Journal Artistique Magazine No°2 | June 2019 by aime aime Publications

OPUS 18035 by Mar ie Chr istine Foucher - Poig nan t & Fr ançois Poig nan t

NO°2 J UN E 2 019

Editor’s Pick , p 62

Kwo wonn SSeerriieess : P i l e u p & & Rub – C Chhiinnkk ((1199--3 5 ) by S o oonniikk K Represented by Miaja Galler y

Life is Art The canvass is blank I stare out the window Looking for inspiration We star t life with so little A good name at best All is to be done All is to be lived The whiteness is glaring Until the first strokes The fir st bursts of colour s Slowly the image emerges Which tells a stor y Contained, it seems In a geometr y that in tr uth Rarely can hold but par t Of what our life is about. We put down our emotions Paint dripping like tear s Our dar kest fear s Painful memories Moments of joy A momentous wor k of Ar t That is our s to carr y through Days after year s Staring each day At an empty page Wondering what the br ush Will put down as witness The colour s of the days Are for us to decide We are the maker s Of our own ar twor k Staring at us like mirror s Reflections of our selves Of how well we could learn To paint the colour s of our life.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Isabelle Miaja 31 May, 2019 Sydney, Australia

Journal Artistique

Editorial Team

Editor in Chief

Isabelle Miaja

Content Editor

Sophia Smith

Magazine Design Artist

Brenna Soong

Editorial Feature Writers:

Mollie Jean De Dieu , Mr. Q, Lucie Pugnot , Aleksandra Lis, Naomi Stahl, Bernard Yves Chatel Art Contributors Edition II

Marie Christine Foucher-Poignant & François Poignant Sebastiano Navarra Soonik Kwon Sponsors Edition II

Nespresso Singapore Bang & Olufsen Singapore Goodrich Global Arista MM Galleri Omnia Lifestyles Quiddity

For Editorial, Sponsorship and Distribution Enquiries, please contact: Sophia Smith T. (+65) 6737 8979 | M . (+44) 7875 938084 E . press @ miajadesigngroup.com

Journal Artistique is published by “aime aime” publications and is a company magazine by M A I S O N M I A JA M A I S O N M I A JA Brands Miaja Design Group

E . info@miajadesigngroup.com

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T. +65 6737 8979

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EDITOR’S NOTE It’s been three months since our first edition of Journal Ar tistique Magazine, and so many exciting events have taken place. I travelled to Hong Kong for Art Basel, where I had the chance to see so many great works from Ar tists from all over the world. From Yayoi Kusama to Schiele’s retrospective and so many more, my head was spinning! For Ar t aficionados, it’s a must ‘go-to’ event. Miaja Ar t Collections - Contemporar y Ar t Galler y also par ticipated in Affordable Art Fair Hong Kong, with talented Ar tists such as Ieo Gek Ching, Charlotte Elizabeth, Carla Grace and Nissa Kauppila. Going to fairs is not only an inspiration but also a great boost when you are in the galler y business. I visited Fiji, a wonderful destination. Seeing our interior design project Pullman Nadi Resort & Spa finally opened was a great achievement for Miaja Design Group’s team and myself; especially when I see that the result has all of the vibrancy and atmosphere intended in our original designs. Working alongside Architect Jiten Narsey and his capable team was a pleasure and having owners that put their best foot forward, trusting their designer, was a blessing. I also went to FAME, a design fair in Manila, where I met the amazing designers Genevieve and Stephanie Go of Quiddity. This sister duo is so dynamic and creative that we ended up planning a pop-up show in our Ar t Galler y in October 2019... their bags indeed are a work of Ar t ! You can read about how they conceptualised their line of handbags in this edition. Meeting David Boucher in Sydney and seeing his bespoke furniture and curio pieces up-close was also a fantastic experience which you can discover this issue. Witnessing how Ar t flows in so many different sectors, confirms my determination to give creativity a platform for such talents. Bringing people’s ideas together and manifesting them within the pages of Journal Ar tistique is a journey that gives my team and I a great sense of fulfilment. Is ab e l l e Miaj a E di t or i n Chief

10 26 10

O N T H E C OV E R M a r i e C h r i s t i n e F o u c h e r- Po i g n a n t & F r a n ç o i s Po i g n a n t

F E AT U R E D A R T I S T S e b a s t i a n o N av a r r a

" I N BE D WI T H " Ar t Collector, Hady Ang

F E AT U R E P u l l m a n N a d i B a y R e s o r t & S p a , F i j i

ART & WE L L N E S S The Gateway of the Spa

G O O D R I C H G L O BA L T h e A r t o f S p a c e

A R I S TA H a n d - K n o t t e d D r e a m s … w h e n a r u g i s s o m u c h m o r e

SA R T O R I A L W I S D O M

Man vs Colour : Demystifying an age old myth

CONTENTS

QU I D D I T Y Handcr afted Leather Bags for the Moder n Explorer

A R T D E L A TA B L E I n t e r v i e w w i t h C h e f J u l i e n R oye r

F E AT U R E M a i s o n M i a j a , ' S a l o n L o u i s X V I '

M M G AL L E R I The Ar t of Bending Stone

O M N I A L I F E S T Y L E D av i d B o u c h e r & C o

N E S P R E S S O O n e Po d A t A T i m e

A R T S C E N E S i n g a p o r e , L o n d o n , Pa r i s

EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PICK

Soonik Kwon

C O N T R I B U TO R S

S OPHIA SMITH Sophia Smith is the PR & Communications Director of Maison Miaja and the content editor of Journal Artistique. She grew up in Oxford UK and completed a Media & Communications degree from Universidad de Navarra, Spain. For the past ten years, Sophia has worked for the local press, lifestyle publications and in digital marketing. In recent years, she set up a Marketing & Communications consultancy business, working with companies in the UK, US and Singapore.

MOLLIE JEAN DE DIEU

MR. Q

LUCIE PUGNOT

A self-proclaimed citizen of the world, Mollie grew up between Africa , France , the United States and has made Asia her home for the past twelve years. Mother of two, aged six and four, Mollie currently resides in Singapore with her family where she carries the busy role of General Manager for the French Maison, L O N G C H A M P. Her stamina in life resides in the continuous seeking of channels that cater to wholesomeness, empowerment and mindfulness. She sees life through a grounded rose coloured lens whilst holding onto the firm belief that ‘those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.’

Obsessive. Relentless. Curious. Just three words, but in those words lies the definition of my modus operandi and personhood - at any point, I am at least one of the above ... in my best moments, I am all three at once.

