Cultural philanthropy is changing. Art collectors, patrons and a young generation of art lovers are curious and hungry for being in-the-know, for gaining direct and exclusive access to artist studios, eminent private collections, out-of-hours curator tours and attending the advanced preview of the preview of an exhibition. I enjoy the lot. However, the full potential of bespoke art engagement is greater. Art enthusiasts see art and culture as part of their lifestyle. They travel globally to see fairs, biennials and key exhibitions. It is only a matter of time that fatigue of content-spread-thin and lack of distinct experiences catch up.
4 to Collect at Paris Internationale
It is Paris art week. Inaugurated 44 years ago, FIAC is the classic afternoon tea affair whilst, in its third edition, Paris Internationale is the bloody mary on the grunge rooftop of a multi-storey car park. Paris Internationale art fair brings together a young generation of 55 galleries and 8 project spaces from 17 countries. With a sense for the surreal and body awareness, these are my highlights.
In the studio with Hannah Brown
“An artist statement is constantly rewritten and almost always out of date because things keep moving on.”
In the studio with Apostolos Georgiou
“Art is a big compromise. It starts with a big lie and the success is to make it as true as possible. The moment that you want to talk about something, it becomes a copy of it. You leave out so many things or you put in many others that don’t exist.”
Artist in Focus: Diango Hernández
It is back-to-school time and I would like to wave the summer goodbye in the gentlest way possible, featuring Cartas y Atardeceres (Letters and Sunsets) by Diango Hernández. The ongoing project exists online. The artist sources photographs of modern architecture and superimposes his characteristic graphic waves inspired by letters as a literary genre as well as actual letters from relevant personalities.
“This is a project proposal, a sort of collage. Something I am currently developing which involves buildings that I consider remarkable. Special places that my imaginary letters just activate.”