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Q&A with Pablo Picasso’s Grandson
Last week, on a muggy day that felt like last year’s summer, I left my office a little after 3 in the afternoon to scurry down to the Sofitel Hotel which is located a few steps away from the heart of the city, a place otherwise known as Times Square. It was there that I was to preview, and later on, interview the grandson of Pablo Picasso, Olivier Widmaier Picasso. Picasso has a grandson who is also an artist? No, not quite. Although he understandably have a real flair for exquisite art, the 54-year-old Parisian, who was trained as a lawyer, is the author of many books about his celebrated grandfather. He is also a journalist, who is getting ready to release a documentary on Picasso later this year. “Revealed” a new photography exhibition that is currently on display at the lobby of Sofitel New York, is curated by Oliver Widmaier Picasso. All 30 individual photographs were chosen by him, from the archives of Paris March, a weekly french newspaper. These intimate snapshots offer a unique window into the lives of blue chip artists like Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, and of course, Pablo Picasso.High End Weekly™: First of all, congratulations on this exhibition. In “Revealed” one recognized a solid group of global artists, that I myself have admired for decades. How did you come to the initial idea or realization of selecting them?Olivier Widmaier Picasso: Softel and Paris March came to me and offered this unique opportunity to create an energetic ensemble in a very candid manner. Some of these artists are seen in the privacy of their living rooms, others are seen on the streets. The idea was to create an exhibit which portrait those solitary artists, at times, playing with the camera. Some of the artists are a little shy, a little passive even. Other artists like Pablo Picasso, Jeff Koons, Salvador Dali are quite the opposite. Looking at the photographs, it become clear that they are playing with the camera, they found the photographers a bit amusing. One gets the sense that they are showing the photographers what they want them to see. They want to project that they are in control of the situation. Are they revealing themselves? You be the judge.
“Reveled” a photography exhibition curated by Oliver Widmaier PicassoFrom left: French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot, and Pablo PicassoHEW: Have these pictures been shown to the public before?OWP: Of course, they were originally published in Paris Match, but what’s unique about this exhibit is that they have never been shown together in the way that you see them here. Working with my team, it was important to have the juxtaposition of the images right. We wanted to show all the artists together in a way that make the entire tableau “complete”. There are elements of surprise here and there. And at other times, you can easily see the relationship that they have with each other.
René Magritte, and his candelabra, 1965“This is a more innovative way
to showcase individual art to people.
We are so use to going to museums,
or galleries in order to enjoy art.
This exhibit is a new way to show people
a moment of creation, and the intimacy of the artists.”
Olivier Widmaier PicassoHEW: Is there a story behind this curated group of photographs? As the storyteller that you are, was that your intention when you were putting it all together?OWP: I was ready to be discreet behind the power of each picture. I felt quite honored really when I was asked to put the exhibit together. At the same time, my team and I did not want to betray the situation. When you have great artists like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring as the subjects, when putting it all together, I felt that somehow, I was part of each of their history. It was a proud moment for me.
The lobby of Sofitel New York
Jeff Koons“… you also have people who arelooking for emotion – at any price.Even if it is a small price, for a small drawing.”Olivier Widmaier PicassoOWP: You have to be a storyteller. Having a background in television, I’m very aware of the fact that people love a good story. And so in this case, I was thinking we have to make a novel (Smile). Because you know, these artists were very important artists at the beginning of the 20th century, and right until our time.
Salvador Dali pausing with Frederika: “The Queen of Venus”, 1965Think about it. It’s quite extraordinary knowing that there is over 110 years of art between these artists. 110 years! So surely they all have a tremendous story to tell. There are some happy stories, there are some sad stories as well. When you think about Keith Haring… His story is very touching. Here we see him in the photograph as a simple guy, casually dressed. Perhaps he did not realized it at the time how his legacy, his artwork was going to morph to a high magnitude. His story symbolizes a link to AIDS, especially during the 1980s. Keith Haring was so close to the public, he was such a popular artist, even though he had a short career.
Olivier Widmaier Picasso’s latest book – Picasso: Portrait In Time“It was not only aboutthe artists being the subject,but it’s about the photography as well.And so with these multiple layers,you have to be innovative,and careful at the same time.”Olivier Widmaier PicassoHEW: What do you think about the globalization of art?
