AFRICAN ARTISTS’ FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE SECOND EDITION OF ‘DIG WHERE YOU STAND’ | ARTISTIC PRACTICES AS TRANSFORMATIVE VESSELS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

On view in the former colonial palace Palais de Lomé in Togo, the nomadic art exhibition will showcase over 166 artworks by Zanele Muholi, Victor Ehikhamenor, Renzo Martens & CATPC, Michael MacGarry, Kongo Astronauts and Dodji Efoui among other African talents who break away from linear systems and invest back into their communities.

On View: August 12 – December 31, 2023

August 3, 2023 (Lomé, Togo) – Following the successful inaugural edition of the travelling exhibition ‘Dig Where You Stand’ in 2022 in Ghana, African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), a non-profit organization and art space based in Lagos, Nigeria, is proud to announce its second iteration, titled ‘Dig Where You Stand - From Coast to Coast: Seke’. Exploring the regenerative potential of art in Africa and its diasporas, this year’s edition takes place in Lomé, Togo, using art as a restorative medium to investigate the impact of colonial systems in coastal cities and develop new ways of addressing decolonization, restitution, and repatriation. On view from August 12 – December 31, 2023, this year’s edition will be held at the former colonial palace Palais de Lomé, Togo’s first major contemporary art museum, and satellite venues in various locations in Lomé. Curated by Rosemary Esinam Damalie, General Manager and Workshop Coordinator at the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) in Tamale, Ghana, with curatorial advisory from AAF founder Azu Nwagbogu, the exhibition will showcase over 166 artworks from various mediums, including painting, photography, video, sculptures, and installation pieces, presenting new and returning artists including Zanele Muholi, Bright Ackwerh, Joana Choumali and Victo Ehikhamenor, engaging exclusively with artists who break away from linear systems and invest back into their communities.

‘Dig Where You Stand - From Coast to Coast: Seke’ envisions a symbolic ‘Door of Return’ as a ship coming back to Africa. Using the Ewe/Eʋegbe word ‘Seke’ (meaning anchor) as a unifying symbol, the exhibition connects Lomé, Togo, to other Ewe-speaking countries, aligning with the call for African unity. Inspired by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's call for African solidarity, the exhibition explores themes of voyage, displacement, migration, and labor, while addressing the ongoing dialogue of repatriation and restitution. Presenting a multifaceted view of the African continent through visual arts, design and installations, the exhibition showcases the work of African artists with unconventional perspectives.

To broaden accessibility, mobile photo exhibitions, film screenings, and workshops will take place beyond the Palais de Lomé. These initiatives will bring replicas of the exhibition to rural areas, engaging students and teachers in workshops and presenting case studies for inspiration. Texts, captions, and audio will be translated into Ewe, ensuring the participation of local communities in the exhibition. Taking place primarily in the Palais de Lomé, a former symbol of colonial power revived into a contemporary art museum, its transformation strongly aligns with the exhibition’s commitment to decolonization through the restorative power of art. For the next six months, the space will be showcasing works by returning artists from ‘Dig Where You Stand’s inaugural edition, such as Zanele Muholi, Bright Ackwerh, Joana Choumali, Victor Ehikhamenor, Renzo Martens & CATPC, and new participating artists including Michael MacGarry, Kongo Astronauts and Dodji Efoui.

The inaugural edition of ‘Dig Where You Stand’ was conceived as more than just an exhibition. It was the beginning of a cultural experiment to explore the role of art in shifting the decolonial paradigm away from Western museums towards a location-specific, solution-oriented approach. Emphasizing on travel, migration and (dis)placement, artists and local communities examine the economies of the colonial systems that have historically marginalized vulnerable communities and find new methodologies in the art world, creating a toolkit for commencing regenerative economic processes. Held at the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Tamale, Ghana, in 2022, and at the Palais de Lomé, Togo in 2023, ‘Dig Where You Stand’ will continue its journey to other locations across Africa, from Benin and Abidjan to Dakar, Senegal tentatively from 2024 - 2026.

NOTES TO EDITORS:
‘Dig Where You Stand’ will be on view at Palais de Lomé Togo, from August 12 – December 31, 2023.

For more details about Satellite Venues in various locations of Lomé: please follow African Artists’ Foundation on social media for agendas and updates.

Soft Opening: August 12, 2023
Palais de Lomé, Togo | 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Grand Opening: September 15, 2023
Palais de Lomé, Togo | 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Opening Hours:
Palais de Lomé, Togo
Tuesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Address:
382 avenue de la Marina- Entrance at Avenue Sarakawa Lomé, Togo

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS:

Bright Ackwerh, Sika Akpalo, Michael MacGarry, Renzo Martens & CATPC, Joana Choumali, Date Kodjo Amouzou, Dodji Efoui, Camille Tété Azankpo, Victor Ehikhamenor, Tessi Kodjovi, Kongo Astronauts, Kugbe Koffi Apelete (KUKOFF), Kwami Da costa, Leopold Ankude Kossi Krampah (LAKA), Zanele Muholi, Thierry Tomety, Jerry Doe- Orlando, Atisso Goha, Chris Parker Edzordzi Sefogah (MEGBORNA), and Hodin Senyon.

ABOUT ROSEMARY ESINAM DAMALIE:

Rosemary Esinam Damalie (b.1993) in Accra, is an artist and curator based in Accra and Tamale, Ghana. Educated in Fine Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, Damalie's artistic talent flourished in exhibitions such as "Cornfields in Accra" (2016) and "Orderly Disorderly" (2017) organized by blaxTARLINES KUMASI. Recognized as the 2nd runner-up for the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art in 2018, she has made a mark in the local art scene. Damalie serves as the General Manager and Workshop Coordinator at the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA) in Tamale, significantly contributing to retrospectives of esteemed artists and facilitating numerous art workshops. In 2022, she participated in Documenta Fifteen as an artist in residence, stimulating discourse on the theme of education in the art community. Damalie's artistic journey and extensive involvement in the art community speak volumes about her passion, dedication, and profound contributions to the contemporary art scene in Ghana. With her boundless creativity and unwavering commitment to her craft, she continues to inspire and shape the landscape of the art world, both as an artist and curator.

ABOUT AAF:

African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) founded in 2007, Lagos, Nigeria, is a decentralized, multivalent, metamorphic art space that embraces community values, experimental artistic principles in supporting boundary-breaking and artistic ideas. Over the years, AAF has evolved beyond the limiting shell of a non-profit, to embody an art space that is responsive, attuned to social justice issues, ecology, freedom, community initiatives by empowering creative expression.

AAF is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary art, design, and culture through residencies, workshops, innovative exhibitions, and educational programs. We aim to further challenge and inspire our community, unearth and develop more talents while also promoting inclusiveness. Our goal is to be a dynamic and interactive space that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages critical thinking, celebrates community programs and ultimately to become a change-maker through the power of art. Website | Instagram

ABOUT PALAIS DE LOMÉ:

A former colonial palace, serving first as the German, then French governors’ residency from 1905 to 1960, the Palais de Lomé is Togo’s first major contemporary art museum. After being abandoned for 20 years in the 1990s, the majestic 120-year-old building was revived by Togolese artisans and companies into a space that celebrates cultural heritage and empowers artistic expression, acting as a catalyst of hopeful change for a country. Stretching down to the seafront, the Palais’ expansive twenty-seven-acre botanical Park is home to a precious biodiverse environment.

Established in 2019, the Palais de Lomé is a unique art and culture center in West Africa. It mixes heritage, art and biodiversity, and ambitions to “reinvent natural and historical heritage to foster creative talents in Africa” (Sonia Lawson, Founding Director of the Palais de Lomé).

The Palais de Lomé showcases cultural production in visual arts, design, new media, science and technology, culinary arts, performing arts, such as dance, music and theater through diverse settings, exhibition spaces and the many discovery trails that the Park has to offer.

It is a one-of-a-kind space, as Lomé is the only coastal capital city in West Africa to boast such a large Park in a sea-front area. Website | Instagram

The second iteration of 'Dig Where You Stand' at the Palais de Lomé, Togo is:

Supported by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

Supported by Outset Partners

About Outset Contemporary Art Fund:
Established in 2003, Outset Contemporary Art Fund is the leading international, independent charity supporting innovative art projects that engage the widest possible audiences. With a presence in nine countries, the charity has raised over £16 million worldwide in support of the creative ecosystem. Outset is recognised for creating influential models of responsive arts philanthropy with its innovative public-private schemes and initiatives. Practising catalytic philanthropy means not only offering crucial funding support but also activating networks and initiating new relationships and partnerships.

Transformative funding models that Outset has established include:
- the Outset Frieze Tate Fund, inviting international curators to join the Tate in selecting and acquiring 100 works of art over 10 years from Frieze for the Tate Collection;

- Studiomakers, providing new solutions to securing the physical spaces needed for creative production and cultural consumption. The initiative co-founded The Creative Land Trust with the Mayor of London, Arts Council England and Bloomberg Philanthropies, now an independent charity purchasing property to be used as artist studios in perpetuity;

- theVOV, a virtual ecosystem presenting monumental exhibitions for the public to enjoy live and on demand. For the first time, museums and galleries join forces on one centralised digital platform, demonstrating unprecedented solidarity and showing a united front to generate funds for the creative sector, whilst making culture more accessible than ever online.

Outset is powered by inspiration, driven by expertise, renowned for its engagement, and focused on effective energy and ideas, with a commitment to being there at the outset of impactful change.

About Outset Partners:
Established in 2018, the Outset Partners are a dynamic collective of international philanthropists who work together to meet the evolving needs of the global cultural sector. Awarding impactful grants through a consensus-driven process, the partnership has invested over £1million in the creative ecosystem to date.

A diverse group of leaders, the Outset Partners have a marked international profile, including individuals from Brazil, France, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Japan, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, the United States of America and the United Kingdom. All are experts and entrepreneurs in their respective fields of philanthropy, education, the art market, fashion, finance, museums, architecture, and jewellery, amongst many other activities, committed together to championing brave and intelligent projects to provoke discourse and transformation in the creative sector. The application and selection process for the Outset Partners Grants Programme is managed by the Outset team. The group is directed by a Strategy and Research Lead for each cycle, crafting a framework for Outset Partners’ deliberations and decision-making, and supporting their uniquely iterative and consensus-driven approach to funding transformation.

Image Credits:

1. ‘Intrication quantique – Rivière Kwenge, DRCongo’ by Kongo Astronauts, 2021, Courtesy Axis Gallery, NY.

2. AGAMA by Dodji Efoui, 2023, Courtesy of Dodji Efoui.

3. Palais de Lomé building exterior, Courtesy of Studio Erick Saillet

4. Palais de Lomé Park, Courtesy of Studio Erick Saillet

PDF

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARTIST ROLF SACHS DEBUTS EXHIBITION ‘TENDERLY’ PRESENTING A NEW EXPLORATION OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHY OEUVRE

Coinciding with the Lake Como Design Festival, the exhibition marks Sachs' first solo show in Italy, exploring the depths of human experience through photography, where movement and stillness coexist.

On view: September 16 – October 21, 2023

Press Preview: September 15, by appointment only

July 20, 2023 (Como, Italy) – For his inaugural exhibition in Italy, artist Rolf Sachs presents ‘Tenderly,’ unveiling new large-scale photographs from his Moving Stills series presented by Grieder Contemporary, Zürich. On view from September 16 – October 21, 2023, the exhibition marks the gallery’s opening show at Borgovico33, a historic 17th century church in Como, Italy as part of its Autumn satellite program.

The exhibition encapsulates much of Sachs’ enduring artistic interests in materiality and recontextualizing domestic objects, all the while announcing a new departure in his photographic work. Within the Moving Stills series, Tenderly, Threads and Triangle are all examples of the way the artist transforms everyday objects such as pieces of string, a percussion instrument, and a roll of toilet paper, into lively and ambiguous beings, revealing their mysterious alter ego. The resulting works are at times eery and uncanny, verging on the surreal.

The exhibition features 16 works and is conceived in two parts. Five full-scale photographs from the artist’s Tenderly series are shown inside the frescoed nave of the historic deconsecrated church of the Convent of Santa Caterina. This feels particularly apt as these abstract photographs, ripe with cross-like motifs, can be interpreted as secular altarpieces. A selection of more intimately scaled works from his Triangle and Threads series will be shown in the adjoining vaulted, minimalist space. Now a cultural association dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art events, the exhibition is housed in a space with a diverse history. From being a diocesan seminary, deconsecrated and converted into a military barracks to becoming a cotton mill, a grocer’s warehouse and ultimately abandoned, Borgovico33 celebrates its past after a fruitful renovation in 2002 with contemporary art exhibitions.

As often in the artist’s work, the exhibition’s title, ‘Tenderly’ has a double entendre. It expresses Sachs’ overarching artistic interest in making ‘arts emotionnels instead of arts decoratifs’ which invite an empathetic and sensual approach to art and our rapport with one another, while also being the name of a toilet paper brand. The title, therefore, relates to the artist’s desire to experiment with the archetype of the natura morta in this series. ‘Moving’ on the other hand refers to the gesture that the artist makes with his camera, wielding it like a paintbrush and freezing the movement with a single flash. The result blurs the distinction between abstract painting and photography. Injecting movement in the photographic process is one of Rolf’s distinctive gestures which he first experimented with in his Camera in Motion series (2013), where the Engadin landscape was captured from a moving train.

The works in this exhibition are a crystallization of much of Rolf Sachs’ artistic curiosities and illustrate his interest in injecting a soul into lifeless objects that are traditionally disregarded or imperceptible. Keen on incorporating chance and haphazardness in the way he uses his light sources and moves his camera, resulting in unusual visual effects, Sachs finds a certain freedom in letting things fall under the agency of chance, finding the perfect balance between ‘faire et laisser faire’. The artist often plays with antithetical notions in his titles, and in this series, the friction between movement and stillness harks back to his enduring interest in creating a compelling tension between different concepts or materials. Throughout his oeuvre, Sachs has been drawn to the harmony that can be created when two materials or ideas that do not traditionally go together are coupled in a way that creates a sort of alchemy.

