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Arab News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Art Week Riyadh: A ‘constellation of events' that ‘pushes the boundaries'
RIYADH: The inaugural Art Week Riyadh begins April 6 in the Kingdom's capital. A non-commercial initiative, AWR builds on the city's already thriving art community while inviting international artists and art lovers to join in. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Princess Adwaa bint Yazeed bin Abdullah, head of Art Week Riyadh, explained the event's inspirations and goals in a statement, writing: 'Art Week Riyadh is born from a belief in the power of art to inspire, challenge, and connect us. Riyadh has long been a city of growth, and through this platform we hope to contribute to its cultural future — one that is open, dynamic and deeply rooted in both heritage and innovation.' A post shared by (@visualarts_moc) Curator Vittoria Mataresse heads a team including associate curators Basma Harasani and Victoria Gandit-Lelandais and public program curator Shumon Basar who have worked tirelessly across multiple time zones over several months to bring the event to life. 'It was very important for us to be playful and not have the kind of rigid structure or format we're used to seeing. Art Week Riyadh sits in between an exhibition and an art fair. It's really a constellation of events,' Matarrese tells Arab News. 'Unlike major art events that often impose universal themes and rely on globally established artists, we wanted to work within the frame of a regional art ecosystem, embracing the textures, the urgencies, the sensibilities of the Arabian Peninsula. We are trying to retrace something which is very specific and, in this way, we propose a critical departure (from the normal) format.' The theme of AWR's inaugural edition is 'At the Edge' and the event brings together more than 45 galleries from the Kingdom, the wider Arab world, and beyond. There are three main sub-themes: 'Everyday Life,' 'Landscapes,' and 'Motifs.' JAX District in Diriyah will host three major exhibitions offering an expansive insight into Saudi Arabia's cultural identity. A number of established Saudi artists whose studios are based in JAX will also be opening their doors to the public. Meanwhile, in central Riyadh, more than 15 galleries housed in the Al-Mousa Center will present exhibitions, and a wider program across the city will feature several talks and collaborations. Gandit-Lelandais, who has worked in the region for more than two decades focusing on contemporary Arab art, tells Arab News: 'Art Week Riyadh really is different, because the market and the ecosystem is different. I think it's about making people stop implementing the European and American formats into different places because they don't have to fit — the format can be adapted.' A post shared by Vittoria Matarrese (@vittoria_matarrese) The team have designed the event as 'an umbrella for everyone to gather under,' Gandit-Lelandais says. 'It is inclusive and it's meant to be niche — it is for the public, and for the art enthusiasts and for the collectors. 'With Riyadh growing so fast, the kind of dialogues that we have built are so important to bring people here, but not with a Western look at how art should be,' she adds. Harasani, the lone Saudi in the curatorial team, tells Arab News: 'I'm really excited to link our local artists and our local scene (with the world). I think an educational foundation is super-exciting and super-necessary at this time for artists, art practitioners, young collectors and everyone that comes under that umbrella. We wanted to allow these generations of artists from Saudi Arabia to narrate themselves, beyond the usual framework.' While none of the curators live in Riyadh, they all offer a nuanced and sensitive take on the capital. 'I've been working in Riyadh so much that it does feel like a second home,' Harasani says. 'Riyadh is culturally different from Jeddah, where I'm from, and it was interesting to delve into the art scene. I thought it would be similar to the Hajazi scene, but it's completely different. It was a massive learning experience for me to see that — given that we're all from Saudi — there are so many different ways of working, ways of producing, ways of communicating.' Riyadh's rapid expansion, both physically and culturally, over the past decade contributes to the richness and diversity on show at AWR, the curators say. 'That's the beauty of the Middle East, 10 years here is 100 years elsewhere,' Matarrese says. 'I think what's really smart about what Saudi is doing right now is they've learned from other people's mistakes and they're looking at how to navigate this in a better way. 'There's one thing that is important in the DNA of what we are doing,' she continues. 'Our visitors are not going to know what to expect. We really pushed the boundaries of what this could be showing; we are trying to deconstruct the conventional display models, to experiment with something else and re-articulate the dialogue between the different parts of the art world.' For Harasani, the event is another marker of the artistic progress that has been made in the Kingdom in recent years. 'This did not exist when I was growing up,' she says. 'The fact that we can see our dreams come to fruition now — and (see) bigger projects like Art Week Riyadh — I feel very lucky and privileged to be a part of that.'
Bloomberg
03-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Navigating Art Market Pitfalls With a Citi Adviser
A duct-taped banana, a glass-encased tiger shark, a three-meter balloon dog – all selling for millions of dollars. For centuries, people have invested in art and their creators, with modern investors adding these 'alternative assets' to portfolios. But global art auction turnover fell by about a third to $9.9 billion last year, according to Artmarket. It's also an increasingly tricky industry to navigate, with many sales private and some high risk, and scams not uncommon. So what are the wealthy buying these days, how safe are these investments, and what should they expect in terms of return? John Lee and Katia Dmitrieva sit down with Betsy Bickar, senior vice president at Citigroup private bank's art advisory unit. The episode was recorded on March 25, prior to Art Basel Hong Kong, part of the city's Art Week.
