Secrets of Art Magazine by Secrets of Art Magazine

Issue 01/2019

In focus

Advices, Best Practices

Where Business Crosses Art

A unique example in Japan showing how art has the power to transform and elevate a once forgotten and remote, industrial area.

Rebecca Wilson, chief curator and vice president of Art Advisory at Saatchi Art, shares her advices to both artists and art lovers.

BMW Art Journey, a collaboration with Art Basel. What really counts is the journey that the artist takes through the different steps.

„

To create is an act of liberation and every day this need for liberation comes back to me. — Louise Bourgeois

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Dear Reader, Although this is the first issue of the Secrets of Art Magazine, it feels like I have been writing and editing the various issues that came into my mind since many years. I always wanted to give back something that is more than news around the art world. I felt like there is a huge need to appreciate those who create art and those who support and are advocates of creators. I also felt there is a need from the creators themselves to gain more real life examples, advices, tips, encouragement and motivation for their goals and daily momentums that make up their path. There are great artists, projects, initiations and initiators who are making a difference around the world, that are worth mentioning and giving a platform to be read about. This is the reason why the Secrets of Art Magazine was born. Its name reflects its philosophy: art is not a secret, limited to only a few but something that everyone should have access to and that is to be valued. With these background thoughts the intention of this first issue is to give you, artist and art lover, a glimpse of the variety of art continuously taking part in our lives all around the world, and also to give you motivation, tips and inspiration to follow the path of art. I wish You uplifting moments of reading and may it open up new doors and avenues in your world too! With sincere regards,

Dorottya Novak Chief Editor

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ADVICES, BEST PRACTICES Be open to change and adapt: advice from an art curatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own experience

THOSE WHO DO IT DIFFERENTLY Discovering talented artists

WHERE BUSINESS CROSSES ART Crossing Journeys

IN FOCUS Transforming through art

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GAME CHANGERS Celebrating the Artist

ART IN EVERY DAYS The value of art making

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE Where art and science meet

ART STORIES Painting celebrities - seeking freedom in painting

ADVICES, BEST PRACTICES

Be open to change and adapt: advice from an art curator’s own experience Connecting artists and art lovers is her passion, supporting yet unknown emerging talented artists has been her path. Rebecca Wilson, chief Curator and Vice President of Art Advisory at Saatchi Art, shares her advices to both artists and art lovers. Rebecca Wilson has been brought up by open-minded, liberal parents and she was lucky enough to have followed her dreams and passions already at an early age. She closely worked first with writers and then artists, while moving into leadership positions. She still maintained all through her path her integrity and democratic views about art not being about privilege and artists having equal opportunities, regardless of their backgrounds. Art plays a crucial part in Wilson’s every day life not only professionally. According to her, anyone can become more aware to art in their every days. She describes this by saying that looking at different kinds of art is like learning a new language. “It can be challenging figuring out how the artist's visual language works, what they might be trying to say, but also rewarding to work out what it is you like and don't like,” states Wilson. By focusing and looking more at art, the more it will expand your appreciation of all kind of things from design, fashion and the natural world suggests Wilson, while she expands on this theme. Indeed, today art and artistic elements are main inspirations for many designs in every day objects that we use, by things we are surrounded. Looking at art from this perspective, where it connects many different elements to one, it is a main driving force in design, in fashion, technology and in overall trends. The role of the artist has developed into a much deeper and important one. From this open minded view, one can learn and deepen their thoughts about the world and life by understanding the different way artists depict their own worlds. They make one reflect on issues and themes from a different perspective, so it is worth expanding to follow artists, their views, philosophies and their artistic expressions.

“The gift that artists give us is showing us ways to slow down and see the world differently,” affirms the passionate curator Wilson. Having had followed during her career the philosophy of being open to change, being determined and gently persistent, Wilson has a very positive view of the time we are living in to be an artist. Her advice to artists is to be proactive and to be willing to try out new experiences. She defines the world today as full of opportunities that would not have been available to artists 10 years ago. With this view of flexibility and open to new opportunities in her life experiences, Wilson suggests artists to open up and to embrace the internet. By taking advantage of the opportunities offered through the internet, one can sell their work online, no longer having to wait in the studio for a gallery to finally be discovered she explains. According to Wilson, while not so long ago artists depended heavily on galleries, today’s artist can build up not just a local following but also access international collectors, and can start to make a living from their own world even if they do not have a gallery representing them. While many new channels have opened up and have made it easier for artists today, there are also many mistakes that artists make. “The mistake some artists make is thinking that being represented by a brick and mortar gallery is still the only way to progress as an artist, and it no longer is! This is the time to be assertive as an artist and take advantage of all the different avenues there are for selling your work and reach new audiences,” highlights Wilson.

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ADVICES, BEST PRACTICES

“The gift that artists give us is showing us ways to slow down and see the world differently.“ — Rebecca Wilson Vice President of Art Advisory at Saatchi Art

The other mistake that artists make is that they agree to an exclusive representation from one gallery. “In the 21st century this is no longer necessary - keep your options open and explore lots of possibilities rather than limiting yourself to just one option for selling your work,” advices Wilson further. Being a woman in leadership herself, with a path of being prepared to adjust and adapt as she moved clearly in her career, as an art curator and vice president Wilson too had to find the right balance for her passion, work and life goals. Her positive views concerning women artists are refreshening in today‘s art world. She describes it as an exciting time of change where there is now evidence of a concerted effort and desire to do something about the underrepresentation of women artists in the art world. “There is no shortage of outstanding work being made by women so it is now a question of making sure that women are equally displayed in museums and galleries, that their exhibitions are covered just as much as shows by men in magazines such as ArtForum, and that every effort is made for the art world to reflect the society we live in terms of gender as well as racial diversity,” Wilson explains. Again Wilson highlights the importance of internet and online galleries, such as Saatchi Art, and other resources. Through these new doors and avenues opening up, the number of women artists who are able to pursue their dreams of being an artist has risen. Wilson highlights that in fact in 2018 more than half of Saatchi Art’s sales by U.S.-based artists were works by women. Rebecca Wilson with her optimistic and very clear goals proves that there are many supporting actors in the art world, who are not only admiring and are inspired by artists but who are actively taking part day in and out in making it an open-minded and an inclusive world for all talents, who are willing to make a change.