OWP: It’s a big question, because today in the art market where you have all those auction sales, you have the urgency from new clients. The point is, most people want to buy a “record”. What do I mean by that? Most people don’t want to buy the painting. They want to buy the most expensive painting available for that particular artist, the one which will hold the highest record price. And on the other side, we know that the art world is made of artists, experts, historians, curators, specialists, journalists that are maintaining the art world, which is also a “scientific world”. Therefore, money is the point, but you have to remind yourself that there is emotion. Humans have emotions. We need more than a car, a plane, a painting. Of course, like I said before, you have people who are looking at the “record”, but you also have people who are looking for emotion – at any price. Even if it is a small price, for a small drawing. Having said all that, I’m quite optimistic. Quite optimistic about the art world.Photo credit High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Partying with Picasso
Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat, Balendra NagesvaranLast Wedneday evening, we attended a chic soirée at the Sofitel Hotel. To be sure, the occasion was more special than most. This was the opening cocktail party for “Revealed,” an exhibition curated and presented by Olivier Widmaier Picasso, grandson of Pablo Picasso. Capturing intimate moments from the most famous painters in history, “Revealed” is a compelling photo show that took us behind the scenes of renowned artists and their iconic works. Mr. Picasso handpicked all 30 photographs from the collection of Paris Match, a renowned French weekly magazine. Among the prized photographs that were on display was a black-and-white image of Pablo Picasso eyeing a Dalmatian longing to climb upon his lap; Salvador Dalí seen sitting in an animal exhibit at the Paris Zoo; Jeff Koons styling a BMW for the 24 Hours of Le Mans; Pierre Soulages crouching over a work in progress.
Kees Van Dongen painting a posing Brigitte Bardot; and other striking images depicting Rene Magritte, Marc Chagall, Fernando Botero, Joan Miro, Jean Cocteau, Francis Bacon, and many more. The exhibit is now at the lobby of the Sofitel hotel, whichis located near Times Squares, until the end of August. Then it is off to their various hotelslocated in Washington, Chicago, Canada, and Beverly Hills.Look for High End Weekly’s interview with Mr. Olivier Widmaier Picasso this coming Monday.
Balendra Nagesvaran, Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat
Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat, and Balendra Nagesvaran, Sofitel Luxury Hotels’ general manager and Vice President of Hotel Operations for North America.
Vyna St. Phard, Cynthia Murphy
Laurent-Perrier, one of the event official sponsor
Dominique Colliat, Executive Vice President Hotel Services of Accor North& Central America and Caribbean
Olivier Widmaier Picasso
Olivier Widmaier Picasso
Photo credit Marion Curtis for StarPixAll rights reserved -
A Singular Design Fair Takes Flight
BDDW’s VIP LoungeCollective 2 Design Fair – Part I of IIThe design world has spoken. Collective 2 is the fair to beat! I’ve been talking to various designers, collectors, editors, and design aficionados, both in New York and overseas, and they all had positive comments regarding Steven Learner’s second edition of the Collective Design Fair. Opening Night is usually a strong indicator of a fair’s popularity, and this one was well attended by renowned interior designers like Robert Couturier, Geoffrey Bradfield, Jacques Grange to name a few. One of the highlights that I particularly enjoyed was the solo show of the works by the multi-talented Dutch designerHellaJongerius.And the strong collaboration between gallerists and interior designers.Among the participants: Robert Courturier for Cristina Grajales Gallery; Jonathan Adler for Donzella 20th Century Gallery; David Mann for Maison Gerard; Alan Wanzenberg for 1950; Suchi Reddy for amman//gallery and India Mahdavi for Carwan.
BDDW‘s VIP Lounge
BDDW’s VIP LoungeMay 8 – 11, 2014Photo credit High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Organic Forms as Object d’Art
Joern Lohmann GalleryCollective 2 Design Fair – Part II of II“The international collectors, curators and interior designers that came to Collective 2 Design Fair showed great interest in the contemporary ceramic sculptures and vessels exhibited by J. Lohmann Gallery. Contemporary versions of organic forms are in high demand by taste makers around the world and this trend resulted in very good sales including to a major US Museum and amazing press like the editorial in the WSJ that included the artist Sandra Davolio who is represented by us.” Joern LohmannJ. Lohmann GalleryThese object d’arts certainly have their own tasteful way of enhancing a decorated space. In some cases, they even make the room. These exquisite pieces of ceramics, many of which are from a group of Scandinavian artists that the gallery owner, Joern Lohmann have been working with for a several years, have the means of touching me, in a personal way. Not just because they’re graceful, but their natural sense of morphing into an interior and radiating beauty is something that you have to experience for yourself.
Joern Lohmann
Photo credit High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Men About Town
World renowned artist Wendell Castle looking dapper chic, as usual, during a recentVIP opening at Christie’s“A man should look as if he had brought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them.” Hardy Amies
A Roy Litchtenstein painting at MOMA
John Varvatos Madison Avenue Showroom during Watch Week
Reed Krakoff, New York fashion designer and former executive creative director of Coach, Inc.