Born and raised in southern France, in the idyllic Alps meets Provence landscapes, Lucie was initiated to French cuisine & wine by her parents in their family farm. For over a decade she has explored the world and experienced ar t, craftsmanship, culinary and oenology appreciation around the world: from Paris, Italy, India, Russia, Hong Kong to Singapore where she currently lives. In 2008, meeting Pino Grasso - renowned Italian designer for Chanel and Versace - in his Milan workshop, revealed her passion for Ar t & Craftsmanship. For the past six years she has worked within the luxur y industr y, including Krug Champagne. Lucie loves to share her appetite for Ar t with her twin sister, an emerging photographer in France and her Culinar y Ar t with her par tner, celebrated Chef for his #reinventingbritish Cuisine.

I have been designing men’s clothing for ten years now and The Prefecture has been in business for four years ; dressing men in their finest tropical sar torial wears. Here's to another decade!

C O N T R I B U TO R S

A L E K SA N D R A LIS

NAO M I S TA H L

B E R NA R D YVE S C H AT E L

Aleksandra has been working as art manager and ar t consultant for over 10 years in Singapore both representing local and international artists. She has been managing commercial art galleries and selling artwork on both primary and secondary markets. Aleksandra has organized art exhibitions for both emerging and established ar tists including artists like Yaacov Agam, Salvador Dali and David Gerstein. Prior this she was the General Manager of Singapore Dance Theatre and Festival Manager of Singapore International Film Festival. Her art career began with the Polish Embassy in Singapore where she worked as the Culture Officer for over 5 years organizing concer ts, exhibitions, performances, gala events, lectures and many other diplomatic events. She holds a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Law from the University of Warsaw and worked as a lawyer in the European Cour t of Justice in Luxembourg and with leading European law firms in Warsaw and Munich before relocating to Singapore in 2003.

Naomi is an ar t consultant based in London, UK, and has gained extensive experience working with international ar tists and set designers to produce evocative exhibitions across Europe and Southeast Asia.

Born in Casablanca (MOROCCO), he has been an Ar t collector for many years. He has spent 30 years travelling around the globe for business and leisure.

She earned her first-class fashion design degree in London, with an emphasis on the environmental impacts of consumer retail habits. This triggered her timely transition into the field of ar t management and she went on to complete curatorial studies at the Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Institute of Ar t. Today, curating immersive exhibition experiences for her clientele continues to be a central focus of her practice, and inspires her community outreach initiatives that look to create emotional connections between ar t and new audiences.

Currently he is the owner BY CHATEL Galler y in Paris next to Place des Vosges â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Le Marais . His contemporar y ar t galler y focuses on solo and group ar t exhibitions.

O N T H E C OV E R

Sans titre 17 (left) & Sans titre 16 (right) Acr ylic and engraving on paper, 75 x 50 cm

Marie Christine Foucher - Poignant & François Poignant

Text | Isabelle Miaja Ar tworks | Foucher-Poignant

Marie Christine Foucher-Poignant and François Poignant have been professional ar tist painters since 1998. Their work draws upon a careful study of the balance between forms and colours. The duo is a four -handed orchestration defined by a common set of protocol; series, format, number of colours, embossing and asymmetr y. Combining motifs may appear a simple, but it’s a creative process that pushes them to the limit and is almost on the verge of chaos and imbalance. By carefully laying out the solid coloured shapes with the hollows, they compensate themselves in the search for serenity. Each hand-drawn shape without perfect geometr y is counter-balanced by other imperfect elements. For both ar tists, the aim of this approach is that the tension between the different components creates a calming style of work, which is also surprising, enigmatic and evident.

FOUCHER-POIGNANT

In the atelier, from conception to realisation, both ar tists work hand in hand with a veto system at any point in time. They chose engraving as their medium, and this technique demands a high level of skill or ‘savoir-faire’ to be able to achieve the desired result. There again, simplicity is only at the surface. Once a composition is created and validated between each other, they transcribe the motifs on a linoleum or wood. Then they both star t engraving with their chisel and go through the inking and rolling press process. The final engraving on paper called ‘Estampe’ is also validated as a team. More complex is the technique of ‘Gaufrage’ or embossing. It pushes the paper to its resistance limit and the result adds another layer of perception, invisible from afar. The new discreet forms that appear surprise the eye, they answer to the coloured forms and their shadows evolve throughout the day. Marie Christine Foucher-Poignant graduated with a Diplome National Superieur D’expression Plastique in 1989 and was a tutor of Plastic Ar t for nine years, while also practising freelance graphic and textile design. François Poignant was a self-taught freelance graphic designer. They both left their respective jobs and star ted practising their ar t exclusively since 1998. They both live in an amazing environment between Mont Saint-Michel and Les Iles Chausey, a setting that inspires their creativity. They both par ticipate in international fair s ( Maison Et Objet, Ambiente Frankfurt, Spring Fair Birmingham).

Ar tworks by Marie Christine Foucher- Poignant & François Poignant are available at Miaja Ar t Collections. For more info, contact : info@miajaar tcollections.com

Sans titre 13 Acr ylic and engraving on paper, 75 x 50 cm

F E AT U R E D A RT I S T

Ar tist, Sebastiano Navarra

Featured Artist : Sebastiano Navarra

Text | Miaja Ar t Collections Ar tworks | Sebastiano Navarra

Sebastiano was born in Milan, Italy, to Spanish and Italian parents that encouraged his creativity from a young age. By 16, he was ‘Photoshopping’ por traits of famous people by hand, and upon graduating from the famous Accademia Delle Belle Ar ti Di Brera in Milan, Sebastiano won a prestigious award to work with J Walter Thompson in Bogota, Colombia. A self-proclaimed discoverer and leader in his field, he quickly rose to the position of Creative Director and a key figure in the adver tising world. For the next decade of his career, he pursued a creative investigation that gravitated towards the concept of ‘The Beauty of Allure’ that combined Ar t, creativity and marketing – captivating the essence of Pop Ar t in the 1960’s.

S E B A S T I A N O N AVA R R A

It was there in Bogota, that Sebastiano began his professional career as an ar tist after a sell-out show at The National Museum titled ‘The Disappeared Cities’. He later returned to Italy and continued collaborations in adver tising , focusing on ‘ The Evolution of Communication’ in the modern age. Sebastiano became par t of an exclusive circle of like-minded

ar tists and architects, including Botero and Rojas, who also focused on this ar tistic investigation, and the realisation of these concepts through their own ar tistic practices. This investigation initialised another fer tile period of Sebastiano’s own Ar t, which ultimately flowed into the creative expression that exists in his present works.

Interior “Dog play with ball” , 2018 Acr ylic on Wood, 122 x 122 cm

F E AT U R E D A RT I S T

Corazzata Potemkin , 2018 Acr ylic on Wood, 122 x 122 cm

Greatly influenced by Picasso, he recognises and loves phases in ar t histor y. The same could be said for Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and all those that he represents within his ar t. His dilemma, he confesses, is how to translate those personalities – ‘the Greats’ – into the world of today and make them relevant, so they can live with him in this lifetime.