Liné Ringtved Thordarson Sculptor . +45 29 66 47 09 line.thor@hotmail.com . www.linethordarson.dk Liné holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and since 1997, has hosted solo and group exhibitions in Danish and foreign museums, galleries, cultural centers and institutes, including France, Monaco, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, Italy and Greece.

WHERE BUSINESS CROSSES ART

Crossing Journeys We live in an interconnected world. More than ever it is realized how important it is to live in a symbiosis, with relationships that mutually benefit each other. This is what BMW has realized too when, in 2015 it launched a collaboration with Art Basel, called BMW Art Journey.

The artist’s journey is much more than arriving somewhere, to a destination. What really counts is the journey that the artist takes through the different steps. More and more companies are giving importance to the creative process itself and are using it not only in their sales and marketing but also by taking active part in the journeys that artists take themselves. It’s a two way path, whereby brands are inspired by artistic touches and apply artistic elements, appearances to their products. Often every day products can appear in a different, almost magical aspect by having a new, artistic touch to them. The other path comes as an initiation from the companies themselves, when they take part in a phase of an artist‘s journey. By recognizing and supporting emerging artists worldwide, they take them to other unseen journeys. This is one of BMW‘s special initiation for over forty years in the field of cultural and artistic engagements. “We consider BMW a cultured brand. While our core business is luxury that doesn’t mean we end up on the bling-bling side of things. We wish to facilitate meaningful exchanges and projects and not just throw money at artists,“ says Prof. Dr Thomas Girst, Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement. The BMW Group has realized an important and underlying element for its own successful journey. By giving absolute creative freedom in all its cultural activities, it gives way to a fertile ground for the birth of groundbreaking artistic works as well as major innovations in a successful business.

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“We consider BMW a cultured brand. While our core business is luxury that doesn’t mean we end up on the bling-bling side of things. We wish to facilitate meaningful exchanges and projects and not just throw money at artists.“ — Prof. Dr Thomas Girst Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement

BMW Art Journey Winner Abigail Reynolds has begun the first leg of her journey along the Silk Road, starting in her hometown Cornwall (UK). © BMW AG

WHERE BUSINESS CROSSES ART

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BMW Art Journey: Samson Young, France, Murat, Departement Cantal, 2015 Â© BMW AG

WHERE BUSINESS CROSSES ART

BMW Art Journey: Portrait Astha Butail © Astha Butail

Called the BMW Art Journey and reflecting the trip and journey that the Group stands for, the BMW Art Journey has as its main aim to take artists almost anywhere in the world to develop new ideas and to envision new creative projects. Since 2015, its inception the various artistic projects of the different journeys that have been supported have had deep and meaningful themes about interconnectedness, global and multi-continent travels and research, sustainability where art and science come together, questioning the role of us humans in our world, on our planet. They reflect the artistic significance of artists‘ journeys. This unique award is open to artists who are exhibiting at Art Basel. A judging panel comprised of internationally renowned experts meet first to select a shortlist of three artists from the “Discoveries” sector at Art Basel in Hong Kong and Art Basel in Miami Beach, who are then invited to submit proposals for a journey aimed to further develop their ideas and artistic work. In the following step, the jury reconvenes to choose a winner from the three proposals. When asked about the basic criteria that BMW sets to select artists for its Art Journey, Prof. Dr Thomas Girst highlights creative freedom for the artists and cultural institutions they work with as of utmost importance. The Group aims at keeping the process open and transparent.

“We do never select the artists ourselves. We don’t have a say in our jury. Artists are always selected by an independent jury of internationally renown curators and museum directors. As a tech company we certainly love to see artists engage with the latest possibilities and cutting-edge processes. Yet that is ultimately for someone else to decide,“ explains Prof. Dr Girst. The artist‘s journey is then, in collaboration with the winning artist, documented and shared with the public through publications, online and social media. The artists considered for the shortlist work with very different and new media. “We had a very diverse group of artists who encompass a variety of media,” noted this year‘s jury in making its unanimous decision. “All of them engage important issues and are operating in contexts or in stages of their careers that will allow them to benefit from this incredible opportunity. We believe that the three selected artists have great potential to conceive a journey that will positively impact their research, their work, and their professional growth.“ For many artists such opportunities are unknown and not even considered as realistic. However it is a journey that

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may cross any artist‘s path, developing meaningful projects. The advice that Prof. Dr Girst gives to artists wanting to join such journeys stems from experience with highly supportive intentions: “Try hard. And then try harder. Get up when you fail. Remain curious. Be aware that privilege is not the problem but when privilege is being taken away. Loss of integrity always comes with the justification of loss of integrity. Stay critical by all means. Consider to go underground as Marcel Duchamp advised the artists of tomorrow to do. Look around and realize that contemporary art is swamped with so much money that it corrupts your artistic endeavors. Look at poets. They hold high the spirit of culture far away from cash flow and the maddening crowd.“

Prof. Dr Girst comments in an interview related to the publishing of the book “The sense of movement when artists travel“ - a compilation of artistic projects and the artistic significance of artists’ journeys - that he was glad about how much the Group‘s networks, global cultural partnerships have been able to help Samson Young in his own journey. The world as it is today is more than ever in need of such examples of symbiosis. Every vision can be a wave in the ocean of potential, causing ripples of positive changes and initiating journeys for the betterment of our world. Realizing this inter-dependance and taking supportive actions is just one part of it. The other one involves the visionary, the artist, the thinker who dares to see and reach out for such empowering opportunities.