‘Tenderly is a poetic and personal show. It’s a pure expression of the fact that I genuinely believe that our personal perception and attitude completely govern how we end up seeing the world. If you channel your creative soul, you can add spirit to situations, positively influence people’s attitudes, or even add unexpected poetry and emotions to banal everyday objects. I made these works at a time when connection and proximity were scarce. With Moving Stills, I hope to move people,’ explains Rolf Sachs.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

‘Tenderly,’ by Rolf Sachs will be on view at Borgovico33 from September 16 – October 21, 2023.

Address:
Borgovico33
Via Borgo Vico, 33, 22100 Como CO, Italy

About the Artist
Rolf Sachs is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer currently based in Rome. He applies a distinctive humane and conceptual approach across a multitude of mediums, ranging from sculpture, photography, and design and through to architectural projects and set designs for opera and ballet. His move to Rome has inspired Sachs to  finally dedicate himself seriously to painting. Since the 1990s, Sachs has challenged preconceived applications of materials, processes, and everyday objects, imbuing them with novel meaning. Deftly employing humour and wit, his work seeks to elicit emotional, sensory reactions. However, his work has nothing of the dryness that is often associated with conceptual art. Rather, it is full of humanity, sensibility, and respect towards the materials he uses. It is poetic, humorous, tongue and cheek, but never irreverent. Currently, his work is particularly focused on exploring the human psyche, people’s character, relationships, soul and spirit.

His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries and museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, the Museum for Applied Art, Cologne, the MAK, Vienna, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Hauser and Wirth, Gstaad and Monika Sprüth, Cologne.

https://rolfsachs.com/

About Grieder Contemporary
Grieder Contemporary was established in 2006 and at first located in Modernist Villa of Damian and Melanie Grieder in Küsnacht/Zurich. After five successful years in its salon venue in Küsnacht, Grieder Contemporary relocated to a new space in Zurich's Seefeld until the end of 2013.

From November 2013 to October 2017, the gallery was located at the heart of Zurich's art scene, at the Löwenbräu art complex. Since its beginning in 2006, Grieder Contemporary carefully broadened its programme and works with international concept-oriented emerging and established artists who redefine and expand definitions of painting and sculpture, film and video, photography and performances.

In Autumn 2017, after extensive renovation and extension by Fuhrimann & Hächler architects, the gallery relocated back to its place of origin. The new monumental annex of the Modernist villa offers extraordinary possibilities for exciting new projects and exhibitions.
https://www.grieder-contemporary.com/

About Borgovico33
Borgovico33 takes its origin from the reconversion of the former church of the Santa Caterina Convent in Como. Built in 1634 on foundations dating from 1200, the church has a varied history: in 1740 a diocesan seminary; deconsecrated in 1800, it is then transformed into a military barracks to subsequently pass on to private hands becoming a cotton mill, a grocer’s warehouse and then totally abandoned. In 1995 Philip and Rosella Rolla purchased a structure in Como built in 1634 upon existing foundations dating from 1200 that had formerly been a church dedicated to Saint Catherine. During the initial cleaning, traces of frescoes were discovered, thus providing a clear direction for the restoration project. In the reconstruction, entrusted to Studio Brambilla Orsoni in Como, the hardest part was minimising the intervention and required work by subtraction. Upon the conversion of the space, completed in 2002, Borgovico 33 was created. Borgovico 33, a non-profit cultural association dedicated to the presentation of contemporary art events was housed in the ex-church. The association was committed to promoting new projects, starting with the photographic exhibition Pino Musi, Giuseppe Terragni, followed by solo exhibitions of works by Elisabeth Scherffig, Daniela De Lorenzo, by architects Giraudi & Wettstein, and by young artists Andrea Crociani, Laura Santamaria and Davide Cascio. The activity of the association concluded with the exhibition dedicated to Franco Vimercati, in collaboration with the Panza Collection.
http://www.bv33.org/

Image credits:

Image 1. Tenderly 5 from Moving Still Series by Rolf Sachs.
Image 2. Interior view of Borgovico33. Photography by Pino Musi.
Image 3. Triangle 3 from Moving Still Series by Rolf Sachs.

PDF

CHYBIK + KRISTOF UNVEIL A PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION ENTRY DESIGN ENRICHING TIRANA’S URBAN LANDSCAPE, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL FABRIC

Selected to participate in the international competition for Tirana's Center of Fairs and Exhibitions and mixed- use development, CHYBIK + KRISTOF unveiled their design for a multifunctional social hub safeguarding the city's identity. Following the competition’s initial selection round including Ensamble Studio, fala atelier, and Zaha Hadid Architects, CHK’s proposal was shortlisted as a finalist along with Studio Fuksas.

July 4, 2023 (Tirana, Albania) – CHYBIK + KRISTOF (CHK) present ODA Tirana, a competition entry for Tirana's Center of Fairs and Exhibitions and mixed-use development international competition, located at the heart of the capital. Inspired by ODA, the traditional space in Albanian culture for welcoming and meeting people, the mixed-use complex features residential, commercial, and public areas, celebrating communal and urban spaces, inviting the people of Tirana to engage with the city's new vibrant multifunctional meeting hub.

The Albanian capital has been growing into a modern and dynamic city for the past decade, following its mission to invest in infrastructure and high-quality space, improving the eminence of life for its residents alongside becoming an attractive point in the Balkans. Underlining the city’s active leadership efforts to elevate Tirana’s urbanism, the Laboratory of Urbanism and Architecture is being created. As a part of this reactivation and redesign of the city's center, establishing cultural and economic importance across the region, CHK's design for the international competition brings a fresh look to the project's central location, emphasizing the city's identity. Contributing to the expansion of communal spirit through a monumental building unifying and honoring the archetype of Albanian architecture, the new development would be nested between the New Boulevard and the New Central Park of Tirana on 10,000 sqm of prime land.

Significantly shaping the future of the capital, ODA Tirana features three towers, two of which are residential, standing at 180 and 160 meters high, while the third one houses offices and a hotel at 100 meters high. Together with a sequence of public and semi-public spaces, the building connects the Boulevard with the central park creating an all-around wholesome voluminous complex. The main point of the development, the exhibition center placed in front of the towers, is designed to be as flexible as possible, quickly transformed from one single vast space to several varied ones in size and scale, with separate entry points. This will enable the center to host various events and exhibitions, ensuring a diverse and lively use of the grand space. The distinguishable red concrete façade draws inspiration from the Albanian building tradition and regional materials, fostering a sense of belonging and familiarity, allowing for easier integration within the local community. This discernable façade comprises pre-set plates, allowing for passive shading and preventing the building from overheating. Certain locally sourced materials, such as stone, are used on some decorative surfaces and in detail, such as paving the piazza between the buildings.

CHK's proposal embodies multifunctional urban spaces, forming a lively meeting hub for Tirana's professionals, cultural enthusiasts, and locals alike through its interior and exterior. As an important marker of Albanian architecture, the arch element is seen in various significant national buildings. CHK places this prominent element as a focal point of the development at its base in the entrance area, providing a wholesome feeling of welcome to its locals all the while serving static purposes. Its monumental design is then replicated in the towers' facades rounded by luscious green terraces.

Rooted in local history and celebrating Albanian's national identity and cultural heritage, ODA Tirana is a multifunctional and harmonious urban meeting place and center at the service of its community, while its timeless design supports the identity of the new neighborhood.

'We are honored to have been a part of this prestigious competition and to have the opportunity to illustrate our vision in forging a landmark that celebrates progress and embraces diversity. Our proposal for Tirana's Center of Fairs and Exhibitions and mixed-use development embodies our belief in creating spaces that inspire, connect, and empower, where they become a catalyst for innovation, cultural exchange, and sustainable growth,' says Michal Kristof, co-founder of CHK.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About CHYBIK + KRISTOF

CHYBIK + KRISTOF is an architecture and urban design practice founded in 2010 by Ondrej Chybik and Michal Kristof. Operating with 60+ international team members and offices in Prague, Brno, and Bratislava, the practice aims at creating bridges between private and public space, transcending generations and societal spheres. Taking into account local histories and environmental specificities, the studio works on a wide array of projects, ranging from urban developments to public and residential buildings. Recent projects include: Lahofer Winery (CZ), Zvonarka Bus Station (CZ), Multipurpose arena in Jihlava (CZ), Ostrava Tower (CZ), House of Wine (CZ), Sugar Factory (CZ), Pearl Gallery (CZ), Manifesto Market (CZ) and Municipal Affordable Housing (CZ). The studio has been awarded a number of prizes, including the 2019 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record, and was recently amongst the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2019 40 Under 40 Award winners.

chybik-kristof.com

Image credits:

Image 1. Render Exterior View of ODA Tirana’s Exhibition Center. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

Image 2. Render Interior View of ODA Tirana Complex. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

Image 3. Render Exterior View of ODA Tirana Complex. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

PDF

MATSUHISA MYKONOS RESTAURANT CELEBRATES 20 YEARS AT THE BELVEDERE HOTEL IN MYKONOS | TWO DECADES OF INNOVATIVE CULINARY EXCELLENCE

In celebration of its anniversary, a series of renowned Matsuhisa chefs from various restaurants of the group around the globe will join forces to bring gastronomic mastery and craft at the world’s first open-air Matsuhisa restaurant. The restaurant unveils its first alfresco Omakase bar at the end of June, marking a memorable season of celebrations.

June 22, 2023 (Mykonos, Greece) – Matsuhisa Mykonos, the first open-air Matsuhisa restaurant in the world at the Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, celebrates 20 years as the island’s iconic culinary destination. The 2023 season will be marked with special events and prominent visiting current and former Matsuhisa chefs from around the globe, including the renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa himself. Crowned with a jubilant gastronomic week from June 27 – July 2, 2023, this ultimate summertime festivity hosts the first-ever open-air Omakase bar on Belvedere’s picturesque terrace, marking an important milestone for the legendary restaurant which cultivated a brand-new culinary dimension for the Greek island’s social scene and fine dining. Exclusively this year, the restaurant will open its doors to the public earlier than usual, extending its season from April 27 – October 15, 2023, packed with festivities, entertainment, culinary brilliance, and new signature ambiance direction from Arman Naféei.

The grand celebration of Matsuhisa Mykonos' 20th anniversary brings a wind of change, crafting the greatest festivity of iconic Mykonian moments and landmarks so far while introducing a new era of delight to Belvedere. The beautiful scenery of the hotel and Mykonos together with Matsuhisa’s exquisite flavors and aromas create a picturesque ambiance of sophistication and elegance immersed in the celebration of a long-lasting gastronomic delight. As a homage to Belvedere’s vibrant colourways in the midst of traditional Mykonian blues and whites, the exclusive Omakase bar gives a perfect panoramic view of the wonderous golden sunset over the Chora for an unforgettable atmosphere and treasured experience.

As a special treat for the anniversary celebrations, the Belvedere Hotel is crafting a one-of-a-kind Omakase bar on its terrace, offering stunning views of the Aegean Sea while enjoying Matsuhisa’s exquisite tastes. The Japanese term Omakase, meaning ‘I'll leave it up to you,’ represents a traditional Japanese dining style, in which the chef chooses and prepares dishes for the guests based on the day's freshest ingredients. This unique dining concept is an irreplaceable experience, an interactive way to enjoy sensational dishes through the skill and creativity of the master chefs. With a completely open bar, the guests have an exclusive opportunity to engage in conversation with the master chefs, getting to know more about the cooking process and the artistry itself, while the chefs improvise and craft a custom à la carte menu for their guests. With only 10 seats, this up-close and extremely personal dining concept is a true treat for the senses.

The one-of-a-kind Omakase experience will be further enriched with an exclusive star-studded lineup of guest chefs, including the legendary Nobu Matsuhisa, Sabu Hoshino, Hideki Endo, Hideto Lincoln, Tony Vratsanos and Mark Edwards.

To celebrate these two remarkable decades which hailed a new era for the island, the restaurant invites its guests to indulge in an all-immersive experience of unique and authentic Japanese cuisine in the splendor of minimalistic Cycladic design and architecture. The season-long celebration is an homage to Matsuhisa’s dedication to delivering an inspirational and unique atmosphere for its customers.

Opened in 2003 by the world-renowned chef and entrepreneur Nobu Matsuhisa and Belvedere’s owners, the eponymous restaurant is known for its exceptional quality and reputation as one of the best on the island. The beloved restaurant is an exquisite blend of Chef Nobu’s culinary brilliance and Belvedere’s Island charm, embodying a universe of holistic hospitality. Located in the heart of Mykonos at the Hotel’s 200-year-old Mansion Stoupa, Matsuhisa Mykonos is celebrated for its minimalist aesthetic designed by Concept Boarding Architectural Studio, stunning view of the Aegean Sea, cosmopolitan dining refinement, and culinary masterpieces. Continuously pushing the boundaries of traditional Japanese cuisine flavors, the restaurant brought a fresh culinary flair and introduced locals, travelers and food enthusiasts to Nobu’s high- quality gastro experience, known as ‘New Style Japanese cuisine,’ incorporating Japanese and Peruvian influences for exceptional dining experimentation.

Elevating the dining experience, Belvedere Hotel announces its new collaboration with Arman Naféei, the renowned musical tastemaker for a special DJ performance. Known for his brilliant music direction of hotels such as Chateau Marmont, and Chiltern Firehouse and brands such as Chanel, Prada, and Giorgio Armani, Naféei’s vast knowledge and expertise will immerse Matsuhisa’s anniversary and the Belvedere Hotel for the summer season with a fresh ambiance signature, crafting an exceptional world of entertainment, inspiration and elegance. Curated by Naféei specifically for Belvedere’s celebratory season, the hotel’s seasonal music program will feature a stellar lineup of eclectic international DJs fostering a fresh entertainment atmosphere.