Today, you can find Sebastiano’s works in private collections around the world, having exhibited across Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. In Singapore, Sebastiano is represented by at Miaja Ar t Collections – Contemporar y Ar t Galler y, where he has had various solo and group exhibitions.

S E B A S T I A N O N AVA R R A

Futurismo (Alonso Sanchez Coello Infanta Isabella Clara) , 2015 Acr ylic on Wood, 122 x 122 cm

Ar tworks by Sebastiano Navarra are available at Miaja Ar t Collections. For more info, contact : info@miajaar tcollections.com

“IN BED WITH”

“ Art is Life – Life is Art ”

Inter view | Isabelle Miaja Photos | Various Ar tists

Interview with Art Collector, Hady Ang Hady Ang is a Singaporean ar t collector. He is well known in the Ar t circle, and respected by curators and his fellow collector friends alike for his acumen in collecting Ar t across the region. He travels far and wide from Singapore to Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Europe to major fairs in search of elusive Ar t pieces that will add philosophical value to his collection.

“ My search revolves around social relevance. I want to collect Art that is a testimony of our present times. ”

Hady and I met casually over lunch and I asked him a few questions about his journey as a collector, to which he candidly responded.

IM: Hady, when did you start collecting Art ? HA: I started buying Art in 1979. I was interested in Chinese antiques at the time; this was my first passion. Ceramics, carved jade sculptures and ancient bronze that dated as far back as the Shang dynasty, 3500 years ago. At the time, there were almost no restrictions in China for antique exports. I had a connection with an antique dealer who had sources in China that helped him locate great pieces. It was a significant learning experience after graduating from Singapore University as an Art & Social Science alumnus. My quest for antiques was taking me across centuries, provoking a lot of conversations over authenticity and I was doing a lot of historical research to trace the provenance of each coveted piece. Then China slowly closed its doors, prices started rocketing, and I realised that I needed to move to another art passion.

Isabelle Miaja and Hady Ang

“IN BED WITH”

IM: What was your next step ? HA: In 2007, I started collecting contemporary Art. After selling my Chinese antique collection, I was in an excellent position to buy top contemporary artists such as Ronald Ventura, Agus Suwage and Natee Utarit. I had friends with impressive Arts in their homes; and yet their collecting journey was not what I wanted for myself. IM: What is your Contemporar y Collection about ? HA: My search revolves around social relevance. I want to collect Art that is a testimony of our present times. I want to build a visual document of our society and particularly a record of South East Asia's evolution in many aspects of our differences. We are made up of many countries which reflect differently in their past and their present, as well being a projection into the future. That translation into contemporary Art is what I aspire to collect.

OMG 1 Commissioned work by Anton Del Castillo Mixed media, gold leaf resin, 3 x 3.3 m

IM: Why S.E.A. Contemporar y Art in particular ?

IM: What is part of the journey to becoming a collector?

HA: At the time, I was looking to build my collection affordably, the best within my budget. South East Asia as a collective of countries has a young art scene; talented artists that are conceptual and not known internationally. This is a human story I am emotionally attached to.

HA: In the beginning, you start with a love for Art in any form, it's a passion that slowly grabs you. Like any passion, your life slowly revolves around it. When travelling, you will look out for museums and galleries, and your eye will start training to recognise styles and forms. You will pick up books to educate yourself, to learn about iconic artists of the past and the different time periods. You will seek fellow art lovers, and you will start buying with your heart.

IM: Why did you call your collection P.I.G.? HA: P is for ‘Political’ - I is for ‘Immortality’ - G is for ‘Gods’. Politics, Religion and angst over life and death are part of every society's fabric. I want my collection of Art not just to be an accumulation, but a reflection of my quest as an answer seeker to the deepest anxieties of humankind.

It's ok to make mistakes and to find your way into what you love - as there is no right or wrong. At that moment when an artwork speaks to your heart, you follow that impulse to purchase something meaningful. Your journey as an art collector has started; and hopefully it will last until the day you die because Arts will expand your mind and keep you thirsty for knowledge; which in turn will keep you young forever.

“IN BED WITH”

Eating Air , 2018 by Alvin Ong Oil on canvas, 175 x 285 cm

IM: Your journey as an Art Collector ?

IM: What is your latest purchase ?

HA: I too have bought Art I shouldn't have, it's part of the learning curve. I soon realised that I needed to have a theme, a framework, a purpose to my collection that is why I focused on P.I.G. and my quest for a meaningful body of artworks. It gave me a purpose and guidelines so as not to be distracted emotionally. Mind over heart, and as a mature collector, we become more selective and less compulsive, although sometimes I failed.

HA: I bought a piece by Alvin Ong, a contemporary artist from Singapore. My Singaporean collection is minimal as there are so very few artists here that attack strong issues, we're used to conforming because of our educational system. Alvin is one of the few that depicts the particularities of our island's society in his paintings. IM: What is the ultimate purpose of your collection ?

IM: Where do you find the Artwor ks to build your collection? HA: I go to fairs such as Art Basel, but also the smaller ones where I search for arts that convey on canvas the throws of our societies and match my theme. As my collection is narrowed down to a more pointed search, so did the scarcity of the available artworks. Nowadays, I find myself commissioning work to artists that speak that language. It's a collaboration between the artist and myself, as the commission needs to complement the artist's quest and the commissioned piece is part of a creative body of work. We add value to each other.

HA: History repeats itself. My collection is a testimony of humankind through politics. It explores impulses, desires and the search for answers through religion. It's also a glimpse into South East Asia's depths, its mindset and evolution depicted and reinterpreted by its homegrown artists. Artists are always the mirrors into our souls throughout history. I hope my collection will stay together as one, and that it continues to translate its message long after I am gone.

Thank you, Hady, our time was a meaningful insight into your art collecting wor ld. I hope ever yone that reads your jour ney will find something that comforts their jour ney and maybe you will have passed on 'the bug' to a new collector! – Isabelle Miaja

P U L L M A N N A D I B AY R E S O RT & S PA

Reception

Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, Fiji

Introduction | Sophia Smith Photos | Pullman Nadi Bay Resor t & Spa

Interior Design by Miaja Design Group . Surrounded by uninterrupted ocean views, Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is Fiji’s newest resor t. Located on Wailoaloa beachfront and overlooked by vistas of the island's most recognised mountain The Sleeping Giant, this unique resor t concept by Miaja Design Group is inspired by the colourful and vibrant Fijian culture. The resor t has 236 rooms and suites along with an extensive range of facilities including four restaurants, three bars and swimming pools, a day spa, 24-hour fitness centre and impressive meeting rooms which can host up to 525 guests.

“People travel to Fiji from all over the world because it's a joyous, dynamic and diverse location, renowned for its natural beauty. I wanted the resort design to reflect all of the positive energy, bright colours and symbolism of traditional Fijian culture, and to translate this into a contemporar y design for the modern traveller.” comments Isabelle Miaja, founder of Miaja Design Group.