The first-prize winner, Samson Young described in his travel journal his experiences and discoveries, as both personal and artistic.

BMW Art Journey: Samson Young, Morocco, Fez (Medina), 2015 © BMW AG

THOSE WHO DO IT DIFFERENTLY

Discovering talented artists Artists are often struggling with recognition and their options might seem limited. However there are a few platforms offering talented artists the possibility to be discovered.

The Other Art Fair was born in London, UK thanks to the visionary art lover Ryan Stanier. The success of the initial visionary idea has paid off as The Other Art Fair is the UK's leading artist fair to discover and buy art directly from the very best emerging artistic talents. Looking at it closely the fair is more than that. “I think one of the biggest things that moves the contemporary art world, and something that we have taken into consideration when planning recent editions of the fair is technology and the rate at which it’s advancing today. The industry as a result has become more accessible to a wider audience thanks to these technological advancements,” explains Ryan Stanier, Founder of The Other Art Fair. As it is today, the fair is not just a local attraction but a highly anticipated global fair, attracting art lovers in Sydney, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Chicago and Dallas. One of its booster was its partnership with the Los Angeles, USA based Saatchi Art platform, which already offered a digital home for thousands of artists. Many people declare Saatchi Art as one of the leading online gallery in the world, therefore Stanier´s co-operation quickly proved as a remarkable strategic decision. “Our partnership with Saatchi Art in 2016, the world’s leading online art gallery, demonstrates how we are keeping up with these changes as we provide an online platform for emerging artists to reach an even wider audience, alongside the fair,” says Ryan Stanier. The Other Art Fair is undoubtedly the next big thing in the art world. Eight years and 34 editions and the effects of the fair's growing reputation are not only visible through the support of leading individuals in the art world, but also through the frequency of success stories from past exhibitors.

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“It’s been an inspiration to help curate this year’s fair and exciting to see so many wonderful artists come together to make this such a dynamic fair.“ — Rebecca Wilson Vice President of Art Advisory at Saatchi Art

THOSE WHO DO IT DIFFERENTLY

The fair brings a breath of fresh air into the art world, creating a platform for artists, instead of galleries. Its focus point is to offer the needed attention for struggling but talented artists. The Other Art Fair basically enables independent artists to show their work and gives people the chance not only to discover a stimulating range of art under one roof but also to meet the artists in person. 18

In the recent London edition of The Other Art Fair, one of the fairÂ´s features was Analogue/Digital, presented by Creative Giants, a collective featuring a range of VR and interactive digital art. In the fairÂ´s upcoming edition in Los Angeles they will be welcoming Femmebit a female collective, which promotes women in digital art.

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The editorial team of the Secrets of Art Magazine was also curious to dig deep in to the personal experiences of Stanier. We were wondering what role do art fairs play in the life of artists today and how has this changed in the last years. Stanier explains that art fairs play a large role in physically representing and introducing artists to buyers and to the public. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still difficult for emerging artists to gain recogni-

tion, but art fairs like The Other Art Fair give them the platform they need to springboard off. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In recent years it has changed a great deal, especially with the increased presence of social media and online platforms and will continue to change in the future,â&#x20AC;? says Stanier.

THOSE WHO DO IT DIFFERENTLY

“Artists just need to use every opportunity they are given to make new contacts, acquire new collectors and to just grow their databases as much as possible.“ — Ryan Stanier Founder of The Other Art Fair

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Obviously the question still remains what the most important thing a contemporary artist would need to follow as his or her first steps into the art world. It’s also important for artists to not under-represent themselves explains Stanier. Based on his belief self-representation equals almost similar effort from the artist just as the creation itself. “Using social media and building up a database of contacts and buyers is so important when it comes to establishing oneself in this industry, and not using all the resources available could be the difference between “making it“ and not making it in the current contemporary art world,“ continues Stanier. So when we are talking about diversification there is a lot of pressure on artists to break the mould. Historically speaking artists are always going to be influenced by their predecessors, so sometimes it is not entirely possible to achieve diversification. “It is important in terms of standing out, especially in an industry where it’s difficult to gain individual recognition. But an artist’s success is based on a lot more than diversification,” shares his opinion Stanier. In today´s world, gender equality and the same level of opportunities play a significantly important role. In the world of art where the majority of the successful and wellknown artists are men, one can raise the questions whether there is any difference between the representation of contemporary women and men artists around the world, or whether the old rules still apply. The unique thing about The Other Art Fair is that it is first and foremost an artist-led fair, meaning the artists participating are representing themselves. “So from my personal experience men and women are equally represented. The Selection Committee hand picks artists based purely on meritocracy and who present a strong body of work which will sit well within the fair, nothing to do with gender,” highlights Stanier However despite the common belief of many art lovers, an exhibition itself is not a guaranteed living for an artist. Ryan Stanier explains that art is obviously quite a subjective experience. 21

THOSE WHO DO IT DIFFERENTLY

The world of art might seem reasonable, however in most cases collectors have a very subjective taste and the values they look in contemporary artists and their works are not predictable by numbers and charts. “Each collector has their own tastes and ultimately needs to follow his or her own gut instinct when it comes to buying art,” says Ryan Stanier. Contradictory to the common belief, it is interesting to observe that a huge part of the buying-experience, especially when buying art face-to-face, is how the artist connects with the collector. If you are at an art fair the art draws you in first visually and then you get chatting to the artists and more often than not, if you get on well with the artist it can easily sway your decision whether or not to buy one of their pieces. “Digital Networks have opened the gateway to a whole alternative collection of artists today who perhaps don’t fit the mould; live in remote areas, aren’t great at self-promotion, and are unrepresented,” comments Stanier.