To commemorate the special anniversary, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa has extended his growing clothing line ‘Sushi Club’ in collaboration with the brand Stampd to all its resort destinations and one special celebratory edition for Matsuhisa Mykonos. With a wide product range of minimal and clean everyday pieces, including carefully crafted t-shirts, sweatshirts, bomber jackets, and caps, ‘Sushi Club’ is available exclusively at Belvedere Hotel’s boutique from June 2023 in preparation for the summer celebration of Matsuhisa.

Tickets for the special Omakase bar experience are available at 250 euros per person via the website. Additional Matsuhisa Mykonos will be announcing additional special events in light of its season-long celebration.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Guest Chefs Visits:
Nobu Matsuhisa | June 27 – July 2, 2023
Mark Edwards | Former Head Chef at Nobu London Restaurants, recently joined Matsuhisa Europe Restaurants as culinary advisor | June 22 – July 31, 2023
Hideki Endo | Former Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Paris | June 25– July 29, 2023
Hideto Lincoln | Former Senior Sushi Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos and Matsuhisa St. Moritz | June 27 – July 2, 2023
Tony Vratsanos| Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Athens & Former Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos | June 27– July 2, 2023
Saburo Hoshino | Used to work at Matsuhisa Beverly Hills; Former Head Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos and Former Head Chef at Matsuhisa St. Moritz | June 27 - July 2, 2023

International DJ Lineup:
Mia Moretti | June 15 – 21
Camilo Miranda | June 22 – 28
Mafalda | June 29 – July 5
Luca Averna | July 6 – 19
Hilit Kolet | July 20 – 26
Ceri | July 27 – August 2
Renata Do Valle | August 3 – 9
Lou Hayter | August 10 – 16
Marine Neuilly | August 17 – 30
Myriam Stamoulis | August 17 – 30 Fiona Jane | August 31 – September 6

For reservations and more information on Matsuhisa’s 20th anniversary, please visit Belvedere's website here.

Address:
Matsuhisa Mykonos
Belvedere Mykonos
School of Fine Arts District, 84600, Mykonos, Greece

Facebook | Instagram | Belvedere Hotel , @belvederehotel
Facebook | Instagram | Matsuhisa Mykonos, @matsuhisamykonos

Image credits:
Image 1. Installation View of Matsuhisa Mykonos Omakase Bat at Belvedere Hotel Mykonos. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos. Image 2. Installation View of Matsuhisa Mykonos Omakase Bat at Belvedere Hotel Mykonos. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.

PDF

MENEGHETTI WINE HOTEL & WINERY TO OPEN NEW SCULPTURE GARDEN FEATURING ARTWORKS BY CONTEMPORARY ARTIST ARNE QUINZE

Spread across the 120,000 square meters of lush bucolic landscape, the carefully curated exhibition of large-scale sculptures by the Belgian artist perfectly complements the beauty of the Adriatic's untouched nature.

May 30, 2023 (Istria, Croatia) – Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery, a Relais & Chateaux property, nestled in southern Istria in the midst of vineyards and olive groves, announces the opening of its new sculpture garden with a series of monumental sculptures by Belgian contemporary artist Arne Quinze. Set across 120,000 square meters of the recently opened winery and wine complex as well the hotel grounds, the open-air exhibition, curated by Berlin-based art consultant Reiner Opoku, offers an enchanting fusion of contemporary sculpture and rural nature, bringing new colors and light to the property. The inaugural show titled ‘Lupines,’ inspired by the typical flower of southern Istria symbolizing imagination and the cycle of life, will be on view from June 20 – December 2024. The new sculpture garden marks the first of many more exhibitions and cultural programming at the property in a continuous endeavor to present contemporary art in the region.

Surrounded by vast natural landscapes, cultural monuments, and UNESCO world heritage sites, the park provides an immersive experience that harmoniously blends the natural beauty of the hotel’s surrounding vineyards with the artistic vision of Arne Quinze. The Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery, a family-owned estate and unique destination on the Adriatic coast, combines nature, art, gastronomy, and hospitality. Surrounded by an abundance of natural wonders, vineyards, olive groves and the crystal blue Adriatic Sea, the estate evokes the ambiance of its rich history, emulating the Istrian lifestyle, architecture, and local spirit. The central hotel with its surrounding private villas offers views of the historic Islands of Brioni, filled with cultural and historical heritage, bringing the spirit of an undiscovered jewel. With the unveiling of this new sculpture garden, the Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery offers its guests and the local community an unparalleled encounter of art and hospitality in a picturesque setting.

Arne Quinze, renowned for his captivating large-scale public sculptures, has selected exclusive pieces for the new Meneghetti Sculpture Garden. Known for his lively interpretation of nature and all of its mesmerizing cycles, Quinze brings a buoyant air of a transforming garden to Istria. With his use of material, color and organic shapes, the sculptures create a new sense of nature and inspire contemplation at the historic villa. The captivating two to five-meter-tall installations take visitors on a journey of beauty and tranquility in the abundance of lush greenery and spacious countryside adjacent to the hotel. Chroma Lupine Chameleon’s (2019) everchanging metallic blue echoes nature's diversity and beauty of transience, perfectly integrating as the olive garden’s centerpiece alongside Meneghetti’s lush greenery. The park showcases Quinze’s ability to transform masses of aluminum into a series of unique sculptures balancing ideas of beauty and equilibrium.

‘My art is my representation of how I perceive nature. I try to convey the harmony, transience and duality of nature through my work. With my art, I want to immerse the viewer in the unbridled beauty and diversity of nature,’ explains Quinze.

This boutique 58-room hotel tucked into a century-old building made of Istrian white stone expanded its offering by building several new private villas with a range of private amenities, including a pool, garden, in addition to hotel’s spa and signature restaurant only offering locally grown fresh ingredients. The hotel’s entrancing Mediterranean atmosphere is enhanced with a curated selection of Quinze's magnificent works, each carefully placed to enhance the park's natural scenery. The Sculpture Garden represents a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment of Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery to blend art, culture, with hospitality, offering guests an unforgettable sensory experience.

Following the hotel’s annual cultural programming and previous exhibitions dedicated to the region’s prominent contemporary artists such as Dušan Džamonja and Božica Dea Matasić, Meneghetti donated a share of their exhibition sales to select associations promoting young artists, strengthening their commitment to promote and support artistic production.

'Meneghetti is already worldwide known for its subtle luxury embedded in the nature surrounding it. I couldn't think of a better way to compliment the estate even more than by bringing Mr. Quinze's sculptures and placing them throughout the estate. The philosophy behind his art pieces is something we deeply cherish at Meneghetti already and we find this a perfect symbiosis of nature, luxury and art all in the same place,' says Meneghetti’s CEO Miroslav Plišo.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery:
After the Napoleon's wars, when the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy first quietly and then quickly and strongly took over Istria, a smart man called Meneghetti decided to buy many acres of land and start producing food for one simple reason – there were 6 thousand soldiers within 500 m from his estate and he was able to sell them everything that he produced. He started building houses, barns, planting vineyards and olive groves, raising goats and sheep, and hosting Austro-Hungarian officers during their leisure time. It was already then that Stancija Meneghetti began to have a reputation of one of the most beautiful estates on the Adriatic coast, and a few decades later that reputation grew even more. Abandoned by all the former armies, owners, and accidental passers-by, overgrown in Mediterranean underbrush and weeds, it was re-discovered in the early 2000s by Miroslav Plišo and his wife, Romana Kajfež, who were in search of a perfect estate for their enjoyment. There was only one condition - the place had to be located in Istria.

Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery is now a true beauty made of century-old stone, evoking respect towards the tradition of its region. Meneghetti is a symbol of luxury, an oasis of peace and quiet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, with its winery, an outstanding restaurant providing highly personalized service, and premium, world-renowned and award-winning wines and olive oils. It welcomes anyone seeking peace, quiet and high- end service. During the redesign, the highest attention was given to every detail. The final result is the utmost quality and pleasurable aesthetics, both in the flawless interior and magical external environment. Today, Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery is a delightful luxury hotel with 48 accommodation units, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux. Like any real paradise on Earth, this place is hard to find.

Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery

Stancija Meneghetti 1, 52211 Bale, Istria, Croatia

About Arne Quinze:
Born in 1971, Arne Quinze is a Belgian contemporary artist, painter, and sculptor. His work ranges from small drawings and paintings and medium-sized sculptures to massive installations in public spaces around the world with which he aims to generate interaction and dialogue between spectators and jointly encourage them to restore the balance between culture and nature. He always questioned the role of our cities and started his search for cities to become open-air museums. His work quickly evolved from Street Art to Public Art with recurring themes such as social interaction, urbanization, and diversity. Arne Quinze

About Reiner Opoku:
Reiner Opoku is a Berlin-based art consultant and international art mediator. Since the early 1980s, he has curated numerous international art exhibitions and represents a wide range of renowned contemporary artists. Opoku acts as a consultant and initiator to bring artists and the creative world together with institutions, galleries and brands by creating platforms for collaborations, publications and commissions. His office acts as an incubator for the creative industry and its various segments. He was also the founding director of the St. Moritz Art Masters in Switzerland and is co-founder of the NYC-based environmental organization Parley for the Oceans. He is partner and executive producer of the virtual reality production company Mirror+Sparks in Munich and NYC. Office Reiner Opoku

Image Credits:

Image 1. Installation View of Chroma Lupine Chameleon, 2019 by Arne Quinze, at Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery. Aluminium, Acrylic, Concrete base, 260 x 270 x 180 cm. Photography by Dave Bruel.
Image 2. Installation View of Chroma Lupine Sparsiflorus, 2019 by Arne Quinze at Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery, Aluminium, Acrylic, Concrete base, 300 x 100 x 140 cm. Photography by Dave Bruel.

Image 3. Installation View of Lupine 2023 by Arne Quinze at Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery, Aluminium, Acrylic, Concrete base, 190 x 80 x 40 cm. Photography by Dave Bruel.
Image 4. Exterior View of the Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery Estate. Courtesy of Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery.

PDF

CHYBIK + KRISTOF REVIVE AND REINVENT THE HISTORIC BIRTHPLACE OF MODERN GENETICS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

Nestled in the heart of Brno, CZ, CHYBIK + KRISTOF honor a historic greenhouse of St. Augustin Abbey with a novel glass and steel structure deeply rooted in the principles of Gregor Mendel’s legacy in modern genetics, emulating his drawings of the hereditary system.

May 30, 2023 (Brno, Czech Republic) – CHYBIK + KRISTOF (CHK) announce the completion of Mendel’s Greenhouse, an homage to scientist and abbot Gregor Mendel’s work in genetics and contribution to science, culture and humanity. The new Greenhouse is in direct conversation with the original 19th-century greenhouse of St. Augustin Abbey in Brno, CZ, where Mendel conducted his first pioneering experiments. After being swept by a storm in the 1870s, the historical greenhouse is reinvented by CHK for the first time as a pavilion of genetics, commemorating the 200th anniversary of Mendel’s birth.

Built against the backdrop of the centuries-old Abbey, the new structure establishes an important connection between memory and contemporaneity in service to its community. While the exemplary and highly complex design highlights local history and heritage, the Greenhouse concurrently becomes a brand-new public space for strengthening the local social dialogue, combining innovation with respect for the city’s heritage. Underlining the studio’s engagement in spatial transformations and adaptation of existing structures to fit contemporary times, CHK’s redesign of the historic greenhouse honors Mendel’s legacy while cultivating a new social dialogue to emerge in its community preserving a sense of belonging.

The new Greenhouse designed by CHK continues Abbey’s legacy as a center of science and culture, serving various purposes to its community. With a complete glass structure and fully exposed side walls, the structure opens entirely to the greenery outside the monastery, preventing any visual barriers, and inviting visitors to connect with their heritage and discover the world of genetics. Primarily dedicated to the permanent exhibition of the legacy of Gregor Mendel, the Greenhouse fits the current needs of its community and is open for various cultural events such as international conferences, lectures, and exhibitions.

Drawing inspiration from the archival materials and original scheme of the building, CHK’s design sustains the heritage value of the structure replicating its essence, simultaneously adapting it into a contemporary narrative. Following the original ground plan, the new greenhouse fits seamlessly into the existing urban fabric, as the architects’ reinterpretation echoes the orientation, shape and distinct roof of the greenhouse. A key aesthetic, symbolic but also functional novelty is the reimagined supporting steel roof structure, drawing inspiration from Mendel’s three laws of inheritance. The nodes and branches constituting the steel supportive framing are in direct dialogue with his laws, in particular, that of hereditary segregation. Laid bare by the transparency of the glass roof, the structure both embodies and exposes Mendel’s undeniable contribution to modern science through an ultimate design solution. This honorary addition to the greenhouse preserves the integrity of the scientific invention in a resourceful way, both functionally and aesthetically.

From using simple, cost-efficient and recyclable materials such as steel to the installment of low-carbon cooling and heating systems by the concealed structure of heat pumps, the greenhouse follows CHK’s dedication to creating sustainable and environmentally friendly design. A concealed system of heat pumps, shading and heating, located underground, reveal the building’s sustainable scheme, reliant on its adjustable shades and embedded blinds to ensure natural cooling and ventilation in the summer and heating in the winter – thereby mirroring and revisiting the regulative properties of a greenhouse.

Located at the heart of Brno’s historic area, Stare Brno, St. Augustin Abbey dates back to the 14th century, known throughout history as a significant intellectual center in Moravia with remarkable achievements in both the arts and science. This important academic center now houses the cradle of the world of genetics, a restored greenhouse in its garden is where Gregor Mendel, an Augustinian friar at the monastery, spent eight years conducting his experiments, cultivating pea plants to explore their hereditary physical traits. Ultimately functioning as the monk's outdoor laboratory adjacent so closely to the monastery, the greenhouse restored by CHK serves as a physical reminder of the interchange and connection between science and faith, reviving the community through inclusive social dialogue with the preservation of the histories traced in physical remnants of the area.