F E AT U R E

Lounge Area

The lobby area offers a warm Fijian welcome from the onset, including wooden canoe style seating and bright coloured sculptures, designed by Isabelle Miaja. These rotating ver tical columns named ‘Totem’ connect storytelling imager y in an apotheosis of balance in motion, and feature flowing patterns and symbols inspired by local culture and island nature. Traditional ar ts and crafts in Fiji include wood-car ving, potter y and Tapa Cloth, also known as Masi. Tapa is made from the bark of the paper mulberr y tree and decorated in charcoal with symbolic motifs and dancing patterns. Throughout the resor t, geometric shapes feature on the walls, floor tiles and carpets. The use of wood, metal and stone creates a light contemporar y feel and balances the occasional wild bursts of rainbow colours within the design. Lobby with ‘Totem’ sculptures by Isabelle Miaja

P U L L M A N N A D I B AY R E S O RT & S PA

Dan Dan Noodle Bar

Kah Restaurant

P U L L M A N N A D I B AY R E S O RT & S PA

Pool

The four signature restaurants and three bars offer a range of dining options in a relaxed-chic setting. Lobby based RO Bar ser ves fresh fare and juices with seafacing seating. Magiti restaurant (which appropriately means ‘communal feast’ in Fijian) delivers on its name to offer all-day dining. DanDan, open for lunch daily, specialises in fast, fresh food inspired by street vendors and the flavours of Asia. Pullman’s Barefoot Bar & Grill is an ‘all ages’, taste and budget affair, with rotisserie, grills, tandoor, roasts and sharing plates. To make the most of the sun setting Kah is the Thai restaurant set directly on the beach.

Guests can soak up the sun at one of the three dreamy palm-lined pools surrounded by island nature or unwind in the divine day-spa, named Veikau. Beyond the spa, there is also a fully equipped gymnasium with indoor and outdoor workout spaces and two tennis cour ts on-site. For adventure seekers, there is a beachfront water- spor ts centre, with Hobie-cats, jet skis, quad-biking and many other options available onsite. Sea Planes – ideal for day trips and island hopping – fly in and out less than 500 metres down the beachfront. Pullman Nadi Bay Resor t & Spa is a cosmopolitan coastal playground with a unique ar tistic signature by Miaja Design Group. By honouring local culture and the natural beauty of its location, this new resor t is the ideal retreat for globe-trotters looking for an unforgettable escape to Fiji.

Pullman Nadi Bay Resor t & Spa, Interior Design of public areas by Miaja Design Group. For more information about Miaja Design Group, visit: www.miajadesigngroup.com Resor t Architecture by Jiten Narsey, LMH Architects Ltd

A RT & W E L L N E S S

Pullman Naithon Beach Resor t, Phuket

The Gateway of the Spa

Text | Mollie Rogers Jean De Dieu

I decided in this month’s issue to talk about the healing ar t of leading spa therapists and how they channel through their touch, words and peacefulness, a wholesomeness that paints the human soul with a renewed sense of wellness: be it emotional, physical or spiritual. I happened to meet, through divine inter vention perhaps, a woman by the name of Dao or in her full Thai name, Thiraschagarn Tantawewong. I was instantly drawn to her upon entering the spa of the Pullman Naithon Beach in Phuket. Dao is no stranger to the world of ar t and wellness. She graduated from Bournemouth & Poole of Ar t and design BA (Hons) UK. She then on set up the Banyan Tree in Phuket Bangkok, the Banyan Tree Spa at Raj Villas Oberoi in Jaipur, India and the Ayur vedic center at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok — to name just a handful of her achievements. Yet Dao calls herself a spa director, healer and ar tist. She has been living in her hometown of Phuket for the last 5 years, and talks about how her father is a healer too. She claims that she can feel the energy of the birds, butterflies and dragonflies and that they are attracted to her and come to warn her when she faces danger or adversity ahead. She alleges having the gift to see the ailments in people through merely looking at them and sensing their energy. Her self-given name is no mistake here too. “The Chinese word dao means a way or a path. Confucians used the term dao to speak of the way human beings ought to behave in society. In other words, dao, for them, was an ethical or moral way.” Dao, in her daily life, enlightens her spa guests with a renewed sense of peace, direction and purpose.

A RT & W E L L N E S S

“ Healing is an Art. It takes time. It takes practice. It takes love ”.

I pondered for quite a while on what makes the ar t of wellness, be it through a massage or any treatment for that matter, an actual ‘ar t’ and an intuitive gateway to touch the human soul. Dao likes to think that schooling is what provides you with the raw materials of knowledge. How one then chooses to apply the education received, is up to each individual. For Dao, wellness is the ar t of giving. She consistently seeks out how many people she can inspire in a day. For her, – Unknown healthy eating and fitness for example, are effectively a life routine. The spa however is more of a sanctuar y of healing; it I went on to ask Dao how she responds when facing a ver y is a space that allows therapists to show their negative and difficult person. Surely, we have all at one appreciation for the core being in ever y guest time or another, been that person, whether we would and accompany individuals on their cleansing like to admit it or not. What she said made me experience. On average eighty percent of people smile; like her, if you refer to my biography at the that Dao sees, feel empty inside, depleted and need star t of this magazine, I too believe in magic. help, she shares. No matter how rich or happy or She went on to say that when she comes beautiful in appearance, some people are masters in into contact with such a guest, she covering up, but it harms them in the long run. Dao creates an imaginative protective communicates to them the ar t of peeling away their shield, such a big soap bubble sadness and anxiety through touch and healing techniques. around her. She believes in the She goes on to say that a key unspoken spa rule for this unseen and it allows her to magic to happen however is that staff must let go of their stay at peace: “it is like issues upon entering the gates of the spa or else they will Tibetan monks who stay in transfer their energy to the person they are in contact with: the cold but still feel this is oftentimes the root cause in poor treatments received warm” she whispers in she claims. Dao teaches her staff that shedding any of their her soft and rhythmic ailments is as simple as making the choice to do so and taking voice. They bring a deep inhale and exhale upon coming to work ever y their awareness to morning. Practice, repetition and determination is after all another realm and how she mastered the ar t of doing it herself. Therapists thereby transpor t have to help themselves first before tr ying to help anyone themselves away else. She preaches the impor tance of seeing any problem from the sensorial as separate from one’s body. “Take anger” says Dao: unpleasantness of “visualise yourself pushing it out from your body. It is a the cold. form of evacuating out the toxins from within; but you have to be still in doing this exercise. And the best way for you to know that you have mastered the ar t of stillness is when you feel at peace in a chaotic space like a market or an airpor t.”