South China Morning Post
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
As Art Basel arrives, we explore the intersection of fashion and art, in conversation with Cheruby founder Cherry Xu, Gregory de la Hogue Moran of Anest Collective, and Meanswhile's Naohiro Fujisaki
Since Art Basel first arrived in Hong Kong in 2013, the international fair has evolved to become one of the city's premier events for arts and culture. As the centrepiece of Hong Kong Art Week every March and as an event that brings in hordes of buyers, editors, curators and more , it's also become a major attraction for the global fashion crowd. Now, collaborations between the worlds of art and fashion are the rule rather than the exception when it comes to luxury brand activations. Here are three talented tastemakers with exciting art and fashion tie-ins you need to know about for Art Week this year. Cherry Xu, art collector and founder of Cheruby Collector and entrepreneur Cherry Xu. Photo: Handout Advertisement Shanghai-based art collector Cherry Xu represents a new generation of influential entrepreneurs – who are changing the way the art industry operates – as the founder of non-profit organisation Cheruby, which aims to bridge the worlds of fine art and high fashion. 'The name references the Pokemon ,' Xu said in a recent interview ahead of hosting an experimental art performance with Cheruby, held in conjunction with local gallery Current Plans, to usher in Art Basel Hong Kong. The young entrepreneur says she started painting as a child and studied fine arts in college in the United States before moving back to Shanghai, reconnecting with old friends – some of whom are collectors themselves – and striking out on her own. She established Shanghai's Gallery Func back in 2021. Her first purchase for the gallery was a 2020 painting, 'Old Street June 1', by Julian Opie, best known for his association with the New British Sculpture Movement. Cherry Xu with gallery artwork. Photo: Handout In Shanghai , the fashion audience is more active than the art people,' Xu said of the inspiration behind her latest initiative. She's as much a design devotee as she is an art enthusiast, keen to support up-and-coming designers just as she does emerging artists. The opening of Cheruby's physical residency space in Shanghai, now delayed until November, will act as a pop-up for designers and a gallery space for art exhibitions once Xu irons out the details of her new venture. 'For artists, I'm quite knowledgeable about how to run a residency, how to find a curator, but for designers, I'm still talking with Delfina [Foundation, a London-based, arts non-profit body] on how to support them.' But this is far from the first time that Xu has tapped the power of fashion to elevate fine arts beyond the confines of traditional gallery spaces, exhibitions and art institutions. Being based in the East and having studied in the West, the collector works seamlessly to bridge the gap between the two cultures through her multidisciplinary approach, as evidenced by a recent show Xu hosted in Shanghai to introduce the work of Los Angeles-based artist Andrew J. Greene to Chinese audiences. A piece by Los Angeles-based artist Andrew J. Greene. Photo: Handout 'He's had some collaborations with fashion brands before,' says Xu when asked why she approached Greene in the first place. 'He designed the stores for Balenciaga in Milan and the interesting part for me is he's trying to talk about the people who want to buy something, the trends people always like to follow.'
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Beyond Art Basel 2025: 5 Hong Kong events to check out during Art Week, from Kusama, Picasso and antiques at Sotheby's and Asian artists at Art Central, to life-size insects at Pacific Place
International art fair Art Basel Hong Kong is the catalyst for myriad events around town every spring , leading to March being widely known as Arts Month in the city. On top of that, the last week of the month is Hong Kong's own Art Week – a much-anticipated event on the local calendar. Advertisement Though Art Basel is the main event, here's what else not to miss this Art Week. Art Central Works by Soo Kyoung Lee, known for works such as Mieux vaut attendre le printemps will be on view at Art Central. Photo: courtesy of the artist and Gallery CNK This annual art fair has established itself as an independent sister event to Art Basel and an integral part of Art Week, offering a different exhibition experience with its location on the Central Harbourfront. From March 26 to 30, Art Central will feature 108 galleries from around the world, as well as a range of interactive experiences and culinary offerings. These include Studio Central: a unique concept that involves artist and architect Maggie Chu, installation artist Tung Wing Hong, and Boloho, an artist collective based in Guangzhou. Each will set up their own art studio at the Studio Central booth, granting guests a first-hand look at their creative process as they draw inspiration from the landmarks and scenery, as well as their personal connection to Hong Kong's neighbourhoods. United Overseas Bank (UOB), Art Central's lead partner for 2025, also has much in store for the exhibition, including an exclusive ink art installation by local artist Tony Ng Kwun-lun; a 2024 UOB Art in Ink Awards winners' showcase; and Cloudtopia, where participants can create their own cloud-inspired artwork. Advertisement The F&B options are also exciting, as Art Central is working with Black Sheep Restaurants to present the Black Sheep Gallery at Eat Central, serving up bites from some of the group's much-loved eateries: Vietnamese restaurant Chom Chom, izakaya Fukuro and Lebanese eatery Maison Libanaise, with gelato from Messina . Botanical Garden will be mixing drinks, and SoHo House Hong Kong will operate a pop-up bar. 1880 Hong Kong
South China Morning Post
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Kai Tak's heritage takes centre stage at sports park's debut cultural festival
A week-long cultural festival has debuted at Hong Kong's newly minted Kai Tak Sports Park, featuring installations by renowned artists and various programmes, coinciding with a plethora of Art March events taking place across the city. Advertisement The inaugural Kai Tak Art Week, with the theme of 'Hundred Senses', includes offerings such as panel discussions, art workshops and a market. The activities are designed to showcase the site's past and present through four areas: cultural heritage, aviation, sports and community development. 'Through these art and cultural activities, we aim to deepen people's understanding and appreciation of the rich heritage of the Kai Tak area,' a spokesman for the Kai Tak Sports Park Art Week Curatorial Team said on Friday. 'Kai Tak has been a significant microcosm of Hong Kong's history, from the Sung Wong Toi to the aviation development of Kai Tak Airport and the social and cultural stories of the surrounding areas,' the spokesman added. The activities are open to the public until March 27. A sculpture by Australian artist Russell Anderson near the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. Photo: Jelly Tse Organisers of the event said they did not apply for the government's Mega Ace Fund set up to support art and cultural events in the city. Instead, funding was provided by the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited with HSBC and AXA as sponsors, although the cost of the festival was not disclosed.