‘Although Mendel was stigmatized for his origin and faith by the political regimes of the past, our transformation immortalizes and celebrates the abbot’s substantial achievements to society as a reconciliation with the past ultimately cultivating a sense of belonging. The greenhouse revives the area as a beacon of unlikely harmonious bonds working in service of its community,’  says Ondrej Chybik, co-founder of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About CHYBIK + KRISTOF
CHYBIK + KRISTOF is an architecture and urban design practice founded in 2010 by Ondrej Chybik and Michal Kristof. Operating with 60+ international team members and offices in Prague, Brno, and Bratislava, the practice aims at creating bridges between private and public space, transcending generations and societal spheres. Taking into account local histories and environmental specificities, the studio works on a wide array of projects, ranging from urban developments to public and residential buildings. Recent projects include: Lahofer Winery (CZ), Zvonarka Bus Station (CZ), Multipurpose arena in Jihlava (CZ), Ostrava Tower (CZ), House of Wine (CZ), Sugar Factory (CZ), Pearl Gallery (CZ), Manifesto Market (CZ) and Municipal Affordable Housing (CZ). The studio has been awarded a number of prizes, including the 2019 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record, and was recently amongst the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2019 40 Under 40 Award winners.
chybik-kristof.com

Address:

Mendel’s Greenhouse
St. Augustin Abbey, Brno
Mendlovo náměstí 157/1
603 00 Brno
Czech Republic
https://www.opatstvibrno.cz/

Image credits:
Image 1. Exterior View of Mendel’s Greenhouse. Photography by Laurian Ghinițoiu. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.
Image 2. Exterior View of Mendel’s Greenhouse. Photography by Laurian Ghinițoiu. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.
Image 3. Exterior View of Mendel’s Greenhouse. Photography by Laurian Ghinițoiu. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

PDF

BELVEDERE HOTEL MYKONOS RINGS IN A NEW ERA OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, Greece, a treasured member of the Leading Hotels of the World, announces new cultural collaborations with Director of Ambiance Arman Naféei and artist and designer Luke Edward Hall, along with the 20th anniversary celebration of the hotel’s renowned restaurant Matsuhisa Mykonos.

May 24, 2023 (Mykonos, Greece) – The Belvedere Hotel celebrates the 2023 season with a rich cultural direction and festive sentiment, creating a new world where gastronomy, music, and art provide an exciting escape to the dreamy Mykonos. Paving the way for a modern-day era of entertainment at the famed social spot, the hotel celebrates the 20th anniversary of Matsuhisa Mykonos and collaborates with renowned faces of the cultural world, Arman Naféei and Luke Edward Hall, offering its guest a unique and captivating experience of indulgence and discovery. Perched atop Mykonos Town and its vibrant social scene, Belvedere has curated an exclusive lineup of events and novelties for its visitors, awakening the senses and creating lasting memories.

Matsuhisa Mykonos, the first open-air Matsuhisa restaurant in the world at the Belvedere Hotel in Mykonos, celebrates 20 years as the island’s iconic culinary destination, crowned with a jubilant gastronomic week from June 27 – July 2, 2023. Crafting a one-of-a-kind Omakase bar on its terrace, the hotel offers stunning views of the Aegean Sea while enjoying Matsuhisa’s exquisite tastes. The Japanese term Omakase, meaning ‘I'll leave it up to you,’ represents a traditional Japanese dining style, in which the chef chooses and prepares dishes for the guests based on the day's freshest ingredients. With a completely open bar, the guests have an exclusive opportunity to engage in conversation with the master chefs, getting to know more about the cooking process and the artistry itself, while the chefs improvise and craft a custom menu for their guests. The Omakase experience will be further enriched with an exclusive star-studded lineup of guest chefs, including the legendary celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Sabu Hoshino, Hideki Endo, Hideto Lincoln, Tony Vratsanos and Mark Edwards.

Over the last few decades, the family-owned luxury boutique hotel has transformed into a superb social and hospitable experience, setting out to capture a nostalgic glance in pursuit of the elusive Mykonos feeling. The hotel continues to elevate the social experience of its guests for the upcoming season to another level, with exciting new art editions and cultural ambiance set to start a new era of Belvedere’s cultural rebirth.

Elevating the seasonal Mykonian experience, Belvedere Hotel announces its new collaboration with Arman Naféei, the renowned musical tastemaker for a special DJ performance. With his unique title of directeur d’ambiance, Naféei is set to explore and fine-tune the mysterious soundtrack of Mykonos through the famed hotel, ultimately crafting an exciting connection between music and lifestyle. By specializing in music direction, sound design, spatial strategies, and cultural programming, Naféei is crafting the hotel itself as a prime cultural destination in Mykonos, consequently shaping a long-term sound identity for Belvedere, continuing to evolve for years to come. Known for his brilliant music direction of hotels such as Chateau Marmont, and Chiltern Firehouse and brands such as Chanel, Prada, and Giorgio Armani, Naféei’s vast knowledge and expertise will immerse Matsuhisa’s anniversary and the Belvedere Hotel for the summer season with a fresh ambiance signature, crafting an exceptional world of entertainment, inspiration and elegance. Curated by Naféei specifically for Belvedere’s celebratory season, the music program will feature a stellar lineup of extensive international DJs performances, fostering a fresh entertainment atmosphere. From favorites of the fashion industry like Mia Moretti and Lou Hayter to residents of Ibiza’s club scene such as Camilo Miranda and Luca Averna, Belvedere becomes the ultimate destination to experience eclectic summer sounds.

Nestled under the luscious bougainvillea and incredible views, the hotel’s new pool club designed by Conceptboarding becomes an oasis of tranquility and indulgence, perfectly complementing the hotel's dedication to the privacy of its guests. The pool club's new colorful editions of yellow and sapphire blue upholstery, seamlessly integrate modern elegance with the hotel’s timeless charm, as an homage to Belvedere’s vibrant greenery amid traditional Mykonian blues and whites. Further elevating the social experience, Belvedere has secured several tables for the games of chess and backgammon, inviting guests to indulge in thrilling strategic tournaments while basking in the sun-drenched pool area. Following the thread of inspiring cultural collaborations, Belvedere’s new pool club is charmed with a site-specific mural by the British artist and designer, Luke Edward Hall. Characterized by bold and colorful aesthetics drawing inspiration from classical art and design, Hall’s designs range from playful and whimsical to sophisticated and elegant and are infused with his unique personality and love of storytelling. The mural is an homage to the creative ethos of the hotel and, a natural result to a sensory response and feeling that Belvedere and Mykonos bring. The new art piece brings about a sense of conviviality, emphasizing the pool area as a place of enjoyment and relaxation, where people gather. Exploring the myth of Greekness and its contemporary embodiments, Hall narrates an open-ended story at Belvedere, inviting the viewer to actively participate through their gaze and step into their imagination, finishing the story on their terms.

For reservations and more information on Matsuhisa’s 20th Anniversary, please visit Belvedere's website here.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Guest Chefs Visits:
Nobu Matsuhisa | June 27 – July 2, 2023
Mark Edwards | Former Head Chef at Nobu London Restaurants recently joined Matsuhisa Europe Restaurants as culinary advisor | April 17 – May 8, 2023 & June 22 – July 31, 2023
Hideki Endo | Former Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Paris | June 25 – July 29, 2023
Hideto Lincoln | Former Senior Sushi Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos and Matsuhisa St. Moritz | June 27 – July 2, 2023
Tony Vratsanos | Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Athens & Former Executive Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos | June 27– July 2, 2023
Saburo Hoshino | Used to work at Matsuhisa Beverly Hills; Former Head Chef at Matsuhisa Mykonos and Former Head Chef at Matsuhisa St. Moritz | June 27 - July 2, 2023

International DJ Lineup:
Mia Moretti | June 15 – 21
Camilo Miranda | June 22 – 28 Mafalda | June 29 – July 5
Luca Averna | July 6 – 19
Hilit Kolet | July 20 – 26
Ceri | July 27 – August 2
Renata Do Valle | August 3 – 9
Lou Hayter | August 10 – 16
Marine Neuilly | August 17 – 30 Myriam Stamoulis | August 17 – 30 Fiona Jane | August 31 – September 6

Address:
Matsuhisa Mykonos
Belvedere Mykonos
School of Fine Arts District, 84600, Mykonos, Greece

Facebook | Instagram | Belvedere Hotel , @belvederehotel

Facebook | Instagram | Matsuhisa Mykonos, @matsuhisamykonos

Image credits:
1. View of Mural by Luke Edward Hall, photography by Nick Kontostavlakis. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.
2. View of the Matsuhisa Mykonos Sushi Bar, photography by Nick Kontostavlakis, Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.
3. Arman Naféei. Courtesy of Arman Naféei.
4. View of the pool and Belvedere records, photography by Nick Kontostavlakis. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.
5. View of the pool club designed by Conceptboarding, photography by Nick Kontostavlakis. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.
6. Close-up of the pool club designed by Conceptboarding, photography by Nick Kontostavlakis. Courtesy of Belvedere Hotel Mykonos.

PDF

EMPORIO SIRENUSE COLLABORATES ON AN EXCLUSIVE RESORTWEAR AND HOMEWARE COLLECTION WITH WILDLIFE CHARITY ELEPHANT FAMILY

The reputed luxury lifestyle brand Emporio Sirenuse presents exclusive fashion and home collections in collaboration with the Elephant Family, a UK-based non-profit organization, available now.

May 15, 2023 (Positano, Italy) – Emporio Sirenuse is proud to support Elephant Family, a UK-based non-profit organization dedicated to protecting endangered wildlife and their habitats in Asia, with an exclusive collection of resortwear and home accessories.

Bright and wild, the Elephant Family Collection pays tribute to one of history’s most brilliant conservationists and award-winning authors, Mark Shand, honoring the noble quest of his Elephant Family foundation with both a concrete contribution of 10% of all collection profits and a dedicated campaign.

Inspired by their shared, and deeply rooted connection to India, Emporio Sirenuse celebrates Shand’s colorful character with a free-spirited homage to the beauty of life in the wild. A lush world of jungle prints and exquisite embroidery, the High Summer range redefines the brand’s signature silhouettes with playful sophistication, while an exclusive capsule of handcrafted ceramic tableware and refined home textiles transform any occasion into a feast of exotic elegance.

Shot by Sergio Ghetti on location at the Dera Amer luxury tented camp and elephant sanctuary – where the Singh family’s commitment to facilitating the harmonious co-existence of local communities and wildlife offers a thriving example of the Elephant Family’s mission – the campaign is bathed in the golden light of a sandy forestland near Jaipur, and captures the sensual irreverence of two models as they accompany iconic, free- roaming elephants on their gentle march towards freedom.

“A hopeful celebration of natural harmonies, this collaboration symbolizes our deep love of India’s magnificent heritage, and our commitment to preserving its unique beauty. It is a privilege to work with such an esteemed partner in honoring the legacy of Mark Shand and his dedication to a land we respect so greatly,” says Carla Sersale, Founder of Emporio Sirenuse.

“We are delighted to partner with Emporio Sirenuse, who have created a beautiful collection of resortwear and homewares which echo our ethos and the work we do to protect wildlife and their habitats. “As habitats shrink it is more critical than ever that our conservation work finds ways for wildlife and people to live in harmony. This collaboration will help raise awareness and support our work on the ground through money raised. On behalf of the animals we are working to protect - thank you,” says Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive Elephant Family.

The Elephant Family x Emporio Sirenuse fashion collection will be available from May 15th, 2023 at Emporio Sirenuse in Positano, Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman, Matches Fashion and www.emporiosirenuse.com. The Homeware Collection is exclusively available on Net-A-Porter.

High-Summer 2023 Collection prices range from € 130 to € 848. The Homeware Collection prices range from € 73 to € 603.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About Emporio Sirenuse Positano:
Founded in 2013, the Emporio Sirenuse Resortwear and lifestyle brand translates the rich artistic culture and coveted lifestyle of the Sersale family’s iconic Le Sirenuse Hotel in Positano into a world of style. Celebrating the carefree irreverence of luxury that belongs in a class of its own, each collection weaves a story out of only the finest handwoven fibers and oneiric prints to create an idyllic terra felix in the world of destination fashion. With two flagship boutiques in Positano, the brand offers a distinctive Womenswear range, including extravagant party pieces, versatile separates and elegant caftans, as well as select Menswear and Home Décor collections, collaborations with international names in the world of art, fashion and design keep the collection fresh and fun. Distributed internationally by select retailers, the collection is available from: Matches Fashion, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Net-A-Porter, Aerin, Kirna Zabete, Harrods, Ounass and Luisa Via Roma, as well as online from www.emporiosirenuse.com.

About Elephant Family:
Working in partnership with local conservation experts to tackle the challenges facing Asia’s wildlife and the indigenous communities that live alongside them, Elephant Family supports the rights and education of forest dwelling peoples with a 21st century approach to species preservation, recognizing that the habitats of most wild animals are outside of national parks and focusing their energies on both the sharing as well as sparing of space. To date they have raised more the £20 million, largely through high profile, yet rigorously inclusive public art events, including epic digital Fabergé egg hunts in NYC, high fashion Animal Balls in London, rickshaw races through rural India and hundreds of painted elephant sculptures taking over the streets of Mumbai. Their CoExistence campaign saw a migration of 100 life size lantana elephants, created by India’s Adivasi communities, migrate from India to London and soon to travel across the USA. The Elephant Family is part of the British Asian Trust, a UK registered charity and is also registered in the USA. For more information, please visit www.Elephant-Family.org

About Le Sirenuse:
Le Sirenuse opened in 1951, when the Sersale family turned their Amalfi Coast summer house in Positano into a stylish small hotel. Today the 58-room resort is considered one of Italy’s leading seaside luxury hotels, though it still retains the intimate, cultured atmosphere of a private home. The rooms are contemporary yet reminiscent of a glamorous bygone era. The hotel may hail the renowned La Sponda restaurant, and a spa designed by architect Gae Aulenti, but Le Sirenuse is still very much a family affair. Second-generation co-owner Antonio Sersale looks after the day-to-day running of the hotel, while his wife Carla oversees the boutique Emporio Sirenuse and designs beach-oriented fashion collection Le Sirenuse Positano. Le Sirenuse has won numerous awards and is internationally renowned for the quality of its services.
sirenuse.it/en

Image credits:
Image 1. Emporio Sirenuse x Elephant Family, Elephant Family Collection. Photography by Sergio Ghetti.
Image 2. Emporio Sirenuse x Elephant Family, Elephant Family Collection. Photography by Sergio Ghetti
Image 3. Emporio Sirenuse x Elephant Family, Elephant Family Collection. Photography by Sergio Ghetti

PDF

CHYBIK + KRISTOF LEAD THE WAY IN RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ADAPTIVE REUSE PROJECTS

With limited spaces available in cities for new construction and growing demand for affordable housing, CHK’s numerous adaptive reuse projects provide a viable way to utilize existing buildings and infrastructure as unique architectural solutions to aid in reaching the UN’s net zero carbon emissions target.