A RT & W E L L N E S S

Tenderness , 2019 by Charlotte Elizabeth Acr ylic on canvas , 122 x 183 cm

And what about the healing ar t of massage? Dao talks about it while doing up and down strokes with her hands and says: “it is like tai chi and being one with the universe.” There is a realm of the beyond that comes into play and even if she has therapists who do not believe in it, she uplifts and praises them daily. She paves the way through her example. The spa is a gateway upon which, when you enter, you get much more than a massage or a treatment of any kind. You get a restorative experience. “A lot of guests post treatment feel light, as if they were floating and they often do not want to go back into the real world” reveals Dao. The spa is a haven whereby therapists bring for th their healing ar tistic capabilities through their unique forms of curative expression. Dao even exposes her ar t there as she knows that it too, is therapeutic. And almost as if she really didn’t want to forget to mention this as her final note, she looked at me in the eyes, put her hand on mine, leaned in and stated: “we live in a feeling world, please let us never forget this — let us continue to uplift one another for the greater good.” And as deeply as her words resonated with me, a sudden rush of love and gratitude streamed through my body. Yes, sister and brothers, we are all, ONE. Peace be with you.

The human touch. The power of connection. Kindness, affection, love and joy. An image inspired by the power of humanity. The smallest gesture of tenderness often outweighing the most dramatic image of hate. – Ar twork Narrative by Charlotte Elizabeth

GOODRICH GLOBAL

Cole & Son, Fornasetti Senza Tempo wallpaper collection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Arance

The Art of Space

Text | Goodrich Global Photos | Goodrich Global

Adding style to function . Sponsored by Goodrich Global

The secret to creating a lovely home is all about the mix. By choosing key pieces and styling up with interesting home accessories or beloved vintage pieces, one can create a look that is contemporar y yet unique. At Goodrich, we provide the perfect finishing touch to ever y interior.

We offer an extensive collection of interior wallcoverings, fabrics, carpets and flooring (laminate, vinyl, engineered timber, outdoor decking, rubber tiles (indoor & outdoor) for you to create a completely personalized furnished ambience. With a range of interiors that incorporates ever ything from statement pieces to characterful coverings, the new 2019 collections will not disappoint.

GOODRICH GLOBAL

Top: Camengo, Elite fabrics collection – Cognac | Bottom: Brink & Campman, Estella collection – Harmony

GOODRICH GLOBAL

Cole & Son, Fornasetti Senza Tempo wallpaper collection – Malachite

Specialty Wallcovering Add a touch of ar tisan with specialty wallcoverings from America, Europe and Japan. Capture the beauty of the nature with these collections of wallcovering. Feature Walls Add character to any space with a feature wall with interesting wallcovering inspired by interesting motifs and designs by Fonasetti, Cole & San. Upholstery and Drapery Having fabrics in an interior is a sure way to elevate a space’s glamourous factor. The fabrics from the Elitie collection from Camengo will fulfill the desire for daily luxur y, exquisite materials and ultra design trends.

Curtain Call For a touch of ar tisan, style your place with a KriskaDECOR cur tain made of small, anodized aluminum links, an authentic metal textile that is light and versatile. The cur tains are totally customizable in design, size and shape. Ideal as space dividers indoors and out, the cur tains add visual interest and a unique texture to the home and work spaces. Plush carpets There’s something luxurious about a plush or textured carpets right under your bare feet. Along with softening a room, these exquisite carpets from Estella, Brink & Campman, provides extra cushioning and can help diminish noise.

Goodrich Global SINGAPORE (GALLERY) 8 Changi South Lane #01-01, Singapore 486113 T: (65) 6788 6868 | E: galler y_singapore@goodrichglobal.com | www.goodrichglobal.com/singapore

A R I S TA

Terr y Ong, Carpet Specialist at Arista

Hand-Knotted Dreamsâ&#x20AC;Ś when a rug is so much more

Text | Isabelle Miaja Photos | Arista

Sponsored by MM Galleri

When describing natural stone as a material for design or manufacturing, we could use words such as heavy and rigid – both sound accurate in a traditional sense. However, times have changed and a revolutionar y new marble technology by MM Galleri is breaking the mold (literally). The award-winning technique of ‘bended marble’ has taken decades of passion, research and innovation to perfect. MM Galleri is here to bend the rules of design.

Established in 1992, MM Galleri is specialised in supplying a wide range of natural stone, providing innovative ‘bended marble’ solutions to architects, interior designers, furniture craftsman, developers, and home owners in Singapore and across the world. The backstor y of how their technology was developed is inspiring because it relates to honouring the beauty of natural materials within the design.

MM GALLERI

Award Winning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC; Bent and Light â&#x20AC;&#x2122; project by MM Galleri â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a 400 quare-metre cave showroom made out of marble

Back in the nineties, Company Founder Peter Tjioe was working in the high-end furniture industr y and was consistently surprised to see that marble with veins was being rejected by manufacturers. His viewpoint was that dismissing the natural beauty of these stones was a terrible waste, and that design trends constantly change. In retrospect, he was right, because today Statuario (white marble with distinct grey and gold veining throughout and a striking, bold pattern) is now one of the most popular stone materials in the world. With this seed of thought firmly planted, he star ted his

quest to overcome some of the challenges associated with manufacturing natural stone. Forward to 2001, Peter continued to have a fascination with natural stone, and developed the technology to cut stone up to 1mm thick, thus solving the issue of weight. However, slicing it thin made it too fragile, so to give the material a better structure it was blended with other materials such as aluminium or plywood. This meant at this stage of development, it could be used as a laminate for walls and floors.

MM GALLERI

MM Galleri designs also include fashion items

It wasn’t until 2012 when by chance, the ‘lightbulb moment’ finally happened. While developing a set of three marble dividers with a steel structure in the middle, Peter and his team noticed that the marble could in fact bend. After five more years of research, in late 2016, the ‘bended marble’ technique as it’s known today was born opening up a world of design possibilities in 3D. Organic designs such as furniture and other unique objects could now be made out of stone. Today, incredible creations even include an onyx guitar and fashion items. Over the years, MM Galler y have worked on various high-end design projects around the world. Recently they completed a superblock project in Medan. It used 140,000 sqm of stone and took three years to complete. In Singapore, the flagship MM Galleri showroom is the proud embodiment their work. Their interior design won the Pinnacle Award for Best Commercial Project by the Natural Stone Institute in 2018.

Walking into the showroom feels like entering a cocoon made out of marble. This atmospheric design concept was inspired by Disney’s movie Finding Nemo, visitors to the showroom with find themselves submerged in the ar t of bended marble technology. In the 400 - square - meter cave – aptly named the ‘Bent and Light Project’ – the walls are cladded over the cur ves and contours of the chamber to show the extensive ways marble can be used as walls. It seems ver y fitting to be inspired by Nemo, the little fish who ventured out of his comfor t zone. When we challenge ourselves to think outside the box, we sometimes make amazing discoveries.