Stanier also highlights that understanding the importance of having an online presence is crucial to expanding an artist’s network of followers and subsequently the more opportunities they will have to promote themselves and their work. “Make the most of your local art scene - there are some amazing new opportunities springing up in cities around the world,” advices Stanier to contemporary artists. “Also by utilizing the social media - not only is it free, but it can give you direct access to some influential people in the art world,” concludes Stanier. Therefore possibilities are open for talented and persistent contemporary artists. Utilizing your existing network and social media is free, however it might be also a highly considerable choice for contemporary artists to look for art fairs with open minded curators such as The Other Art Fair and its team behind it.

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IN FOCUS

Transforming through art A unique example in Japan showing how art has the power to transform and elevate a once forgotten and remote, industrial area into a spiritually fulfilling and blooming part of our world.

According to a Japanese concept, when one follows their Ikigai, their “raison d’etre”, the reason to be, to live and to wake up every morning, new opportunities and new beginnings happen. This is what Soichiro Fukutake, the former head and today’s Honorary Advisor of Benesse Holdings, Inc. - Latin

for well-being - (a conglomerate which provides education, language training, and senior care education) and the Chairman of the Board of the Fukutake Foundation (supports art, science and regional Japanese culture) followed, when in the 80s he had a vision to create something special on the south eastern islands of the Seto Inland Sea in Japan.

Chichu Art Museum | Photo: Seiichi Ohsawa

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“By harmonising (the art, architecture, and nature), the message emanating from an artwork can then be felt very strongly.“ — Soichiro Fukutake Chairman of the Board of the Fukutake Foundation

The countless islands were losing inhabitants, fading into a forgotten land and with industrial waste damaging the natural environment. The young people were leaving the rural area to big cities and the industries in the islands and neighboring areas were emitting pollution and leaving their waste behind in the surrounding natural habitat.

Benesse House | Photo: Tadasu Yamamoto

Fukutake felt the necessity to bring about change to the community by restoring and preserving the natural environment through art. To make Fukutake’s visions come true, Pritzker Prize-winning architect, Tadao Ando joined him with his own minimalist and clear-cut designs.

IN FOCUS

“You need to focus on the artwork itself, the architecture built around it, and the surrounding environment,” says Fukutake in The Peak Magazine. These two exceptional persons in their own fields put their best and highest intentions and resources together to realize and create what is today called the Art Islands in Japan. “When I visited this place for the first time in 1988, with Soichiro Fukutake, the owner of Benesse Art Site Naoshima, he expressed a desire to transform Naoshima into an island that would be synonymous with art and culture, while protecting the Seto Inland Sea and the surrounding landscape. I hesitated because, in all honesty, at the time, the Seto Inland Sea was very polluted and Naoshima was a treeless, barren landscape. But Fukutake had so much faith in the project that I decided to come on board. Today, I am very proud of what we have achieved. I wanted to put the accent on nature, which is why I designed subterranean buildings in the middle of the forest,” describes Tadao Ando in his interview to Architonic Magazine. The art projects developed and spread to the other two islands nearby to Inujima and Teshima. By connecting these naturally rich islands through contemporary art, Fukutake built up an example of how art as a process can break down barriers, uplifting communities and boosting diversity with acceptance. It is an exceptional project also because of how art pieces, installations and sites can be enjoyed outside the walls of galleries and museums in an untraditional way. Art and the supporting architecture blend with nature, giving back the essence of beauty, which is so essential to all humans. “I was born in a rather rural area, so I love nature,” explains Fukutake in an interview in the Magazine of Architectural Digest, “so rather than installing art in white cube museums, I like to install art in nature, art with strong messages, contemporary art especially, and find the right environment and the right architecture.” Teshima Art Museum | Photo: Ken'ichi Suzuki

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IN FOCUS

Art House Project “Kadoya” Tatsuo Miyajima Sea of Time ’98＂ | Photo: Ken'ichi Suzuki

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By turning the nature and given landscape into art, a chain of transformation followed one after the other. Younger people started to move to the islands itself, the surrounding nature has been cleaned and preserved, the contemporary art projects and the Setouchi Triennale, an art festival in the Seto Inland Sea, are spreading their individual messages, giving new opportunities to emerging artists, and the regions have been reviving ever since. Fukutake considers himself a regional entrepreneur. He is a supporter however of a new form of philanthropic capitalism that he calls “public interest capitalism,” whereby money should not be the only aim of any economic activity. “The economy should be a servant to culture. I believe that if economic prosperity is made the only objective, then people will ultimately become unhappy. I believe that the economy exists to create good communities where people can find happiness,” he explains. Fukutake’s concept is about corporations that establish foundations to promote culture and regional community development. The foundations would use dividends to promote culture and the arts, giving back to society. Through this approach art can be a major actor and a vehicle for development and transformation at large.

IN FOCUS

The story of these Art Islands provide a unique and admirable example of how to bring the best out of what we have, what already exists, with respect for the existing cultural and environmental landscape. It also shows how art has the power of bringing out the individual uniqueness of a place, supporting its diversity and bringing at the same time people and nature together.

