedicating an extensive retrospective about the late American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican origin Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) on occasion of the 50th anniversary of his birth.

Warhol's “Men in Her Life” Sold for $63.4 Million

On the 8th of November, 2010, the black and white painting by Andy Warhol "Men in Her Life" ( Silkscreen and pencil on primed canvas. 84 1/2 x 83 1/4 in. (214.6 x 211.5 cm) from 1962, featuring Elizabeth Taylor walking with both her third husband Mike Todd, seen to the left, and her fourth husband Eddie Fisher, who is seen at the right with his then current wife Debbie Reynolds, sold for $$63,362,500 at the Carte Blanche auction organized by Phillips de Pury & Company in New York.

Previously part of the Mugrabi family private collection, the painting was disputed by two telephone bidders, ending up in the possession of a client brokered by Philippe Ségalot, a French art consultant.

This was the second-highest price paid for a Warhol, after "Green Car Cash (Green Burning Car I)," (1963) sold in 2007 for $71.7 million at Christie's.

Values include the buyer's premium.

Museu da Cidade: " Africa: See You, See Me! "

Promoted by Africa.Cont and curated by Professor Awam Amkpa from New Yok University, the exhibition shows the experience of the african emigrants in Europe, conveying new perspectives about their presence.

With near 100 photos depicting african communities in France, Italy, Spain and with particular focus on some examples happening in Portugal, where the curator established contacts with photographers and associations working in geographic areas with a prominent african presence, the exhibition tells the stories of african emigrants from their unpredictable voyage from Africa to Europe, passing through their partaking in the european society and creation of social bonds.
Among the several works, visitors will have the opportunity to see the black and white photography of Malik Sibidé and Mamadou Mbaye.

Another section will show some of the first etnographic portraits conceiving Africa as an untilled land colonized by european settlers.

The final section highlights the contemporay photos of Africa by non African photographers who share experiences with African artists, transmiting the influence of Africa in art.

África: See You, See Me! can be visited in the Black Pavillion (Pavilhão Preto) of the City Museum (Museu da Cidade) in Lisbon until December 19, 2010 ( Tuesday - Sunday, from 10am - 13pm and 14pm - 18 pm)
Guided tours can be booked by contacting +351 21 817 05 34 or dpc.dga@cm-lisboa.pt.

The exhibition will continue its tour in Accra (Ghana) and Lagos (Nigeria)

COMBO by Blu and David Ellis (2 Times Loop)

COMBO is a collaborative painted animation created in 2009 at the Fame Art Festival in Italy by Blu, author of the famous Muto (a wall-painted stop motion animation) and David Ellis

The Art Inquirer discovered this animation at Boronalli

Artissima 17 International Fair of Contemporary Art in Turin

Between the 5th and 7th of November 2010, takes place in Turin, Italy, the 17th edition of Artissima International Fair of Contemporary Art in Torino.

The previews for the press and for collectors, as well as the vernissage, will happen on the 4th and can be attendend by invitation only.

Under the artistic direction of art critic and independent curator Francesco Manacorda, the fair will host a total of 154 galleries, including a main section featuring some of the most representative galleries from around the world, with 50 from abroad and 49 from Italy.

In its curatorial programme, the contemporary art fair will include for the first time a special section entirely devoted to Design where an event called “Visualising Transformation” will take place outside the premisses.

Part of the programme for its tenth consecutive year, Present Future 2010 will show the work of 15 artists selected by Mai Abu ElDahab, Richard Birkett, Thomas Boutoux, and Luigi Fassi (coordinator), and represented by galleries worldwide.

A jury of international critics and curators consisting of Ann Demeester, Richard Flood, Polly Staple and Adam Szymczyk, will be assigning the illy Present Future Award of €10,000 in cash, awarded to emerging artists under the age of 40.

The winner will have the opportunity to submit a design for the "illy Art Collection" of coffee cups designed by leading artists.

Devoted to international emerging art, Present Future as worked during its existance as a launch pad for the latest generations of talented artists.

The Artissima 17 International Fair of Contemporary Art in Torino will be open all days from 12h00 to 20h00.

Dictionary of Contemporary Art in Italian Sign Language

The Dictionary of Contemporary Art in Italian Sign Language (Dizionario di Arte Contemporanea in Lingua dei Segni Italiana) is a new lexicon containing 80 new specific signs related to contemporay art.

Specifically developed for the deaf, this dictionary has been developed through a collaboration between the Education Department Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art and the Turin Institute of the Deaf, where representatives of both institutions took the task of identifying a specific vocabulary related to contemporary art and not available in Italian Sign Language.

In order to permit a better compehension of the sign, the dictionary presents a summary of the term together with an exemplifying work of art.

Useful not only to deaf people but to everyone, namely cultural related individuals who are interested in understanding the relation between deaf people and art, thus obtaining and providing a more regarding experience, the Dictionary of Contemporary Art in Italian Sign Language (Dizionario di Arte Contemporanea in Lingua dei Segni Italiana) is an innovative project.

Written in italian and english, and published by Umberto Allemandi Editore, Turin, under the patronage of AMACI Association of Italian Contemporary Art Museums, it will be presented at Artissima 17, International Fair of Contemporary Art in Turin, starting on the 5th of November 2010.

The book will be available in Italian bookstores by mid-June and sold online with the ISBN: 978- 88-422-1841-8.

The Silent Evolution by Jason deCaires Taylor

Early this year, The Art Inquirer presented an article about the work of Jason deCaires Taylor, where a reference to The Silent Evolution project was made.
Now the project is almost completed and due to officially open next month.

Consisted of 403 life-size fugures and occupying an area of approximately 420 square meters, The Silent Evolution (La Evolución Silensiosa) besides its aesthetical component has in its purpose to permit the formation of an artificial reef in Cancun, Mexico.

This installation is part of the underwater museum called MUSA (Museo Subacuático de Arte) a project founded by Jaime Gonzalez Cano of The National Marine Park, Roberto Diaz of The Cancun Nautical Association and Jason deCaires Taylor, located in the waters surrounding Cancun, Isla Mujeres and Punta Nizuc.