MM Galleri Singapore by Sharikat Stone Pte Ltd 6 Chin Bee Avenue, #04-01, Singapore 619930 T: (65) 6266 39872 | www.mmgalleri.com

OMNIA LIFESTYLES

Boucher Inspired Rolls-Royce Ghost Treadplate

Bespoke Furniture

Text | Isabelle Miaja Photos | David Boucher & Nick Cubbin

When Workmanship meets Art â&#x20AC;&#x201C; David Boucher

I met David Boucher for the first time at an event curated by Michael Lee from Omnia Lifestyles in Singapore. I always tr y my best to attend his events as he has an uncanny way of putting great people together and introducing amazing talents. Unfailing from his reputation of combining elegance with uniqueness, Michael delighted us with a meeting with bespoke furniture master David Boucher.

The desk was an exquisite creation; with handpicked precious wood veneers and inlays made with a level of skill that only the best in the craft can achieve. The desk was inspired by Ar t Deco; a style that hovers between classical and contemporar y but still manages to stay current after two centuries. A period David Boucher chose after reading about it in books; he felt it suited his appreciation of clean lines and excellence.

That night David Boucher unveiled a specially commissioned desk which not only was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, but also of inventiveness.

Inventiveness is par t of David Boucherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personality, also with a touch of mischievousness, as I learned later on in our second meeting in Sydney, where he resides with his charming wife, Margaret.

F E AT U R E

Macassar Ebony Pyramid with concealed chest of drawers with open and secret compar tments

OMNIA LIFESTYLES

Boucher & Co Workshop

Secret compar tments have been par t of furniture making in the past, and David has brought this feature back to life. He calls them “creative mechanical features” and they are fascinating to discover. David spoke of their intricacies; each mechanism is always bespoke, as such delicate crafts must be handmade. As David spoke, he did not give any clues of the compar tments hidden in the belly of the desk we were looking at; these are secrets that only its new owner would know. Whispers of camouflaged mechanisms made me reminisce about stories from my childhood. I remembered tales about the grand adventures of the Mousquetaires; stolen necklaces and hidden parchments locked up in desk compar tments that if discovered would undo a Queen. My breath was taken away as David Boucher’s stories unfolded. He told of bespoke pieces shipped to far away palaces, from the Emirates to old Europe. Nowadays, David puts his amazing seal onto furniture, jeweller y and watch boxes or anything else your hear t desires.

Asia being his new playground; he creates unique commissioned pieces, and this unparalleled quality comes at a price tag that only the chosen few can enjoy. Rightly so; made with the finest of materials and specialised handcraft, the “atelier” in Toowoomba can only achieve a few pieces a year. Rarity makes each piece invaluable. My experience that first evening was so rich in emotions and discoveries, I knew I had to meet David again to write a stor y in our magazine. I got the chance to do so a month later, during a business trip to Sydney. David and Margaret received me with such grace and generosity, over a dinner that not only delighted the taste buds (yes, David is a great cook too!) and with specially selected organic wines, we spoke of his past. He recounted about the learning cur ves that put him to the test, his resilience and determination to achieve his dreams, but also of the future that holds many more such experiences that forge the strong to become legends.

OMNIA LIFESTYLES

Macassar & Shagreen Console

Bowtie Tray in Macassar Ebony and shagreen with Black Ebony inlays

I spoke about espieglerie (French for mischievousness) as it’s also par t of David’s faceted personality and maybe a trait we share as he tells me about his French ancestors. Before ser ving desser t ; David led me to his famous pyramid box and challenged me to open the sealed drawers. He explained a previous guest stayed in front of it for hours, not letting them go to sleep... and gave up in the end. I was determined to show how smar t and crafty I could be. I achieved this somewhat; coaxing and charm were heavily used to get some clues, and Margaret’s feminine suppor t was exhor ted as she sat there with an amused smile while she watched me struggling pathetically. I got my desser t; I can’t help remembering the twinkle in his eye as I admitted defeat.

Royce histor y an outsider craftsman has been invited to contribute to their unique, one of a kind luxur y cars. With Vacheron Constantin and many other prestigious brand collaborations under his belt, including private clients that may be of the discreet kind but nonetheless famous. David Boucher’s achievements make past masters such as Boulle and Rhulmann hail him and accept him in their select inner circle of exceptional Ebenistes.

Bourcher & Co has worked on the Ghost interior, introducing Galluchat’s Shagreen, the first time in Rolls

Thank you, David, for being a great stor yteller and an inspiration. A bientot!

I left their home with a smile and a slight regret knowing I would never get to sit at my own David Boucher desk. But then again, who knows? We make our own dreams come true. This was the last nugget of wisdom David left me with as I passed the door.

For more information, please visit : Boucher & Co Design: www.boucherandco.com | Omnia Lifestyles: www.omnialifestyles.com For exclusive event experiences, contact Michael at : michael@omnialifestyles.com

NESPRESSO

Nespresso : One Pod At A Time Did you know your Nespresso pods are infinitely recyclable ? This June, to celebrate World Environment Day 2019, Nespresso refreshed its commitment to quality and meaningful coffee experiences through its ‘One Pod At A Time’ sustainability campaign. In Singapore, Nespresso has established a robust recycling collection network to allow coffee lovers to return and recycle their used Nespresso capsules through various convenient touchpoints. This is par t of the effor ts to make recycling as accessible as possible so Nespresso drinkers can be par t of the movement to give their used Nespresso capsules a second life.

Text | Sophia Smith Photos | Nespresso

For the four th year running, the brand commits to inspire coffee drinkers through the ‘One Pod At A Time’ sustainability campaign to adopt not only sustainable, but also responsible living as par t of their ever yday life. Nespresso continues its local commitment through a par tnership with urban ver tical farm, Sky Greens. The coffee grounds from recycled Nespresso capsules are used as par t of a nutrient mix in growing organic produce, such as mini Cai Xin and Xiao Bai Cai (Pak Choy). Sustainability advocates and Nespresso Tastemakers, Paul Foster and Charlotte Mei, recently visited Sky Greens farm to experience the recycling process first-hand.

NESPRESSO

Top: Sky Greens | Bottom: Paul Foster at A1 Environment Recycling Facility

NESPRESSO

Nespresso Tastemaker s, Paul Foster and Char lotte Mei at Sky Greens

“ I’m honoured to be a Nespresso Tastemaker alongside Charlotte Mei to bring you all along for the journey even after the last drop ! ” comments, Paul Foster. ( Paul Foster’s quote: source, Facebook )

Through this local par tnership, Nespresso hopes to inspire more people in Singapore to join this recycling journey by showcasing how the last drop isn’t the last use and that each Nespresso capsule can be given a second life.

You can be par t of the journey too… Nespresso coffee drinkers can recycle their used capsules at all Nespresso Recycling Points such as Nespresso boutiques in Singapore (ION Orchard #01-14A, VivoCity #01-204-206, Raffles City Shopping Centre #01-16 and Takashimaya Depar tment Store B1) or at home via the Recycling @ Home by handing their used Nespresso capsules to the deliver yman upon their new coffee deliver y when ordering on www.nespresso.com or via the Nespresso app.