Club Monaco
What does your watch says about you? A master watchmaker showing off the good at the John Varvatos flagship store during Madison Avenue Watch Week
F.P. Journe
A Pablo Picasso photograph during the Photography show at thePark Avenue Armory earlier this spring
Hublot
Guys, orange you glad it’s Kartell… and Laufen?
The King’s Choice: Richard Mille‘s spectacular timepiece for the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal
Hublot
The Place Vendome timepiece by Hublot
Tribal art advisor Cole Harrell, standing in front of a Wendell Castle sculpture
from the 1960s, R & Company
Monaco? timepiece from Chopard
A VIP moment at the Hublot’s store during Madison Avenue Watch WeekPhoto credit High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Who Made It To Frieze This Year?
Simon de Pury at Frieze VIP previewFrieze New York 2014 edition sported a glittering array of 190 galleries from 28 countries including global powerhouses David Zwirner, Larry Gagosian, White Box, and Hauser & Wirth as well as emerging galleries temporarily-housed in brilliantly lit, spacious booths . While visitors could arrive at Randall’s Island by car, subway or bike, the most appealing mode of travel is the 20-minute ferry ride up the East River from East 35th Street, a ride akin to taking a ferry to Venice’s biennale. In addition to enjoying paintings, sculpture, and photography from contemporary stars, visitors could spend hours enjoying artist talks, sound installations and special projects.
A bucolic setting made my visit to Frieze feel like a mini-vacation. Site-specific works looped across the grass, and, even on the water. Marie Lorenz, a NY based artist, created a handmade boat that transported guests around Randall’s Island’s shoreline. 50 guests at a time could paddle around together-enjoying the city from an unusual viewpoint.Another playful theme appeared in the form of Allen Ruppersberg’s pop-up, ‘Allen’s Grand Hotel’-allowing a very selected clientele the chance to stay in one of two rooms-the Jesus Room and/the Bridal suite. The tenants, the winners of a phone lottery system, paid $350 per night, but had to be locked inside the rooms for security reasons, until early the next morning (dinner, of course, was included. The original ‘hotel’ was installed in a Los Angeles playhouse in 1971. Day time visitors could could stop for a drink in the ‘lobby’ during the 4-day fair. Adding to the pleasure of viewing extraordinary works of art (Richard Prince, Eric Fischel, Louise Bourgeois, Paul McCarthy, etc.,) there were amazing people-watching opportunities-especially during the VIP preview: A-list actors, stylish collectors , editors, and curators.When energy flagged, visitors could refuel at tempting pop-up restaurants: Momofuku Milk Bar, Frankies Spuntino, and the Fat Radish were favorites. And artist designed T-shirts could be purchased in a mylar-covered lounge. Not-to-be missed in 2015.
British celebrity artist, Tracey Emin at Frieze
Philanthropist Sherry Bronfman
Stacey Engman
Left: Donna Karan’s daughter,Gaby Karan, and her friend
Renowned art advisor Kim Heirston
Joan Jonas’ work shown at the Wilkinson Gallery
London dealer Amanda Wilkinson
Striking art works at Frieze: Paul Mccarthy’s “Snow White” at Hauser & Wirth
Left: Golden Shoes by HAns Peter Feldmann at Galleria Massimo Minini. Right: New York Art dealers, Ellen Donahue and Ronald Sosinski
Al’s Grand Hotel'(1971) re-created with Public Fiction, 2014
Dinning opportunities at Frieze New YorkText and photos by Rose HartmanAll rights reserved -
Decorating Tips from a Showhouse
Greenbaum Interiors, Mansion in May Designer Show HouseIt’s been almost two weeks since the Mansion in May, a magnificent show house, opened its doors to the public in Peapack-Gladstone, New Jersey. And this year, the chosen model home is a 62,000-square-foot Louis XIV Chateau-style mansion known as Blairsden. Surrounded by breathtaking rolling hills, this majestic mansion is made of limestone and brick, and features a linear design that is classically made of tall columns, grand hallways, and elaborate carved mantles and moldings. This masterpiece was designed by the renowned architecture firm Carrere and Hastings, which by the way were also responsible for the construction of the New York Public Library, the Frick mansion on 5th Avenue, the U.S. Senate and House office buildings and several large mansions in Newport, Rhode Island.
This grande dame of beaux arts-style mansion was decorated by approximately 50 designers, one of whom I’m very familiar with his work, James Rixner. James designed the grand salon at Blairsden, a beautiful and bright room which was generously decorated with furniture from the Italian company Columbo Mobili. He used elegant design accents from the legendary glass and lighting company, Baccarat, and finished the room with heavenly textiles from Clarence House.This season, Mansion in May is the show house that is not to be missed. Blairsden is managed by The Women Association, who are now in their 17th year of running this noteworthy charity that benefits the Goryeb Children’s Hosptial at Morristown Medical Center. During their last fund raising for Mansion in May, they’ve raised an impressive $1.2 Million which benefited the expansion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and a new Pediatric Autism and Child Development Center. The Showhouse is open to the general public now until Saturday, May 31, 2014.