May 10, 2023 (Brno, Czech Republic) – Seeing demolitions as a global issue, CHYBIK + KRISTOF (CHK) address the need to work from existing structures, ultimately shifting the conversation in architecture from creation to transformation. Following the approach of adaptive reuse, the studio showcases their expertise through several projects, including the design for ‘1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse’, brutalist ‘Zvonarka Bus Station’ and the completed ‘Gallery of Furniture’. Breathing new life into these buildings, CHK utilize their existing state no longer actively serving the community and transform them by contributing to their cultural and historical value, while encouraging social and economic development.

With climate change as one of the most significant challenges of today affecting urban development, architects have a great responsibility to positively affecting it. Turning to adaptive reuse has become a critical and effective way forward conserving resources, reducing waste and addressing wider economic, and political issues. As our built environment accounts for 39% of gross annual carbon emissions worldwide, and considering it can take from 10 to 80 years to pay back the carbon debt that is incurred when an existing building is replaced with a new structure, adaptive reuse offers a myriad of benefits for environmental and social sustainability. Fully embracing this approach, CHK develops various innovative solutions for transforming existing structures into functional, and visually striking spaces, making it possible to easily manage the already-built environment.

The studio actively engages and offers reliable and cost-effective solutions to the challenges of urban development and infrastructure, offering new ideas to adapt existing buildings and infrastructure to current social needs. As the architectural transformation of the spaces preserves the character and history of existing buildings, while also promoting responsible development, CHK showcase their expertise in the field of adaptive reuse architecture.

From transformations of showrooms and decaying brutalist bus stations to reimagining monofunctional office buildings, CHK’s engagement with diverse benefits of adaptive reuse in architecture underlines their expertise and extensive knowledge of preservation and positive social change. With a strong commitment to perpetuating architectural heritage with a focus on social awareness, the studio demonstrates creative ways to work with adaptive reuse in several of their projects such as  ‘1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse’, ‘Zvonarka Bus Station’ and ‘Gallery of Furniture’.

1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse is the latest prototype design solution by the studio for vacant spaces due to the changing landscape of office culture as a result of a two-year COVID-19 pandemic and a massive turn to remote work. The design is marked by a unique structural system, innovative ideas related to sustainability, new internal forms, and building functions, and envisions a new life for the office building, proposing a completely functional neighborhood in a single skyscraper. The project is the studio’s design proposal directly responding to the office crisis, honoring the legacy of the existing structure, adapting it and converting it to the needs of the 21st century. Demonstrating a unity of working and living spaces, the project sets a new precedent and typology for contemporary living within a major city actively addressing the paradigm shift of office culture, adaptive reuse of vacant office skyscrapers and turned to mixed-use buildings including residential and shared spaces.

Self-initiated in 2011 and completed in 2021, the redesigned Zvonarka Central Bus Terminal in Brno, Czech Republic, saw CHK actively engage in readapting the existing Brutalist structure – a steel supporting frame and concrete roof and its original architectural identity. Stressing the station’s central role in the city’s sociocultural fabric, the studio addresses the urgency to rethink the use of a decaying transportation hub and public space. Paying homage to the original design by Radúz Russ, they expose the station's characteristically raw brutalist structure. Placing transparency, and access, at the root of their design, they have transformed the bus terminal into a functional entity adapted to current social needs. Adopting a holistic sociocultural and technical approach, they ultimately bring forward a user-centered design that moves beyond the mere construction process. While creating a functional redesign receptive to the communities’ needs, the architects cultivate the station’s essence as the city’s social nerve, envisioning its integration in the surrounding urban fabric and inviting new social dynamics within it.

Following the same thread of adaptive reuse in their project MY DVA, the studio transformed a former car showroom into a showroom and headquarters of the MY DVA group, an interior design company in 2016. The one-story building was preserved with precise intervention but was given a new face, composed of more than 900 black plastic chair seats, the store's best-selling product. The inner showroom is split between three circular galleries, separated with curtains and each representing the three different segments of the company’s business. Keeping the CO2 emission to a minimum while being cost-effective, the studio provided the store with a new flexible exterior and used existing products creating a unique facade reflecting the company brand in its entirety.

"We believe in adaptive reuse becoming the precedent for the next generation of architects as our studio is exceedingly committed to designing transformative spaces serving as leading examples of responsible development in creating more resilient, and socially inclusive communities," said Ondrej Chybik, co-founder of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About CHYBIK + KRISTOF
CHYBIK + KRISTOF is an architecture and urban design practice founded in 2010 by Ondrej Chybik and Michal Kristof. Operating with 60+ international team members and offices in Prague, Brno, and Bratislava, the practice aims at creating bridges between private and public space, transcending generations and societal spheres. Taking into account local histories and environmental specificities, the studio works on a wide array of projects, ranging from urban developments to public and residential buildings. Recent projects include: Lahofer Winery (CZ), Zvonarka Bus Station (CZ), Multipurpose arena in Jihlava (CZ), Ostrava Tower (CZ), House of Wine (CZ), Sugar Factory (CZ), Pearl Gallery (CZ), Manifesto Market (CZ) and Municipal Affordable Housing (CZ). The studio has been awarded a number of prizes, including the 2019 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record, and was recently amongst the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2019 40 Under 40 Award winners.
chybik-kristof.com

Image credits:
Image 1. Exterior View Render of the 1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.
Image 2. Interior View Render of the 1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse. Render by Plomp. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.
Image 3. Exterior view of the Zvonarka Central Bus Terminal, Brno, Czech Republic. Photography by Alex Shoots buildings. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.
Image 4. Exterior View of My Dva Showroom. Photography by Lukas Pelech. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

PDF

THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTO FESTIVAL - LAGOSPHOTO - ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION ACROSS BENIN AND LAGOS, IGNITING HOPEFUL VISIONS OF CHANGE

THEME: ‘GROUND STATE – FELLOWSHIP WITHIN THE UNCANNY’

On View: October 28 – December 31, 2023

Curated by AAF’s founder and director Azu Nwagbogu, and East Wing Artistic Director (Dubai, UAE) Peggy Sue Amison, the 14th edition of the international photography festival will foster a fellowship of dynamic spiritual change and rebirthing of the unimaginable through the theme ‘Ground State – Fellowship Within the Uncanny.’ The festival will present a special solo presentation by artist Omar Viktor Diop curated by Maria Pia Bernardoni.

May 4, 2023 (Benin and Nigeria) – The African Artists’ Foundation, a non-profit organization and art space based in Lagos announces the new geographical expansion and curatorial vision for the 14th edition of LagosPhoto Festival, an international photography festival taking place from October 28 – December 31, 2023. This year’s theme, ‘Ground State – Fellowship Within the Uncanny’ will bring together photographic works exploring the present moment and envisioning repair, syncopation, putrefaction, restitution, and restoration. This year's edition marks the first time in its history that the event will be held beyond Lagos, extending to Cotonou and Ouidah in Benin. This geographical expansion offers a wider audience the opportunity to engage with the powerful works of talented photographers, challenging our own complicity in a culture of desire founded on consumption.

The festival just announced an open call for emerging and established artists around the world working with lens-based media to submit their projects with a submission deadline of June 7, 2023. Additionally, the festival will announce a separate Portfolio Review open call with submissions limited to June 30, 2023, where selected photographers will have the opportunity to participate in sessions during the festival with esteemed judges and panelists, including leading gallerists, publishers, educators, and experts from LagosPhoto Festival partner National Geographic.

Photography has always held a mysterious power. In the past two decades, it has played a significant role in the rise of post-truth ideologies encouraging divisive and tribal societies. The malaise of the twenty-first century presents unsettling possibilities and anxieties surging from dystopian post-covid realities, growing conflicts, and the indelible signs of climate change. Recalcitrant colonial mindsets continue to judge worth through an impossible hierarchy. Efforts to imagine decolonized and sustainable futures have been captured in recurring hierarchies of different entities delivering the same results. As society reaches a Ground State, where everything humanity knows as ‘common sense’ no longer applies, there is an urge to restore, repair and restitute the mysteries of oral histories and aspects vital for survival. For its 2023 edition LagosPhoto Festival invites artists to showcase new perspectives of humanity’s revival and equilibrium through hopeful visions of social, political, environment and spiritual change.

Initiated in 2010, LagosPhoto has since created a community of local and international artists united through contemporary photography encapsulating individual experiences and identities from the African continent. Through an extensive program of exhibitions, workshops, screenings and large-scale outdoor installations, the festival promotes education and reclaims public spaces, engaging local and global audiences with the continent’s historical and contemporary stories narrated through photography.

As in this year’s edition taking place in Benin and Nigeria, the festival’s recurring topics of restitution and cultural heritage have set the tone for groundbreaking programs. In 2020’s ‘Rapid Response Restitution – The Home Museum’, audiences were invited to produce a fast shutter retrieval of their personal and family’s cultural heritage to be presented in an inclusive digital exhibition, sparking an interest and conversation on cultural heritage and a visual intellect amongst citizens. ‘Searching for Prince Adewale Oyenuga’ in 2021 presented a project about a missing suitcase with a historic archive of photos and paintings left in Barcelona and repatriated to Nigeria, highlighting the thematic of restitution. In 2022 ‘Remember Me—Liberated Bodies; Charged Objects’ interrogated the photography’s influence in shaping, archiving, and ordering the stories of communities and individual identities, determining the way the present and future are constructed.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

ABOUT AAF:

African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) founded in 2007, Lagos, Nigeria, is a decentralized, multivalent, metamorphic art space that embraces community values, experimental artistic principles in supporting boundary-breaking and artistic ideas. Over the years, AAF has evolved beyond the limiting shell of a non-profit, to embody an art space that is responsive, attuned to social justice issues, ecology, freedom, community initiatives by empowering creative expression. AAF is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary art, design, and culture through residencies, workshops, innovative exhibitions, and educational programs. We aim to further challenge and inspire our community, unearth, and develop more talents while also promoting inclusiveness. Our goal is to be a dynamic and interactive space that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages critical thinking, celebrates community programs and ultimately to become a change-maker through the power of art.

ABOUT LAGOSPHOTO:

Launched in 2010, LagosPhoto is the first international arts festival of photography in Nigeria. In a month-long festival, events include exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions, and large-scale outdoor prints displayed throughout the city with the aim of reclaiming public spaces and engaging the general public with multifaceted stories of Africa. LagosPhoto aims to establish a community for contemporary photography which will unite local and international artists through images that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across all of Africa. LagosPhoto presents and educates about photography as it is embodied in the exploration of historical and contemporary issues, the sharing of cultural practices, and the promotion of social programmes.

Image Credits:

1. Meseret Argaw, Bishoftutown, Ethiopia, (part of PostCard Africa), 2022, courtesy of Meseret Argaw

2. LagosPhoto Festival 2023 General Open Call & Portfolio Review Open Call, courtesy of African Artists' Foundation

PDF

TRANSFORMATION AND REVIVAL OF NEW YORK’S OBSOLETE MONOFUNCTIONAL OFFICE BUILDINGS BY CHK ARCHITECTS

Actively addressing the office crisis of value-decreasing buildings in the post-covid era, CHK architects present an innovative solution for the changing working landscape with a new design proposal for the New York landmark office skyscraper, 1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse also known as the Paramount Plaza.

May 4, 2023 (NYC) – CHYBIK + KRISTOF (CHK) present 1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse, a prototype design solution for excess and vacant spaces due to the changing landscape of office culture throughout the United States. 1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse, the historic 48-story office building located between 50th and 51st streets, and originally built in the early 1970s, has been transformed to meet the demands of the contemporary working and living dynamics in relation to the ever-present housing crisis in big cities. CHK’s design is marked by a unique structural system, innovative ideas related to sustainability, new internal forms, and building functions, and envisions a new life for the office building, proposing a completely functional neighborhood in a single skyscraper.

As a result of a two-year COVID-19 pandemic and massive turn to remote work, the busiest business areas in all major capitals around the US, such as New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Austin, have left many iconic office skyscrapers vacant. With office attendance reported to be around 50-60%, many large companies are reducing their lease space and office footprint.As the biggest office market in the US with 540 million square feet of space, New York City has been facing an office crisis leaving empty office spaces in Midtown and downtown areas with availability at a record high, of 20.2%. The general estimate for the upcoming years is that the value of office buildings in the U.S. could plunge 39% or $454 billion.

Considering the disparity of excess amount of unused office spaces around the country and lack of housing, particularly affordable housing, the unique opportunity for the conversion of these spaces arises. With CHK’s expertise in transforming and refurbishing existing structures, the studio is focused on maximizing underutilized buildings to grow the expanding and ever-changing urban infrastructure, enhancing their use and adapting existing spaces effectively for the shift in office culture. CHK recognizes the change with a new way of living and working arising in major US cities, and responds with a soluble solution, adaptive reuse of vacant office skyscrapers, turned to mixed-use buildings including residential and shared spaces.

1633 Broadway Adaptive Reuse is the studio’s design proposal directly responding to the office crisis, honoring the legacy of the existing structure, adapting it and converting it to the needs of the 21st century. Demonstrating a unity of working and living spaces, the project sets a new precedent and typology for contemporary living within a major city actively addressing the paradigm shift of office culture.