Nespresso is an Official Coffee Par tner of Maison Miaja. You can enjoy a cup of Nespresso at Miaja Ar t Collections Galler y Café at 9 Muthuraman Chetty Road, APS Building, Level 4, Singapore 238931 For more information about Nespresso Singapore, please visit: www.nespresso.com/pro

A RT S C E N E

Text | Aleksandra Lis

Singapore Art Scene June - August 2019

Singapore is one of the most prestigious destinations for Asian and international contemporary art. With an ever-growing gallery and museum culture, the art scene is vibrant and exciting. Majestic on the outside and filled with great content; the cultural institutions are worth visiting and exploring.

W A LT E R (2010, reproduced in 2019 series 23), Dawn Ng Exhibition, ‘ Floating Utopias ’ at Ar t & Science Museum; Photo credit : Marina Bay Sands

Floating Utopias Ar t & Science Museum Marina Bay Sands 25 May – 29 Sep, 2019 ‘Floating Utopias’ is a playful and poetic exhibition that explores the social history of inflatable objects, showing how over the decades, they have been used in ar t, architecture and activism. The exhibition juxtaposes historical and contemporary works, featuring over for ty ar tworks by international and local ar tists, as well as hands-on workshops and interventions in urban space.

The exhibition shows how inflatable objects were used the first par t of the 20th century, in socialist and capitalist mass parades. In the 1960s, a new generation of architects began using inflatable structures in a search for new approaches to designing space and alternative ways of living. ‘Floating Utopias’ also explores how inflatable structures can help us rethink our relationship with the environment.

For more information: www.marinabaysands.com/museum/floating-utopias.html

A RT S C E N E , S I N G A P O R E

Top: Museum of the Moon , 2019, Luke Jerram; Exhibition, ‘ Floating Utopias ’ at Ar t & Science Museum; Photo credit : Marina Bay Sands Bottom: Alice’s Evidence ; Exhibition, ‘ Wonder land ’ at Ar t & Science Museum; Photography Phoebe Powell / Marina Bay Sands

A RT S C E N E

No More Free Space? Singapore Pavilion National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 17 May – 30 Jun, 2019

Wonderland Ar tScience Museum Marina Bay Sands 13 Apr – 22 Sep, 2019

After a successful run at the 16th Venice Biennale, the ‘No More Free Space?’ Singapore Pavilion brings it home with a month-long pop-up. An acr ylic cloud, interactive installations and a multi-sensor y projection of lights, sounds, images and scents – we all like the sound of that! Discover how the ideas of innovative architectural designs come to life while borrowing natural resources like light, air and water in twelve Singapore-based projects.

Stunning, playful and interactive, this one-of-a-kind exhibition follows Alice’s journey through popular culture. Various ar tists and filmmakers have por trayed this iconic fictional character and told and retold a beloved stor y for over a centur y. The walk takes the audience through elaborate theatrical sets to find out how this character and stor y from 1865 evolved with time to become a subcultural icon fluttering through countless music videos, video games, high fashion, adver tising and more. One can also interact with that enchanted world including the Hallway of Doors, Pool of Tears, Queen’s Croquet-Ground and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Par ty.

Nucleus, Solo Exhibition by Gulten Imamoglu Miaja Ar t Collections – Contemporary Ar t Gallery 12 Jun – 6 Jul, 2019 Miaja Ar t Collections is pleased to present ‘Nucleus’ - a solo exhibition by Turkish Ar tist Gulten Imamoglu. This powerful exhibition of dynamic and colourful work will feature twelve ar t pieces exploring the essence of life. The ar tist brings together the dynamism of beauty with the stability of death. Colours are not seen as real colours in her paintings, but as a vor tex reminding us of a natural disaster. The painter is skilled enough to escape from us and to take shelter in her universe. She likes colour counter currents and she does not hesitate to shoot us with that gun. Defining Gulten Imamoglu as an ar tist who attacks us with colours and defends herself with colours would not be wrong, as she uses them as an instrument for a hur tful sense, wonderful excitement, an idolised death and a liveable paradise. The paintings exalt an abstract language where figures are mixed by dancing, in a sense. This is the first Solo Exhibition by Gulten in South East Asia. 9 Muthuraman Chetty Road, APS Building, Level 4, Singapore 238931 Mon – Sat, 10 am – 7pm Sundays & Public Holidays, by appointment only

Seeds of Universe , 2019 by Gulten Imamoglu Acr ylic on canvas, 135 x 96 cm

A RT S C E N E , L O N D O N

Text | Naomi Stahl

Emergence From the Venice Biennale to the Royal Academy’s annual Summer Exhibition, it’s a global season for emergence, visual exploration and discovery that sets the tone for London’s art scene this summer. With both economic and natural environments rapidly changing around us at a compounded rate, mass media can offer us daily insight into global issues that are being discussed and understood through contemporary arts. Artists are weighing in and altering our perception through all forms of medium, from video to painting and performance, and to experience such forms for ourselves is arguably well worth the exploration.

You’ll see artist Olafur Eliasson tackling issues of climate change with his “In Real Life” exhibition, while Anish Kapoor’s metaphysical sculptures almost entirely inhabit the viewer into their highly polished surfaces, absorbing them as part of the art and playing with the viewers sense of relativity to their surroundings. This summer will play host to a full calendar of these captivating installations, where we are invited to continue challenging and enhancing our understanding of the changing world around us through the language of contemporary art.

London Art Scene June - August 2019 Anish Kapoor – Glisten, Eclipse, Red to Blue Pitzhanger Galler y 16 Mar – 18 Aug , 2019

Glisten Eclipse (Clear / Red to Pagan Gold Satin) , 2018, Anish Kapoor Stainless steel & lacquer © Anish Kapoor ; Photography Dave Morgan

Pitzhanger Galler y is playing host to Anish Kapoor’s latest exhibition titled Glisten, Eclipse, Red to Blue, inaugurating their newly restored space.