“To share with you my personal view, contemporary art should not be just something that people collect or invest for speculative purposes. We don’t do that; I don’t do that.“ — Soichiro Fukutake Chairman of the Board of the Fukutake Foundation Magazine Architectural Digest

Walter De Maria ‘Time/Timeless/No Time’ 2004 | Photo: Michael Kellough 30

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GAME CHANGERS

Celebrating the Artist Freedom for an artist is the only way of living, creating and contributing. For many, creating freely is impossible, an illusion and delirious. For some, it is a life purpose to see artists create freely, celebrating them for what they do and who they are.

One of those who’s aims has become to celebrate the artist since many years is Swizz Beatz, Grammy-winning producer. An artist himself he certainly knows what it is to create freely and to do so by making from it a living too. But before such a vision can become a more widespread acceptance, there are certain changes in the art world that people like Swizz wish to see. It is quite a typical story of artists being recognized only after they die without being noticed during their lifetime. It is also taken quite often granted that art inspires every day and everything around us. Even the most industrial and technical designs, fashion design, architecture, graphical design every piece of dress, car, object we use daily is inspired from an artistic element, theme. So why do most artists have to struggle to sell their work, that are more than mere objects? Why do many artists give their artworks for free and why do they have to pay to take part in exhibitions, art prizes and other art related events? Each and every art is as valuable as the life of Man is, since what would Man's worth on Earth be without a Michelangelo, a Leonardo, a Dali, a Picasso, what would we do without the artworks of the Greeks, of Rome, of Babylonia? Why are doctors, lawyers, bankers recognized professions worth enough to pay for, whereas artists are considered as fun, interesting, unique but not more than that? As an artists‘ advocate, Swizz has started to take actions first as an art collector and then as a founder of No Commission, a traveling art exhibition in partnership with Bacardí Rum. Swizz can be called a mover, a changer in every sense.

Swizz is setting an example for the future path in the art world, providing opportunities for artists to make a living from their own art. He is achieving all these changes not only by what he says but also by the positive and active steps he takes towards this vision. Already as an art collector Swizz can be considered a game changer, since he is determined to purchase works from artists that are still alive. No Commission was first conceptualized by Swizz during his studies at Harvard and was brought to life with the partnership of Bacardí Rum. The first edition coincided with Art Basel Miami in 2015 and has been a great success ever since in cities like London, Shanghai, the South Bronx and Berlin. Already in their first edition over $1 million in artworks were sold during the fair. “When you look at these different shows,” he explains in an interview to GQ, “you see the fair win, the gallery win, the collector win, and most of the time the artist is the last one to get paid, even though it's their show. Being an artist myself, I said one day I'm gonna change this. That’s how No Commission was born. A show by the artist, for the artist, with the people.” Swizz sees the artists themselves as the ones to celebrate, around whom all his visions and initiations evolve. Being an artist himself he felt the need to initiate a change in the status quo. “I felt that, in a lot of different shows, the fairs win, the collectors win, the galleries win, and the artists get tto find their way home and get the short end of the stick even though it feels like a big celebration going on in a lot of these different places. It was just like, as an artist and as an advocate for artists, how can we create an environment that truly celebrates the artists to where it's by the artists, for the people?" explains Swizz in an interview to KC Orcutt in REVOLT.

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The Dean Collection © Bacardí

“I collect all living artists right now. That‘s my thing. I‘d like artists to be able to smell their roses while they are here, use their money to invest back into themselves and then give the world more greatness. I‘ve been encouraging people to support living artists so they can enjoy this now.“ — Swizz Beatz Billboard

GAME CHANGERS

No Commission Art Performs © Bacardí 34

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The aim of the No Commission platform of events is to have artists and art lovers directly being in contact, having the opportunity to share thoughts in the same space. Through this direct dialogue and interaction eventually when a deal happens, then the artists receives one hundred percent of what the buyer pays. This allows for the art lover to gain an in-depth and direct impact of the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind and feelings about his or her work and for the artists full control and decision of what they want and receive as an exchange for their artwork. Since its start it has become more than an event, it has become more a movement in the form of a platform that is held around the world. The platform allows also for the development and growth of attitudes, change of views and more inclusion for all segments in the art world.

GAME CHANGERS

“For me, I have no segments and levels, You have artists that are in museums, you have artists that are on their way out, you have artists that are in the finest galleries, you have artists that are in no galleries, all hanging on the same wall so it's not like this is the fine art section, this is the street art section. No, this is the art section. Period. That's how my shows ran. I just think it's a breath of fresh air.“ — Swizz Beatz REVOLT

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Swizz Beatz at BACARDÍ, Swizz Beatz, and The Dean Collection Return to “Take the Shot” for No Commission in Miami © Bacardí 37

GAME CHANGERS

There are more visions that Swizz has in mind and that he wishes to see take effect in the art world. They all have as their aim to build around the artist a support structure so they can create continuously, without loosing while creating. "If you're an artist and you've sold this work to me for $10,000 ten years ago and the value of that work goes up to $100,000," Swizz elaborates in his interview with REVOLT, "say if I wanted to sell that work and make a profit from it, shouldn't you participate in that? At least 5%? I feel like, artists should have more than 5%, but imagine if artists had 5% of their works that they get paid off of throughout the duration of life. I get goosebumps talking about it. It's just simple mathematics and the whole key is not to be greedy. People just want to be so greedy that the artists can't even retain some rights. I know there are situations out there where you can get this or you can get that. But it's not really enforced. I'm talking about make it the thing." No Commission is not only a platform for artists but also for art lovers and art collectors. It wishes to break down the old barriers that keep out new people from buying, investing in art and being inspired by it. It aims to motivate and educate people to buy and invest in art, which is not only for the rich. It seems especially important for Swizz to empower the artists themselves, that they themselves realize the changes they can make and bring to the world. "I am doing this for fun, but in the middle of having fun, we are here to correct a couple of things, right?" he concludes to REVOLT. "It's going to take the artists to notice those things. I'm an artist myself, right? It's not like it's an us/they thing. I'm talking about us all collectively." Appreciation of art starts from appreciating and celebrating the artist. An artist creates in the present but also for the future. Art’s purpose is to live forever, for many generations on, to capture a fragment in an artist’s life and to keep it for other people to discover, feel and experience those moments again, fulfilling the artist’s life purpose for generations to come.