The original building is strongly connected to New York's architecture and planning history paying homage to the revolutionary 20th century and New York’s iconic monofunctional office buildings. In order to preserve the building's well-known dark glass façade and honor its original design, the studio sustains its original exterior form, only adding a loggia with an additional glass facade within the inner perimeter, promoting thermal comfort. With the preservation of the exterior, CHK’s radical changes mark the interior itself, with every floor transformed into multiple apartments with shared spaces for various uses such as remote working, meeting areas or even just as a lounge. Being accessible for the residents at any time of the day, the shared spaces are essentially creating a lively community that connects beyond the traditional 9 am - 5 pm. With this fundamental transformation, CHK’s design bridges the connection from office life to active and sociable home life, altering it into an active part of the streetscape, essentially creating a neighborhood within a single skyscraper.

Marked by the versatility and flexibility of the floorplans, the building is based on a load-bearing structure consisting of a core, columns and a facade. The interior maze of shared spaces and apartments allows for a versatile layout, as all the partitions among the various spaces are designed to be easily dismantled and relocated. Complemented by a system of replaceable walls, every apartment becomes adaptable to the current resident's needs.

Responding to the climate and energy crisis, CHK re-uses much of the older materials for a new purpose minimizing waste and promoting sustainable design choices, such as utilizing used, shredded carpets for acoustic insulation in the shared spaces, using doors from previous office units to be ground, repainted and re-used, replacing facade elements as kitchen partition system walls. Complementing the environmental sustainability focus, CHK incorporates different intelligent technologies and systems into the building system such as sunblind elements to reduce overheating, cross-ventilation through common areas, ventilated double facade skin and effective water management on the green rooftop to irrigate the vegetation and mitigate the heat island effect. 

“As we seek to bring Broadway 1633 back to its former glory by honoring its legacy, we adapt it to reflect the new reality of hybrid work, effectively to the needs of the 21st century,” says CHK co-founder Ondrej Chybik.

In its essence, the design of the project showcases a novel idea to utilize existing spaces in line with the constantly changing world. Connecting central topics of affordable housing, change of office dynamics, climate and energy crisis, CHK sets a new hybrid typology within the thin line of office and home life fit for the 21st century, crafting a new lifestyle seamlessly adapting to the post-covid era.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

About CHYBIK + KRISTOF

CHYBIK + KRISTOF is an architecture and urban design practice founded in 2010 by Ondrej Chybik and Michal Kristof. Operating with 60+ international team members and offices in Prague, Brno, and Bratislava, the practice aims at creating bridges between private and public space, transcending generations and societal spheres. Taking into account local histories and environmental specificities, the studio works on a wide array of projects, ranging from urban developments to public and residential buildings. Recent projects include: the Czech Pavilion at Expo 2015 (Milan, Italy), Lahofer Winery (CZ), Zvonarka bus station (CZ), Multipurpose arena in Jihlava (CZ), Ostrava Tower (CZ), Sugar Factory (CZ), and Municipal Affordable Housing (CZ). The studio has been awarded a number of prizes, including the 2019 Design Vanguard Award from Architectural Record, and was recently amongst the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies 2019 40 Under 40 Award winners.

chybik-kristof.com

Image credits:
Image 1. Broadway 1633 Adaptive Reuse_render. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

Image 2. Broadway 1633 Adaptive Reuse_render. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

Image 3. Broadway 1633 Adaptive Reuse_render. Courtesy of CHYBIK + KRISTOF.

PDF

NADINE SCHEMMANN UNVEILS NEW SOLO EXHIBITION | ‘NO UNIVERSE AMONG US’ – AN ENDLESS ARCHIVE OF MEMORIES BOUND IN EXPRESSIVE COLOR

The artist's first solo show in Switzerland at Gallery Ann Mazzotti in Basel will present over 12 new paintings reflecting the fragility of interpersonal relationships through distinctive color painting, a sensory visual language on linen canvas.

On view through June 26, 2023

May 3, 2023 (Basel, Switzerland) – Contemporary Berlin-based artist Nadine Schemmann announces ‘No Universe Among Us’ at Gallery Ann Mazzotti in Basel on view through June 26, 2023.

The exhibition marks the artist's first solo show in Switzerland, following the strand of her expressive textile paintings exhibition at Haverkampf Leistenschneider Gallery in Berlin in February 2023. Coinciding with Art Basel, the exhibition will present over 12 new works of Schemmann’s distinguishable large-scale stretched and unstretched sewed linen canvases as well as two site-specific installations, one specially created for the gallery’s interior and the other one gracing its exterior. These new paintings are Schemmann’s continuation of her visual color diary, a distinctly personal technique connected to her view and expression of people, situations and things.

Nadine Schemmann's works are a representation of encounters, conversations and lived moments. In her sculptures and pictures, she assembles the components, which constitute an encounter: the sounds, feelings and colors. For this purpose, she first dyes or bleaches fabrics, which she then sews together to the desired size. At times, the edges of the fabric thereby created already structure Schemmann’s working surface, set boundaries, while announcing the upcoming encounters, namely the color on the linen fabric. On the processed canvases, commonly located on the floor, Schemmann shoots ink, diluted oil paint, and chlorine bleach. The dispersing paint and the bleach tend to create two or multiple spheres, which converge on the fabric. While sometimes approaching each other, at other times they surround each other or merge until it is no longer possible to tell where one color begins and the other ends. The fabrics are not always stretched on frames. Often, they hang openly in the room. In this way, the loosened and the stretched conditions complete each other. Thus, the moment of an encounter is not static, but contingent; it moves and respires, even after the oeuvre’s finalization. In the process, the elusive moment of an encounter becomes tangible. This moment, which is always about closeness, distance, boundaries, and how these can be subject to transgression.

From a formal perspective, Schemmann’s textile tableaus relate to the Color Field Painting. Unlike Mark Rothko or Helen Frankenthaler’s oeuvre, however, to which Schemmann’s work seems to refer at first glance, her paintings do not originate from space or landscape itself, but from the space-in-between resulting from two people’s encounters. Her paintings are therefore about the voids, which remain free of color restricted through cutting edges and seams. It is precisely these interstices, at which the intention to depict an encounter emerges most clearly. As per the religious philosopher Martin Buber, the encounter is significant in the distinction of the human being human. The encounter lies the foundation for the dialogue and without dialogue there is no connection between people. "All human life is about confrontation," says Buber, and instead of willing to change or convince the other, the attempt to understand him or her in depth is what life is all about. "When we stop interacting, it is as if we stop breathing", he writes. It is this interspace, which can hardly be nominated and yet, from which everything originates. These encounters present themselves in Schemmann's work in the most diverse ways. Sometimes they are green, black, brown - depending on how she remembers them. This makes each work a moment of pause and recognition of the encounter as the deepest and most honest form of dialogue.

Nadine Schemmann was born in 1977 and lives and works in Berlin. Having started as an illustrator, Schemmann has found her own artistic practice, which is constantly evolving. Her works have been exhibited in solo and group shows at Schlossgut Schwante, Kunsthaus Lempertz, Studio Berlin, BittelvonJenisch Hamburg and Haverkampf Leistenschneider Berlin, among others. This is her first solo exhibition in Switzerland.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

‘No Universe Among Us’ is on view at Gallery Ann Mazotti in Basel through June 26, 2023.

Gallery Ann Mazzotti

Horburgstr. 80

CH-4057 Basel

www.annmazzotti.com

Image Credits:
Installation View ‘No Universe Among Us’ by Nadine Schemmann. Courtesy of Nadine Schemmann.

PDF

TAKING A CROSS-CULTURAL APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE NIKA PROJECT SPACE UNVEILS EXHIBITION ‘CODED GESTURES’

Opening on May 4, 2023, the second exhibition on view at NIKA Project Space brings together conceptual artists from non-Western regions, probing the correlation between post-Soviet and hyper-capitalist societies through key themes of alienation, artistic labor and repetitive gestures.

On View: May 4 – July 16, 2023

April 24, 2023 (Dubai, UAE) – NIKA Project Space, Dubai’s new art and culture platform, presents its second exhibition ‘Coded Gestures’ on view from May 4 – July 16, 2023. Curated by art critic and researcher Nadine Khalil, the exhibition follows the gallery’s mission of supporting cross-cultural dialogues, pairing artists from Central and East Asia with local UAE-based artists. The works, ranging from sculpture to video and photography, function as apparatuses for understanding the context of gestures hidden behind individual processes and collective structures.

Rooted in society's shared experiences, the exhibition gives voice to artists from non-Western regions, finding a common language across seemingly divergent backgrounds and traditions shaped by multinational local contexts.

The new 250 m2 industrial space designed by T.ZED Architects, presents the works of five conceptual artists: Alexander Ugay based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Minja Gu based in Seoul, South Korea, along with UAE-based artists Fatma Al Ali, Mona Ayyash and Khalid. These contemporary artists translate the creative gesture into a means of invisible labor, exploring it as a source of repetitive vocabularies, ultimately becoming a compelling way to look at the disciplining of bodies and forms. Distilling the idea of labor from a broader social lens to an artistic one, with its varied manifestations of alienation, the exhibition connects the idea of psychological absence with the presence and absence of the body in performance, ultimately questioning the core notion of labor itself.

The exhibition will open with a live performance of Minga Gu's House Tea de la Maison de la Casa, 2023, a tea ceremony in which the artist invites all viewers to hundreds of tea infusions, invoking the role of participatory exchange. It is presented alongside the documentation of a recent site-specific act of tea-making the artist performed in the UAE with the local community, commissioned by NIKA Project Space.

From memorized movements of Korean labor migrants in post-Soviet states seen in the video More than a Hundred Thousand Times (2019-20) to AI-generated imagery indexing major historical events affecting the Korean diaspora (Unknown Return, 2023), Alexander Ugay tackles social alienation through imaginaries and archives. His works are fittingly positioned near Fatma Al Ali’s meticulously stacked bricks, My mother told me not to collect bricks (2020), which upon closer look, reveal disparities and the embedded relationship between individual and collective systems.

“The artists in this exhibition bear witness to their changing societies, captured through daily movements. They use visual and algorithmic languages to index invisible histories, from the 1937 Korean deportation to Central Asia to a sports event that never happened,” says curator Nadine Khalil. “As we looked deeper into the works proposed by Alexander and Minja, we found that an interesting thread emerges between post-Soviet and hyper- capitalist societies, linking them in terms of consumerism, excess and residual form,” Khalil continues.

Specifically commissioned for the show, Khalid’s piece, my job is to look at the sunset, 2023, which is an incessant documentation of daily sunsets printed in real time and mounted in the gallery throughout the 44 days, documenting the artist’s habitual practice. In a similar vein, two other takes on repetition are presented with Minja Gu’s 11-hour documentation of her version of a marathon done in two days in 42.195 (2006) and Mona Ayyash’s pixelated video, Trampoline (2015) featuring athletes preparing for their jumps, over and over again. Following the gallery's focus on showing lesser known female artists, founder Veronika Berezina explains further: “These are the kinds of conversations I was interested in bringing to light when I opened NIKA Project Space, especially with women artists who should be more widely recognized.”

UAE-based Lebanese curator of the show Nadine Khalil further comments on Veronika's fresh lens on Dubai: "Veronika has a deeply considered approach to contemporary art practices. For example, we first connected over the work of a female artist in the Sharjah Biennial who presented fermented fruit as part of her project on lost histories in Palestine. Since then, there has been a synergy between our interests in research- driven performance art in different contexts. The conversations between different artists in the show have evolved out of our own exchanges and her commendable vision of linking lesser-known regions of the world."

Following the thread of conceptually driven performance art, NIKA becomes a space for a daring, boundary- pushing approach that carves a new path for experimental art forms in Dubai.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

‘Coded Gestures’ will be on view at NIKA Project Space from May 4 – July 16, 2023.

Address:
NIKA Project Space
Al Khayat Avenue, Unit 11, 19th Street Road – Al Quoz 1 First Al Khail Street, Dubai, UAE

About NIKA Project Space:
Founded in 2023 by Veronika Berezina, NIKA Project Space is a platform for artistic experiments, research and the advancement of curatorial practice in Dubai. Engaged in supporting cross-cultural exchange, NIKA Project Space promotes emerging and increasingly established artists from the Middle East and internationally through a variety of art exhibitions and initiatives. Emphasizing contemporaneity and multicultural dialogue, the space provides a critically engaged program with a focus on conceptualization, abstraction, and philosophical inquiry with a strongattention tothe works of female artists.With a daring and boundary-pushing approach to contemporary art, NIKA encourages exchange and dialogue with a range of artistic mediums, including performance, painting, photography, sculpture, installation and the digital realm. Through an interest in investigative research and experimental creative processes, NIKA invites international artists to Dubai, encouraging further dialogue across cultures and the exploration of international artistic practicelocally, elevating a global vision. NIKA’s new 250 square meters space is located in the new Al Khayat Avenue in Dubai’s industrial Al Quoz district.

About Veronika Berezina:
Veronika Berezina, the founder of NIKA Project Space, was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia. After working as a tax lawyer for several years, Berezina turned to her passion for art and further developed her interest in emerging contemporary artists in St. Petersburg and internationally. This increasing curiosity in contemporary art led her to more active engagement and roles as an avid art collector and notably a patron of the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow. Seeing the potential and opportunities in a multicultural Dubai, Berezina founded an art platform focused on cross-cultural dialogue for artists from around the world, particularly Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, enriching the collective experiences and perceptions of art internationally. With NIKA, Berezina has created a space where art speaks a language that goes beyond national borders and creativity becomes a transcendent means to bring diverse cultures together.