Clarence House textiles in one of the guest bedroom
Interior designer James Rixner‘s grand salon
Scott Seibold of Canterbury Design brought to life the kitchen at Blairsden
Photos by High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Old World Glamor at The Met
Best Dressed: Sarah Jessica Parker in an Oscar de la Renta gownAnother year, another fantastic episode for The Met Gala? To be sure, the one that transpired a few hours ago contained more fashion misses than hits.And this was to no one’s surprise.The Met Gala has long proven to be an inflated “Oscars Night Look Alike” affair, especially for “celebrities” who normally would not get the time of day during Hollywood’s most sacred night. And so, before heading home last night, I kept a pulse on social media to see who received the most buzz for their fashion savoir faire. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, of course, but it amazes me to see comments like “fashion slayers” applied to some of the well-known fashion faux pas celebrities that we’re all so use to.Overall, there were way too much T&A on display at the venerable fundraising gala. Not to mention an underwhelming amount of garbs that were either too “safe” or just too “frumpy” for even grandma to wear. A number of household names whom I once praised for their great fashion sense – fell at the wayside. But then again, like show business, easy come, easy go.Belles of the Ball
Stella Tennant in a Burberry gown
Liu Wen
Lauren Santo in Oscar de la Renta
David Beckham in Ralph Lauren, and Victoria Beckham wearing a Victoria Beckham dress
Jessica Pare in a Michael Kors dress
Felicity Jones, Theory by Olivier TheyskensVenerable Eyesores
Tabitha Simmons in Dolce & Gabbana
Lupita Nyong’o in Prada
Jay Z in Givenchy Couture and Beyonce in Givenchy Couture
Chloë Moretz in Chanel
Erykah Badu in Givenchy
Lena Dunham in a Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Dress
Johnny Depp in Ralph Lauren Black Label and Amber Heard wearing a Giambattista Valli Haute Dress
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in Lanvin
(Note: Kanye’s attire was simply too charming for words. I loved it!)
Marion Cotillard in Dior
Rihanna in a Stella McCarthy dressAll images via VOGUE -
Springtime in Paris
Paris in the spring, April 2014Photo credit Sarah Boutinon Tharse for High End Weekly™Yes, today is the 1st of May, and we’re well into spring. At least that’s what Id’ like to believe. Our french correspondent Sarah Boutinon-Tharse has chosen a series of photographs which are in short a study of the iconic monument that we know and love so well – Le tour d’eiffel. Warning, the following images will make you get on the phone and book your next flight to the city of lights.Go #Jetsetter!
above photograph via Etsy
Photos by Sarah Boutinon Tharse for High End Weekly™All rights reserved -
Photography in Motion
Susan Laney/ KOPEIKIN“A picture is a secret about a secret, the more it tells you the less you know.”― Diane Arbus
On The Town by Rose HartmanEach and every April, I look forward to attending AIPAD (the Association of International photo Dealers). As a professional photographer and art lover, AIPAD‘s reputation for the highest quality images never disappoints. As I entered the drill hall of the Park Avenue armory, I was greeted with contemporary work, mid-century classics, and early cameraless works. During the VIP preview, art dealers visited each others’ booths to ogle such works as the U.S. fashion duo, Foremento and Formento (a young married couple who work together) at the Robert Kleingallery; Michael Chelbin’s “Jenya In My Hotel Room” at the Andrea Meislin gallery in NY., Ed Burtansky’s “Rice Terrace3” at the Bryce Wolkowitz gallery; Aldo Sessa’s “American Flag and Statue of Liberty” at the Throckmorton Gallery and Bert Stern’s memorable “The Last Sitting” at Staley-Wise.
Below is a selection of my favorite photo dealers, curators, photographers, and art aficionados.Contributing article from Rose Hartman
Terry Etherton in the Etherton Gallery
Keith De Lillis
Andrea Meislin in front of Miichael Chelbin’s “Jenna In My Hotel Room”
Elliot Erwitt
Bert Stern’s “The Last Sitting” at Staley-Wise
Lesley Martin, Executive Editor at Aperture
F ormento and Formento with gallery dealer, Michele Edelman
Kraige Block in front of Aldo Sessa’s, “The American Flag and The Stature of Liberty”
Elinor Carucci Signs her book,”MOTHER” at the Edwynn Houk Gallery
Ethaline Staley and Taki Wise, co-owners of the Staley-Wise GalleryImages by Rose HartmanAll rights reserved