No Commission Miami / Vaness Wu © Bacardí 38

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Putting Art First As an art lover you aspire that your home showcases your favourite artworks. The pieces should be able to stand out without competing with your interiors. Often which pieces of art are displayed, and their positioning, are only considered after a design project is completed. As award-winning Interior Designers, we have worked with various art enthusiasts and collectors, and have learned that incorporating art into the design process from the beginning will enhance the design overall tremendously. We will work with you to select the correct centre pieces from your preferred artworks and implement our design philosophy accordingly around those pieces. It is clear for us, as experienced Interior Designers with a strong appreciation for art, and for \RX DV DUW DĂ&#x20AC;FLRQDGRV WKDW ZKHUH DQG how the pieces are viewed, incorporating the correct lighting and security, are integral to the intrinsic value of the pieces and success of the room design overall. Please contact us for a free consultation.

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Secrets of Art Magazine

The value of art making Creative work is a process, which is often misunderstood, not understood, undervalued and more than that difficult to be expressed by the artist herself.

Valuing art making comes from the one who is benefiting and appreciating the art, as well as from the artist, who is expressing it. The artist‘s path is to find ways to express the value behind his or her every day process. There are many projects and people around the world who are working on supporting both processes, and who are advocating a more inclusive and creative world.

“The proliferation of creative power can transform the world for all of its inhabitants.“

Their work and intentions are utmost important, since as much as art and culture is nourished and is allowed to flourish in a society so much is that society’s level of consciousness high and is one where peace, co-operation and trust are the main denominators for everything else that stems from this. One of the greatest value of art is perhaps its ability to break barriers.

working class, integrating them through art and giving them opportunities for growth and recognition.

The valuing of what artists do can come in many different forms. For example projects such as the unique Federal Art Project in the USA, which employed thousands of artists and creatives before the second world war.

Valuing one’s own work and life path is hard enough, especially when it is about creative work. For artists to be able to communicate this to the world is an essential step in order to being seen, appreciated and valued for what they themselves believe in.

Several today well-known artists, like Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Willem de Koonig, Mark Rothko took part in this project well before they got acknowledged and known, whereby besides doing their own art as part of their life aims, they were actually paid to create for the bigger good. They created murals, posters, they decorated several buildings such as schools, hospitals and other public buildings in the country. Everyone benefited from this Project, the country recovered from a great loss, the cultural resources flourished, citizens received more gratification from artistic creations and artists could create and got paid to do other creative things. The Art Project also sought to include artists from disadvantaged groups, such as women, immigrants, black

— Timothy Simpson author

This example shows how, when there is a common aim, no matter what the differences of backgrounds are, there always comes a solution to integration, to support which in itself leads to growth for everyone.

One of those persons who supports artists in their self expression is Frances Cathryn, an arts advocate herself. Using the skills and experience she developed from nearly a decade working in publishing, nonprofits, and museums, Cathryn started wip projects to help people learn how to use their voice proudly and without shame. She also collaborates with community spaces, residencies, and institutions to build temporary, action-oriented gatherings where artists learn to create positive change in themselves and their place. When asked about why is self expression and working on it so important for artists, she says that being able to articu-

ART IN EVERY DAYS

“Building connections in this way will help you establish the context in which your art functions and connect what you make to a wider cultural narrative.“ — Frances Cathryn Founder of wip projects

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late one’s art’s worth in clear and compelling writing is a way of inviting others in, and of understanding the power of creativity in daily life. Cathryn explains further how in her opinion there is no productive conversation around the value of art making, which provides no solid frame of reference for many artists to talk about the meaning of creativity in daily life. “Artists are capable of imagining a world built around alternative ways of being,” she describes in our interview with her, “language can be used to uplift excluded voices”. Cathryn’s work is aimed at helping artists learn how to express themselves proudly and without shame. The first among many following tips that Cathryn shares with artists in an article on The Creative Independent is to learn how to confidently describe oneself as an artist. This is important for the process of changing how the industry understands what one does.

The next tip that Cathryn gives to artists is to take note of ideas that one is challenged by, making further research into topics that feel related to one’s practice, and exploring how one’s art can contribute to larger critical conversations. “Building connections in this way will help you establish the context in which your art functions and connect what you make to a wider cultural narrative,” says Cathryn on The Creative Independent. The third tip from Cathryn is about one’s art’s value in society. Based on her experience, Cathryn suggests that it is in the best interest for the artist to guide the conversation around his or her work and how it should be supported. By explaining clearly what others can gain from one’s art will allow them to see its value as one understands it. Beyond this, one may also need to justify its utility to society, either in practical terms or more poetic ones. “One can even approach this question from a different angle and can ask what is lost if no one is given an opportunity to engage with what one makes. Repositioning one’s art in these frameworks may help one focus on its lasting impact, and determine its ultimate value independent of a profit-driven economy,” describes it Cathryn further in her article. Some of these examples of art advocates, supporters, projects around the world show that the value of art making is not only possible but has and is been taken into action with real life projects. Having more of such projects and supporters, who see the highest good and value the work of artists, building upon them a supporting system, is something worth aiming for. Not only do artists benefit from such a system but also the society as a whole, since it becomes a fertile ground for betterment, innovation, new visions and a more consciously guided humanity.