About Nadine Khalil:
Nadine Khalil is an independent art critic, editor and researcher, curator. She is currently researching the body as an expanded site of performance and labour in the Gulf and Mediterranean region. After a decade-long stint in art publishing, she advises art institutions such as the Ishara Art Foundation, Goethe-Institut and the NYUAD Arts Center on editorial strategy, content development and publications. She is the former editor of Dubai-based contemporary art magazine, Canvas (2017-2020) and the Beirut-based magazines A mag and Bespoke (2010- 2016). Her writing can be found in Art Agenda, Art Forum, The Art Newspaper, Artnet, Art Review Asia, Artsy, Broadcast, Brooklyn Rail, FT Arts, Frieze, Ocula and the Women’s Review of Books. She has authored a series of artist monographs (Paroles d'Artistes) on Lebanese artists Samir Sayegh, Hanibal Srouji and the late filmmaker Jocelyne Saab, and curated for European film festivals such as MidEast Cut and the Arab Independent Film Festival.

About Mona Ayyash:
Mona Ayyash (b. 1987, Kuwait City) is a Palestinian visual artist, raised in Dubai. Her practice focuses on repetition, memorisation, slowness, and boredom. She holds an MFA in Studio Arts from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Her work was exhibited at the Jameel Art Centre in 2021 and in Maraya Art Center, as part of the UAE Unlimited programme in 2019. She took part in the homebound residency with 421 in 2020 and was an artist-in-residence at the Alserkal Residency for their Fall 2017 cycle. She has participated in several group exhibitions such as, ‘The Distance from Here’ at Hayy Jameel, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2022, ‘Tashweesh’ at Maraya Art Centre, Sharjah, UAE in 2019 and ‘Loaning Sister Cities’ at Casino Artspace, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 2016.

About Fatma Al Ali:
Fatma Al Ali (b.1994, UAE) is a multidisciplinary artist who explores diverse themes such as perception, materiality, memory, weight, and tension in her artwork. She examines societal constraints and the human condition while paying close attention to the form and texture of her creations. Her approach is marked by a delicate balance between strength and delicacy, and she often challenges conventional notions of what materials can be used for. Al Ali earned a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Sharjah in 2018 and was awarded the Salama int Hamdan Emerging Artist Fellowship (SEAF) program in 2019, a collaboration with Rhode Island School of Design. Her work has been showcased in several group exhibitions, including ‘Getting over the color green’ at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai a collaboration with Engage101, 2023, Sikka, Dubai, 2023, ‘Community and Critique’ at Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi in 2020, ‘Printmaking Exposium’ at 4bid gallery, Netherlands in 2019, ‘Exit: Extension’ at the Maraya Art Center, Sharjah, UAE in 2018.

About Minja Gu:
Minja Gu (b. 1977, Korea). Minja Gu’s work is based on personal performances that observe and question daily behaviors, which in turn are projected through various media including photography, video, installation, and drawing. She majored in painting at Hongik University and philosophy at Yonsei University and received a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from the Korea National University of Arts. She participated in the SSamzie Space studio program in Seoul, the Hangar Residency for artists in Barcelona, the International Studio & Curatorial Program at ISCP in NYC, and the HISK program in Ghent from 2015–2016. She received the award of excellence by the Songeun Art Award in 2010. Selected solo exhibitions include ‘Identical Times’ at Croft Gallery, Seoul, Korea, in 2009, ‘Atlantic-Pacific co.’ at Moore Street Market, New York in 2011, and ‘Inside the Belly of Monstro’ at Citadellaan 7, Ghent in 2018. Gu has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including the Taipei Biennale at Taipei Fine Arts Museum in 2008 and New Visions New Voices at National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon in 2013. In 2018, Gu was selected as one of the four sponsored artists for the Korea Artist Prize, an annual award and exhibition co-organized by MMCA and SBS Foundation.

About Khalid:
Khalid (b. 1996, Dubai) is an artist, walking, running, cycling and driving. He examines the materiality of everyday objects and coaxes out their metaphoric potential. Through fabricating receipts, playing with street cats, composing fictional tours and stealing corporate pens, he dissects ironies embedded in his everyday surroundings. What begins as an arbitrary flânerie, develops into a methodical formula that addresses philosophical and phenomenological, revealing the spatial, poetic relationships between his subjects and their frangible correlation to human beings. Khalid is an alumnus of programs Salama bint Hamdan Emerging Artists Fellowship and Campus Art Dubai 7.0 with previous group shows in Yorkshire, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.

About Alexander Ugay:
The third-generation of Koryoin (ethnic Korean in the former Soviet Union), Alexander Ugay (b. 1978, Kazakhstan) uses photography, video, and collage to document stories about individuals and groups, migration histories, nostalgia originating in past experience, and places where past and future coexist. In the 2000s, he produced his “cinema-object” series of short films shot on 8mm and 16mm cameras produced during the Soviet era; since 2017, he has created his own “obscuratons,” devices based on the pinhole camera approach that he uses for artistic series in which he locates historically and ideologically important settings in order to capture spatial and temporal continua. His major solo exhibitions include ‘Topology of Image’ at Aspan Gallery, Almaty in 2018 and ‘More than an Image, Less than an Object’ at Galeria Labirynt, Lublin in 2017. Ugay has shown his work at the Busan Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2022, Art Sonje Center in Seoul in 2020, Sapar Contemporary in New York in 2019, Lunds Konsthall in Sweden in 2018, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Moscow in 2016. His work is part of international private and public collections. The latter includes Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, Netherlands; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Galeria Labirynt, Lublin, Poland; National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Astana and Lunds Konsthall, Lund, Sweden.

Image Credits:
1.Minja Gu. Inside the Belly of Monstro. Video Still. 2015-2023. Courtesy of the artist.

2.Alexander Ugay. Unknown Return. Various dimensions. 2023. Courtesy of the artist.

3.Mona Ayyash. Trampoline.Single channel digital video. 2015. Courtesy of the artist.

PDF

AFRICAN ARTISTS’ FOUNDATION PRESENTS ‘A PILGRIM’S JOURNEY; THROUGH THE SHADES OF YELLOW,’ THE DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION OF NIGERIAN ARTIST JOHNSON OCHEJA

Opening on April 22, 2023, Nigerian artist Johnson Ocheja’s first solo show, brings together a series of spirited paintings exploring happiness as a journey of noble curiosity.

On View: April 22 – May 20, 2023

April 21, 2023 (Lagos, Nigeria) – Lagos-based African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), a non-profit organization and art space, unveils A Pilgrim’s Journey; Through the Shades of Yellow, the latest series of works by emerging Nigerian artist Johnson Ocheja. Marking his first-ever solo exhibition following a two-week artist residency at AAF Headquarters in April 2023, the exhibition is on view from April 22 – May 20, 2023, at the Alliance Française de Lagos and the AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria. Curated by Princess Ayoola, the exhibition echoes the artist's creative journey and immortalization of his reoccurring subjects through a vibrant explosion of yellow hues. This exhibition aligns with AAF's artist development initiatives, directly supporting the foundation's mission of fostering and aiding emerging African artists through solo exhibitions.

The dual-location exhibition showcases 12 large-scale paintings by Ocheja and in the collaborative spirit of the AAF and the local artist community, it will also present collaborative works by Ocheja and four other artists, creating opportunities for collaboration and community engagement by employing diverse forms of displaying work to enhance audience interaction.

For his solo debut, Johnson Ocheja makes his muse the pilgrim archetype. The exhibitiondepicts a series of portraits, mesmerizing and saturating his canvas through an intense reiteration of the color yellow as an emblem of happiness and bliss. The artist's subjects are depicted in their gardens of pure delight, enjoying the fruits of their life journey irrespective of the simplicity of their physical reality. The title of the exhibition finds its roots in Ocheja’s pursuit of a symbolic quest, the ultimate journey of the artist, seeking a safe, often solitary space envisaged as a pilgrim’s journey to bliss. The pilgrim is typically associated with religious iconography, but the pilgrim is really anyone who seeks a deeper sense of purpose and significance in life. This questing is part of Ocheja’s journey.

Marking significant symbolism, representing felicity, possibilities, and hope, each shade of yellow, from a lighter and spirited hue to a deeper and more muddy tone, resonates deeply with the artist’s personal journey. Yellow is Ocheja’s safe color. Although the human body is the primary element in this body of work, Ocheja emphasizes the subjects’ internal worlds through various shades of yellow, elevating it beyond its aesthetic code and becoming a symbolic portal into the experience of individual and collective happiness.

Foliage in these portraits serves as a recurring motif of vitality and connectedness to life sources, nature and abundance. It is a reference to our greatest desire for space, space to be, to roam, to wonder and wander. The presence of religious symbolism is an attempt to revive spiritual connections in a society that often overlooks spirituality in favour of materiality. Furthermore, in this exhibition, Ocheja uses the pilgrim archetype to reference pilgrims of old—Hindus, Buddhists and Christians alike—for whom the colour yellow symbolizes knowledge, enlightenment and spiritual growth. Thus, he elevates happiness to sacred contemplation.

In truth, Ocheja’s characters are not so much striving for happiness as they are already in their gardens of pure bliss, enjoying the fruits of their journey irrespective of the simplicity of their physical reality. Moments of domestic life are captured in Ocheja’s paintings as visual journal entries, reminding us that like a pilgrim, we must retain a journey-oriented mindset by shifting away from the romanticisation of the destination, to focus on the people and social relationships that make the destination tangible and rewarding. Again, we are reminded that happiness is not just an individual pursuit but a shared experience that brings people together and uplifts those who are struggling. It is a journey of noble curiosity.

For the opening of A Pilgrim's Journey; Through the Shades of Yellow, Ocheja has partnered with fellow artists to present collaborative works:

Ibi Írántí

Lagos-based drummer, performance artist, and community art curator, Goodluck Babatunde Ọlọ́runjedálọ, known as Jedálọ, will perform at the African Artists' Foundation in honor of Ocheja's exhibit. His performance, titled Ibi Írántí (memory place), interprets Johnson's vision in two cycles. This musical piece uses African drumming to explore human connections and memories in society. The performance features site-specific sounds and engages the audience, allowing Jedálọ to connect with people and spaces through his art.

The Girl on the Swing

Johnson Ocheja has invited Samuel Semako to collaborate on a painting titled 'The Girl on the Swing.' Samuel Semako Vittu is a Lagos-based artist whose style cuts across contemporary portraiture and anthropomorphism, using his art to promote self-awareness and infuse human consciousness into non-human life forms. This experiment explores the theme of happiness through the fusion of their creative energies, thus the produced artwork represents the joyful union of artistic minds. Drawing inspiration from Yoruba folklore, Semako employs anthropomorphism as a means to discuss modern trends and issues.

Of Pathways, Pilgrims, and Sources

Afeez and Atẹ́rẹ́ will be creating ceramic works entitled ‘Of Pathways, Pilgrims, and Sources’. The artwork conveys that there is no single ‘right’ path in life; instead, the journey shapes us as individuals. It highlights the importance of staying connected to beliefs, hopes, and communities for guidance and support. It encourages embracing unique experiences and trusting in the process of self-discovery.

Adeoti Azeez Afeez (b. 1998) and Olúbúnmi Atẹ́rẹ́ (b. 1991) are Nigerian ceramicists. Afeez, a Yaba College of Technology graduate, specializes in sgraffito and has participated in group exhibitions like Beyond Limit 2022 and LIMCAF 2022. Atẹ́rẹ́, a former communications professional, debuted as a ceramicist in 2022 and uses carvings and abstract inscriptions to create complex surfaces. Winner of the Dr Pius Okigbo prize at LIMCAF 2022, her works have been exhibited internationally. Both artists explore clay as a means of expression and communication.

Performance by Laisa Layode McGrath

Laisa Layode McGrath is a versatile African creative, design and creative thinking tutor, and fashion broker. In 2021, she launched her spiritual and immersive singing career, delving into African heritage through sound. McGrath will deliver a performance that blends Catholic-Latin hymns with African spiritual sounds, centered on her interpretation of Ocheja's theme.

In line with AAF’s community outreach and engagement efforts, the foundation presents solo exhibitions featuring artists who have participated in the foundation’s projects over the years. This includes artists such as Ayanfe Olarinde and Emma Odumade, who have previously held solo exhibitions, as well as the upcoming solo exhibit by Kingsley Ayogu. Through this approach, the AAF not only supports the growth of emerging African artists but also cultivates a dynamic and inclusive artistic community where collaboration, engagement, and innovation are celebrated and encouraged.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

‘A Pilgrim’s Journey; Through the Shades of Yellow’ will be on view at Alliance Française de Lagos and the AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria from April 22 – May 20, 2023.

Exhibition opening ceremony:

Alliance Française de Lagos | 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

AAF Headquarters | 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Opening Hours:

Alliance Française de Lagos

Monday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

AAF Headquarters

Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Address:

Alliance Française de Lagos, Nigeria

9 Osborne Rd, Ikoyi 106104, Lagos, Nigeria

African Artists' Foundation

3b Isiola Oyekan Close,

Off Adeleke Adedoyin street,

Off Kofo Abayomi street,

Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

ABOUT JOHNSON OCHEJA:

Johnson Ocheja (b. 1993 in Kogi State Nigeria) is a Nigerian artist from an Igala speaking community. He paints detailed scenes of black subjects with blue pigment and also, with the impasto technique, he uses his fingers to produce marks on the skin of his subjects, inspired by the African cultural practice of scarification. His portraits highlight black consciousness and black beauty. He moved to Kaduna State at the age of three, and graduated from Kogi State University with a Bachelor's degree in Statistics. Living in two different states with different beautiful stories, culture and identity, as well as political, religious, ethnic, and racial issues, Johnson uses these matters in his work to discuss how they affect his community. Johnson Ocheja currently lives and works in Kaduna State.

ABOUT PRINCESS AYOOLA:

Princess Ayoola is a Creative Manager at African Artists’ Foundation (AAF). As a graduate of Engineering from the University of Lagos, she spent the early part of her professional career in the sciences and engineering sector. Her transition to the local art and culture space started when she joined the Lagos Photo Festival team as an intern in 2016. Since then, she has engaged in projects and workshops that border on photography, graphic design, writing, painting and so on, under the mentorship of Curator, Azu Nwagbogu. She was the Festival manager of the Lagos Photo Festival 2019, the first international photography festival in Africa, She strongly believes in the use of various art forms to address and effect change as it relates to personal, political and social issues. She lives and works in Lagos.