Exhibition highlights include Red to Blue, (2016) which echo the galler y’s three skylights, while the spherical forms of Glisten Eclipse (2018) embed themselves into the corner of the room offering a different vantage point through the viewer s peripher y. The most recent wor k in the exhibition Untitled (2018) pulls the viewer in and disorientates all sense of self and surroundings. The undulating hard, smooth surfaces of his wor k “seem to be active, to be in various states of becoming.” – Kapoor Also commenting on Kapoor’s show, fellow ar tist and architectural designer Mar k Pimlott perceives that “…there is the wor ld in which one stands, and there is another wor ld, which is around the corner of the mirror, around the edges of sight, where one’s reflection does not appear ; a wor ld that one cannot entirely perceive, but which one knows is there, both identical and possibly entirely different from one’s own.” For more information: www.pitzhanger.or g.uk

A RT S C E N E , L O N D O N

Olafur Eliasson – In Real Life Tate Modern 11 Jul, 2019 – 15 Jan, 2020 Eliasson’s deep engagement with society and the environment will be ever present in his exhibition ‘In Real Life’ at Tate Modern. Visitors can discover what an ar tist’s perspective can bring to issues of climate change, energy, urban development and migration. Much of Eliasson’s work derives from his extensive research into colour theor y and complex geometr y. He plays with light refraction, shadows and reflectivity to ar tfully introduce rainbows into the for thcoming exhibition space. All but one of the works have never been seen in the UK before. In addition to his ar t installation, the ar tist will be curating a special tasting menu and programme of related events for Tate Modern’s Terrace Bar, based on the organic, vegetarian and locally sourced food ser ved in his Berlin studio.

Your Spiral V iew , 2002, Olafur Eliasson Photo credit : Tate Moder n

Tr y to catch the member’s private view or visit one of the numerous talks and ar tist conversations that address modern challenges in sustainability, highlighting how ar t has the potential to inspire change.

Summer Exhibition The Royal Academy 10 Jun – 12 Aug , 2019 This year, acclaimed British painter Jock McFayden RA will be taking over the coordination of the exhibition from his predecessor, Grayson Perr y. Highlights will include an animal-themed ‘menagerie’ in the Central Hall while outside the galleries, international ar tist Thomas Houseago will take over the RA’s cour tyard with a group of large-scale sculptural works, spilling out into nearby Bond Street with a colourful installation of flags featuring wor k by Michael Craig-Mar tin RA. Royal Academy’s 250 t h Summer Exhibition

The RA will once again be inviting the public to delight in what will now be their 251s t Summer Exhibition. Run without interr uption since 1769, the Summer Exhibition is the world’s largest open submission ar t show and brings together both emerging talent and Royal Academicians alike in one symbiotic show spanning all mediums.

Visitors can also par take in the RA’s reimagined pleasure garden as par t of their RA Lates inspired by the fantasylands of Georgian London, taking them on an immer sive journey of experiential events.

A RT S C E N E , PA R I S

Text | Bernard Yves Chatel

Paris Art Scene June - August 2019

BY CHATEL Selected Fine Ar ts 58 Rue des Tournelles, 75003 Paris, France www.bychatel.com

Ar tist, Eugène Delacroix

“ I love Paris in the springtime . . . ” – Cole Por ter, 1953 Spring may be the best time of the year to visit Paris. There is so much to discover… I would like to recommend two sweet and delicate museums : Museum of the painter Eugène Delacroix is located 6 rue de Furstenberg in the sixth arrondissement , meaning right in the center of Saint Germain des Près. This is his original “atelier” and it’s a wonderful environment. You will feel the atmosphere of what could have been the life of an ar tist in Paris in XIX centur y. www.musee-delacroix.fr

Museum of famous writer Victor Hugo located 6 Place des Vosges was built in the XVII centur y and is considered one of the most wonderful squares in Paris. You will visit the Le Marais area and this was his private residence in Paris. Entr y is free. www.maisonsvictorhugo.par is.fr

At the Grand Palais ‘Revelations’ from 23 to 26 May. Talents & know-how: lacquer, weaving , bronze , engraving and for ever y edition a foreign countr y is invited. A must for both emerging & established ar tists. www.revelations-grandpalais.com

Since 1982, and for the longest day of the year, the Fête De La Musique will take place all over in Paris and France. Concer ts at ever y corner ; museum, palaces & gardens to celebrate the arrival of summer. Fête De La Musique also takes place in over 100 countries worldwide. www.fetedelamusique.culture.gouv.fr

At the Louvre Museum, the famous pyramid and dedicated main entrance celebrates its 30th Anniversar y this year. From now and ever y first Saturday of the month, the Museum entrance will be free of charge from 6pm to 9.45 pm, with lots of events taking place within. www.louvre.fr

Ar t of getting a good deal: the Parisian Sales will star t from 26 June 2019 and will last for a month. “ To know Paris is to know a great deal ” – Henr y Miller

E D I TO R ’ S P I C K

Editor’s Pick

Text | Miaja Galler y Ar twork & Photo | Soonik Kwon

Artist: Soonik Kwon

“ Between the past and future there is a chink for eternity, which is the present ”

Ar tist, Soonik Kwon

Our featured works in this issue are by Korean ar tist Soonik Kwon, who recently presented his first solo exhibition in Singapore at Miaja Galler y. ‘Shining Brightly’ featured a selection of twelve mixed media paintings that beautifully reflect the ar tist’s inner and outside vision of the world. The established Seoul based painter’s work consists of mixed media canvases and the new addition to the exhibition at Miaja Galler y are the works from his new series entitled ‘Pile Up & Rub – Chink’. ‘Shining Brighlty’ exhibition included paintings from his previous series ‘Absense of Ego’ with signature features of colors and shapes of numerous circles. In this series, his works consist of smaller circles that are embedded in larger ones. Sometimes circles are arranged within other geometric shapes such as squares and triangles. Kwon plays with color and texture; the light interferes with the canvas creating a feeling of movement and waves.

The main medium used by Kwon is graphite. Kwon has gained his status as one of the leading contemporar y ar tists in Korea by adapting a technique that requires a considerable amount of time and patience. This method was a deliberate choice for the Ar tist to practice inner training and thoughts. A few words should be shared about his unique technique: the ar tist star ts with a rough sketch of grids on the canvas with a pencil. After applying the ground-color, he draws the circles with paints of various tones. Then, he mixes fine sand-like materials with the paints and applies them on the circles in order to create a relief-looking image. Next, he repeatedly rubs and paints the surface with his pencil lead. This long and grueling process continues until he achieves a rough but warm texture, as well as the shining metallic surface produced by the graphite.

E D I TO R ’ S P I C K

Pile up & Rub (Absence of Ego-Feeling) , 2 016 Mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150 cm

Many ar t critics and collectors have praised Kwon’s works for their peculiarity, which is the result of a ceramics-inspired techniques of expression. However, there is more to his works than just the application of potter y-making techniques. When the Ar tist immerses himself in the act of rubbing and painting graphite at the same time he builds a path for himself and his audiences to enter an ego-free world. Many leading Korean and international galleries and museums across Nor th and South America display Kwon’s mixed media ar twork.

Ar tworks by Soonik Kwon are available at Miaja Galler y. For info, contact Tamara Zinchik: director@miajagaller y.com

Journal Ar tistique is published by

A company magazine by M A I S O N M I A J A

This is a gr aphic inter pretation of the ar twor k by Mar ie Chr istine Foucher-Poignant and Fr anรงois Poignant by M A I S O N M I A J A solely for the pur pose of Jour nal Ar tistique Vol.2.

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