Photo: Michael Valiquette

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

Where art and science meet Is there a connection between art and science? If yes, then can this connection shape our views of humanity and our universe? Such questions come to our minds when we see the beauty and vastness of our space via photographs and when scientific explorations give new meanings to life.

The relationship between arts and sciences might seem for many very opposite, being at the other extremes. While one seeks to find meaning in the external universe by gathering data and giving answers through objective reasoning, the other aims at expressing the unseen, the universe of emotions, dreams, imagination, passion. At the point however where the two meet, new viewpoints and visuals emerge, and the outer space and our inner lives become not so far from each other. This link and merging can bring us humans closer to each other as well as to the different geographical spaces we live in. Space is perhaps one of those unique elements where the two - art and science - unite, where they meet and have a point of convergence, complementing each other. Space is a discovery scientifically, allowing us to open new horizons related to our own life as humans but it is also a discovery of immense beauty and power, as well as the worth of our lives as human beings. Space and the universe have held our imaginations since many thousands of years but perhaps their biggest impact has been when the first images in the form of photos has been brought back to Earth. One of the latest collection of images of Earth, “Earth as Art” has been captured by satellites of NASA. The captured images show such wonder of visuals, that it makes us feel humble in front of the richness and diversity of beauty of our own planet and that of space and other planets. It makes us realize that creation is not only part of us human beings but everything is in a constant creation process. Linking art and science together is still quite unusual, even though there have been several unique examples that intend to show different ways of thinking and living, which unfortunately are not so known. Just as not so known is the collaboration with artists that NASA has been involved in since 1962, called the NASA Art Program. 44

This collaboration reflects back its mission: “to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that what we do and learn will benefit all humankind”. It enlisted some of the time’s greatest visual artists, such as for example Norman Rockwell, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol. Within the program, NASA commissioned the artists to interpret the space projects and explorations through their own eyes. James Webb, who directed the launch of the Program wrote in a press release the following: “Important events can be interpreted by artists to give a unique insight into significant aspects of our history-making advances into space”. The participating artists received unprecedented access to the agency’s facilities and materials. They also could create freely whatever they wanted with whatever medium they felt like. This Program made it possible to include art in the scientific researches, it created the sort of intersection where science meets art for a bigger aim, which is reaching out to the inner worlds of humans. Seeing the space through the lens of an artist brings it closer and strenghtens the notion that we are part of the whole. The outer space is part of our inner space, part of what we call and feel home. Art and science have been even more interlinked through other projects such as the recently launched #dearMoon Project. “Art has the power to promote world peace” believes Yusaku Maesawa, entrepreneur and art collector, who is also the founder of the #dearMoon project. Maesawa‘s vision and aim is to take several artists with him on his private space flight on board of SpaceX to the moon. Maesawa hopes to see new art created by the accompanying artists, inspired by their experiences, what they see and how they express it.

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“We need to have people up there who can communicate what it feels like, not just pilots and engineers.“ — Buzz Aldrin astronaut and first human to land on the Moon

Image provided by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)(1999-05-29), the Omega Nebula (M17) resembles the fury of a raging sea, showing a bubbly ocean of glowing hydrogen gas and small amounts of other elements such as oxygen and sulfur. The nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula, is a hotbed of newly born stars residing 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. © NASA

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

"We need to have people up there who can communicate what it feels like, not just pilots and engineers." Buzz Aldrin‘s, astronaut and first human to land on the Moon, universal message is reflected perfectly in Maezawa’s intention. One of the transformational powers that the space has is shown by the fact that many astronauts, scientifically focused and driven by it, over time and through their space discoveries, are drawn by humanities and art. "Seven billion dreams. One Planet," said European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. Ex-NASA astronaut Nicole Stott brought back to us her space memories and emotions with a special form of expression, showing us how art and science go hand in hand. Nicole Stott spent over 103 days living and working in space during three of her space missions. Seeing the Earth from space, Stott had an epiphany and she decided to dedicate the rest of her life to sharing that experience with others, living her current adventure as a full-time artist and motivational speaker. Stott, like many of her former and present astronaut colleagues, is also a promoter of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), the integration of art and science. It is a new educational and holistic approach to inspire children to think more broadly, creatively, solving problems flexibly. Through this approach children learn to be explorers and innovators in their lives without the fear of making mistakes. They develop a creator’s mind-set whereby they freely use their imagination, creativity and inventive abilities. With these and many other visions, projects, initiations and perspectives opening up, new and hopefully more peaceful ways of living are also growing to be the norm. Discovering the space through and with art, from the human side and linking it with science, has the potential to open up new ways of seeing each other, of interacting and building new levels of relationships, appreciating each other and our world, the Earth and the Universe we are part of.

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ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

In this natural-color image from August 31, 2010, the ocean’s canvas swirls with turquoise, teal, navy, and green, the abstract art of the natural world. © NASA Goddard 48

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“The Earth was small, light blue, and so touchingly alone, our home that must be defended like a holy relic. The Earth was absolutely round. I believe I never knew what the word round meant until I saw Earth from space.“ — Alexei Leonov cosmonaut

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us.“ — Ralph Waldo Emerson essayist, poet, philosopher

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This infrared image from NASA Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Helix nebula, a cosmic starlet often photographed by amateur astronomers for its vivid colors and eerie resemblance to a giant eye. ÂŠ NASA/JPL

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

“This was exactly what I experienced in space: immense gratitude for the opportunity to see Earth from this vantage, and for the gift of the planet we've been given.“ —Ronald J. Garan NASA astronaut, author

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The International Space Station continues its orbit around the Earth as Expedition 50 astronauts captured this night image of sparkling cities and a sliver of daylight framing the northern hemisphere. ÂŠ NASA/JSC

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

“What everyone in the astronaut corps shares in common is not gender or ethnic background, but motivation, perseverance, and desire — the desire to participate in a voyage of discovery.“ — Ellen Ochoa 54

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An enhanced-color image from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) reveals bedrock that is several kilometers below the top of the giant Valles Marineris canyons. ÂŠ NASA

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

“The Space for Art“ story It all began with an idea, which gave birth to The Space for Art Foundation. The mission of the Space for Art Foundation is to unite children around the world to help them overcome challenges they are facing, through the discovery of the wonder of space exploration with the power of art.