ABOUT AAF:

African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) founded in 2007, Lagos, Nigeria, is a decentralized, multivalent, metamorphic art space that embraces community values, experimental artistic principles in supporting boundary-breaking and artistic ideas. Over the years, AAF has evolved beyond the limiting shell of a non-profit, to embody an art space that is responsive, attuned to social justice issues, ecology, freedom, community initiatives by empowering creative expression.

AAF is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary art, design, and culture through residencies, workshops, innovative exhibitions, and educational programs. We aim to further challenge and inspire our community, unearth and develop more talents while also promoting inclusiveness. Our goal is to be a dynamic and interactive space that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages critical thinking, celebrates community programs and ultimately to become a change-maker through the power of art. Website | Instagram

Image Credits:
1.Johnson Ocheja, The Mind of a Child, 2023. Courtesy of Johnson Ocheja. 2.Johnson Ocheja, On Saturday, 2023. Courtesy of Johnson Ocheja.
3.Johnson Ocheja, My Friend Beside the Church, 2023. Courtesy of Johnson Ocheja.

PDF

NON-PROFIT AFRICAN ARTISTS’ FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2023 PROGRAMMING EXPANDING THE ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF ITS COMMUNITY

 African Artists’ Foundation announces a series of exhibitions and programming for 2023, with a rich expression of African art locally and internationally. AAF founder and director, Azu Nwagbogu, supports the organization's artistic community and creative impulse, introducing them to the international art stage through an inclusive art platform.

April 17, 2023 (Lagos, Nigeria) – Lagos-based African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), a non-profit organization and art space, unveils its rich programming for 2023. For over a decade, AAF has been empowering the African creative community, and its emerging and established artists through various programs in a dynamic and interactive space that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages critical thinking.

AAF celebrates the 2023 season with a physical expansion to its new headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, marking a novel era for the organization towards the growth and strengthening of its initiatives empowering creative expression in Africa. AAF’s new location boasts two buildings, each intended to serve as its main base for a variety of upcoming new exhibitions, activities and residencies, strengthening its presence within the community. Following this growing enthusiasm and commitment to community values and experimental artistic principles, AAF announces a broad program of residencies, workshops, group and solo exhibitions, curatorial development, and educational programs in 2023 in Africa and beyond.

AAF continues to emphasize the importance of cultivating genuine partnerships and providing hands-on curatorial training through collaborative programs. These commitments showcase the organization's dedication to nurturing the next generation of thinkers, curators, and artists, aligning with the foundation's mission to foster and support the growth of creative professionals in the art world. By actively engaging with artists and other stakeholders, AAF strives to create a vibrant, interconnected community that empowers the next generation of creative professionals to thrive and make a lasting impact on the global arts landscape.

Azu Nwagbogu, Director and Founder of AAF, curator of the first-ever Benin Pavilion at La Biennale di Venezia 2024 and National Geographic Society’s Explorer at Large, strengthens AAF’s positioning as the leading voice and changemaker through the power of art in Africa and its diasporas, followed by his leading interest in evolving and recontextualizing new models of creative engagement.

INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS (CURATORIAL DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION)

ANNUAL EXHIBITION | ‘Dig Where You Stand’

Date to be confirmed | Palais de Lomé, Togo

The second iteration of the traveling exhibition ‘Dig Where You Stand - From Coast to Coast’, will take place at the Palais de Lomé in Togo and other locations within Lomé. Following its inaugural exhibition in 2022 in several places including Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art (SCCA), Tamale, Ghana, and The African Artists’ Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria, ‘Dig Where You Stand’ explores the regenerative potential of art within the region and its diasporas, offering a new model of engagement with the questions of decolonization, restitution, and repatriation, both in the art world and the broader economy on the African continent. The artists and local communities explore the economies of the colonial systems that have historically marginalized vulnerable communities and find new methodologies in the art world, which reverse its value systems and return agency to exploited communities on the African continent. 2023 featured artists include: Bright Ackwerh, Sika Akpalo, Daté Kodjo Amouzou, Tété Azankpo, Renzo Martens & CATPC, Joana Choumali, Kwami Da Costa, Gustave Djonda, Dodji Efoui, Victor Ehikhamenor, Atisso Goha, Tessi Kodjovi, Léopold Ankude, Kossi Krampah, Michael MacGarry, Ibrahim Mahama, Zanele Muholi, Jerry Orlando, Hodin Segnon, and Thierry Tometi.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION | DIG WHERE YOU STAND

Date to be confirmed | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria 

The third iteration of the traveling exhibition will take place at AAF headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria.

NIAN/AAF COLLABORATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM | “Written by us, Not about us: Reclaiming Art Histories & Developing Critical Discourse in Northern Ireland and Nigeria”

August 2022 – June 2023 | Virtual Writer’s Exchange Program

African Artists’ Foundation presents its ongoing project, "Written by us, Not about us: Reclaiming Art Histories & Developing Critical Discourse in Northern Ireland and Nigeria," a writer's exchange program in collaboration with the Northern Irish Art Network (NIAN) and funded by the British Council. This initiative aims to address the lack of critical discourse surrounding the arts, especially the visual arts, in Northern Ireland and Nigeria by bringing together writers, journalists, and curators from each country to engage in a collaborative program of mentoring, commissioning, and advocacy work. As part of the project, mentees will contribute a final written piece, which will be included in a publication to be launched at the Ulster Museum and African Artists’ Foundation in May/June 2023. Building on the collaboration with NIAN, the African Artists’ Foundation is also introducing a writers' residency program. Shortlisted writers will participate in a two-week in-person residency in April 2023 at the Alliance Française de Lagos, an important partner of the African Artists’ Foundation. The residency will conclude with a public event in Lagos, where the written work will be showcased and discussed.

AG18/AAF COLLABORATIVE EXHIBITION | ‘On the Fringe’

April 18 – June 3, 2023 | AG18 Gallery, Vienna, Austria

AAF in collaboration with AG18 Gallery, Vienna, unveils the exhibition ‘On the Fringe,’ which offers an avenue for reassessing the significance of the world that does not always meet the eye, positioning it as the starting point of our existential musings. In On the Fringe, the fortress of the human mind, once a zone of privacy and exclusion, with its unsearchable musings and proclivities, comes out of incognito and we are all invited, with convivial Yoruba greetings of ẹ kaabọ, to examine and confront the multiplicity and interactions of culture, choice, and identity—as we find them conspicuously displayed in not only the works of these ten artists but even more, in our empirical world. The audience will find that it is a dedication to life—with its vibrance and vitality, manifold forms, and complexities—that drives these contemporary African artists to create, share, and live through the canvas, in today’s world. Participating artists are Ayogu Kingsley, Boris Anje, Chinaza Nkemka, Damilola Opedun, David Olatoye, Emma Odumade, Johnson Ocheja, Michelle Okpare, Talut Kareem and Wasiu Eshinlokun.

LAGOSPHOTO FESTIVAL 2023 | ‘Ground State – fellowship within the uncanny'

October 27/28 - December 2023 | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria + satellite venues

Launched in 2010, LagosPhoto is the first and only international arts festival of photography in Nigeria. During its month-long presentation, various events include exhibitions, workshops, artist presentations, discussions, screenings, and large-scale outdoor prints displayed throughout the city, to reclaim public spaces and showcase to the general public the multifaceted stories of Africa. LagosPhoto presents a contemporary and historical visual essay of the continent, to both a local and global audience. The festival fosters a community for contemporary photography, uniting local and international artists through photographs that encapsulate individual experiences and identities from across all of Africa. LagosPhoto presents and educates about photography through its connection with education, photojournalism, exploring historical and contemporary social issues, sharing cultural practices, and promoting social programs.

The 2023 iteration of the festival will be hosted in Lagos, Nigeria and Benin with a particular focus on restitution and cultural heritage. Building on the success of its previous editions, the festival travels to Benin for the first time, activating and invigorating its local art scene and vibrant cultural heritage with a week of talks, workshops and seminars around contemporary image-making, promoting meaningful conversations around restitution and its connection to contemporary photography. Lagos Photo Festival will showcase projects that explore the present moment and envision how repair, syncopation, putrefaction, restitution, and restoration will take place; challenging our own complicity in a culture of desire, founded on consumption and how to foster a fellowship of dynamic spiritual change, a rebirthing of the unimaginable. An open call for the LagosPhoto Festival 2023 invites emerging and established artists working with lens-based media to submit works that fit the theme, GROUND STATE – fellowship within the uncanny. The submission period takes place from April to June 2023.

FEMALE ARTIST DEVELOPMENT:

WOMEN’S SHOW IN COLLABORATION WITH AG18 GALLERY

Date and Location to be confirmed

AAF will continue its partnership with the AG18 Gallery located in Vienna, Austria with a second group exhibition focused solely on female artists. 

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE (AIR) PROGRAM | Johnson Ocheja Artist Residency

April 1 - 18, 2023 | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria 

In preparation for his solo exhibition at AAF, artist Johnson Ocheja will be part of the annual Artist-In-Residence program for two weeks. The program provides artists with a rich and diverse experience of Lagos, offering accommodation, studio space, and the materials necessary to create works of art for the designated period of their residency. The visiting artist has the opportunity to be involved in gallery activities and thus engage with other local and international artists. Following the completion of the residency, the exhibition of works produced will be held with specific support of the foundation. A catalog about the project will be published at the end of all residencies, encompassing the artists journeys and their mark on the community.

SOLO EXHIBITION | Johnson Ocheja | ‘A Pilgrim's Journey; Through the Shades of Yellow’

April 22 – May 20, 2023 | Alliance Française de Lagos, Nigeria

Following his participation in the ‘Artists in Residence Program’ at AAF’s headquarters, Nigerian artist Johnson Ocheja unveils his first solo exhibition ‘A Pilgrim's Journey; Through the Shades of Yellow,’ at the Alliance Française de Lagos, Nigeria. His works are deeply influenced by the notion of race, portraying and highlighting black consciousness and black beauty through a vibrant and colorful style. Frequently creating detailed scenes of black subjects with blue pigment skin symbolizing royalty, Ocheja uses the impasto technique with his fingers producing marks on the skin of his subjects inspired by scarification, an African cultural practice. Ocheja uses art as a storytelling tool to expose different beautiful stories, cultures, and political, religious, ethnic identity, and racial issues affecting his diverse community.

AAF GROUP EXHIBITION

September 2 – October 7, 2023 | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria 

AAF will unveil a group exhibition featuring local and international artists within its gallery space during the summer months. Prior to the exhibition, AAF will host a one-week Artists Retreat for all participating artists to

Lagos, encouraging a deepened sense of community and creative cooperation though various activities such as team bonding, workshops, and panel discussions.

TALK YOUR OWN (OPEN MIC)

Date to be confirmed | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria 

The monthly open mic session ‘Talk Your Own’ invites writers, poets, musicians and amateurs to perform and interact with the audience, encouraging freedom of expression. With poetry slam sessions, AAF honors and gives exposure to other art forms and provides a stage for a contemporary interpretation of the West African spoken word heritage.

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ART (YECA)

Date to be confirmed | Lagos, Nigeria 

‘The Youth Empowerment through Contemporary Art’ (YECA) is an outreach program, targeting the student population of selected public secondary schools in Lagos through art courses, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities. The aim of YECA is to provide vocational training, the acquisition of livelihood skills, a solid extracurricular outlet for youths in secondary schools and to position art as a viable career path. YECA empowers the youth with an outlet for creative expression through exhibition of their works in public spaces such as galleries and festivals, and to promote the use of contemporary art to highlight the experiences of the youth in Nigerian society. With past support from organizations such as the Ford Foundation, AAF has collaborated with several schools within Lagos, offering their students art classes and revising the visual art curriculum.

SOLO EXHIBITION | AYOGU KINGSLEY SOLO EXHIBITION

Date to be confirmed | AAF Headquarters, Lagos, Nigeria 

Nigerian artist Ayogu Kingsley, known for his hyperrealist style, will present a solo exhibition showcasing his work rooted in the expression of daily experiences and nature as a poetic countenance to the human conscience.

THE MAKER LAB EXHIBITION

Date to be confirmed | Lagos, Nigeria 

The Maker Lab is a platform for emerging artists (aged 18-35) showcasing their dynamic art. Select artists working with a variety of mediums will get a chance to present their portfolios in an interactive review session. Artists will be selected to showcase their works in an exhibition at the organization’s experimental loft space, The Maker Lab.

 NOTES TO EDITORS:

ABOUT AAF:

African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) founded in 2007, Lagos, Nigeria, is a decentralized, multivalent, metamorphic art space that embraces community values, experimental artistic principles in supporting boundary-breaking and artistic ideas. Over the years, AAF has evolved beyond the limiting shell of a non-profit, to embody an art space that is responsive, attuned to social justice issues, ecology, freedom, community initiatives by empowering creative expression.

AAF is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary art, design, and culture through residencies, workshops, innovative exhibitions, and educational programs. We aim to further challenge and inspire our community, unearth and develop more talents while also promoting inclusiveness. Our goal is to be a dynamic and interactive space that sparks meaningful dialogue and encourages critical thinking, celebrates community programs and ultimately to become a change-maker through the power of art.

Website | Instagram

Image Credits:

1.Johnson Ocheja, Beauty from the Little, 2023. Courtesy of Johnson Ocheja.
2.Johnson Ocheja, Serenity, 2023. Courtesy of Johnson Ocheja.
3.Azu Nwagbogu Portrait. Courtesy of Communic'Art Agency, 2023.
4.African Artists’ Foundation Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, 2023. Courtesy of African Artists’ Foundation. 5.Maïmouna Guerresi, Beyond the border, LagosPhoto Festival 2019. Courtesy of African Artists’ Foundation
6.Landing Page- LagosPhoto Home Museum Website Landing Page, 2020. Courtesy of African Artists’ Foundation

 Download PDF