The Foundation’s projects - such as the “Spacesuit Art Project” or the “Postcards to Space” - are designed to ignite the strength and vision of the children who create them, to draw inspiration from the audacity and ingenuity of space exploration, and to nurture the dreams that all of the children have for a happy and healthy future for themselves and those around them. The projects are creative, bringing children together through art and their imagination around space. Their aim is especially to create something beautiful and meaningful together with an understanding of the very special place they share with all of the other children here on Spaceship Earth.

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The team, or as they call themselves the “Crew”, consists of artists, astronauts and other experts from all over the world, whose common aim is to bring hope, beauty, transformation to communities through art. They do this by developing and implementing space-inspired art therapy programs, exhibits and research. Nicole Stott, artist and astronaut is also a Crew member, dedicating most of her time to the Space for Art Foundation’s goals and to bring light and colours to others. Eventhough she does not go anymore to space, she continues to inspire through her own visions reminding others that we are all part of this “Earth Spaceship”.

ART SHAPING THE FUTURE

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ART STORIES

Painting celebrities - seeking freedom in painting Most of us have never heard that Johnny Depp, Adrien Brody, Sylvester Stallone, Jim Carrey, Lucy Liu, Dennis Hopper, James Franco, Anthony Hopkins, Wiggo Mortensen, Jennifer Aniston, Michelle Pfeiffer would have other creative talents than acting and that they also paint, and probably most people have not even seen any of their artwork. They might be actors who have achieved worldwide success and who’s names are known all over the world but with an intrinsic desire to express themselves individually and independently in a different form, through painting. Many of these actors have actually started their creative careers painting, some of them studied it and planned to become painters. Eventhough they left painting at one point in their lives, it eventually came back later with full force. Even if the various paths of life for many changes, the creativity and passion for painting eventually creeps in to become alive again. This is how it happened to Lucy Liu as well. Liu has always been an artist, she explains in an interview to the Guardian. Even while she was working on movies, whenever she found time in between, she would be drawing and creating. At one point she decided to move back to New York, focusing on art and enrolling at the New York Studio School. "I realised it was something I needed to do," she says in the interview, "it was important for me to go in that direction for my own sanity. So I went for the summer and I just realised, 'Oh my God. There's so much here that I need to explore.'"

It seems to be a contradiction but many of these famous actors are not free in the sense we imagine them to be. They live most of their times in a world where it is hardly easy to be their own selves, they have to conform to different identities, expectations, ideals. However when they paint, they can be whoever they truly are, they can immerse themselves authentically in their own expressions, they are the masters of their own voices.

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“It was important for me to go in that direction for my own sanity. So I went for the summer and I just realised, 'Oh my God. There's so much here that I need to explore.'“ — Lucy Liu actress / artist / advocate The Guardian

ART STORIES

“I believe the purpose of art is to bring people into presence, to free them from thoughts of their past or their future,” declares Jim Carrey in his artist statement. “This involvement, this presence, this “Freedom From Concern“ is what I playfully refer to as The Church of FFC.” “It is what I now seek for myself: freedom through honesty, freedom through absurdity, freedom through expression of every kind,” continues Jim Carrey in his interview in Palm Springs Life. L’art pour l’art is their motto when painting. Some of them paint to raise their own emotional depths, to develop and get in touch more with their true selves, some of them make use of their names to promote causes, to raise funds, to make our world a better place. In all cases they are part of raising and uplifting the level of consciousness of humanity. 62

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ART STORIES

“I’m not just painting for painting’s sake. I want to be truthful.“ — Sylvester Stallone Daily Mail UK

The desire to express oneself through creativity comes in many different forms. Art is a link to the soul and those who tap into it find different channels to get to it. Painting is freedom and a way to develop freedom. To the question “What does painting give you?” Adrien Brody answered to Parade: “Tremendous freedom. My work as an actor is limited by the voice of the director and the writing,” describes it Brody. In this world of consumerism, high speed movement and a huge amount of distractions, painting is a way to find and reflect the voice within, bringing it to light, without limitations. “I’m representing the brightness of fish that can live in the darkest corners of the Earth, and how there are parallels between the fragility of that and our own souls,” Brody explains his “Hooked“ series to Vice, “that there needs to be a lightness during darker times that we exist in, and that needs to be cultivated and protected. The paint splattering is also representative of this uniqueness in the creatures. No two images could be the same, just as no two living beings are the same.”

No one has to be famous in order to paint and to follow a passion, just as it is not necessary to paint in order to immerse oneself in the world of painting. Being a viewer of art, having passion towards art can give as much sense of freedom as the creation part in itself. “When I’m involved in creation, whether it be a movie, a painting, a joke, a song, or a sculpture, it stops the world for me,” says Jim Carrey in his artist statement. “At best, I think an artist’s work also stops the viewer from thinking, worrying, or dressing what they are looking at with their mood or interpretation, bringing them into presence as well,” describes Jim Carrey more in Palm Springs Life. The examples of these famous actors reflect our human need of self expression, since none of them really “need” to create other than for a higher and more truthful purpose. Within this fast paced world that drives and distracts us every minute, the part of ourselves seeking individual self expression through any form of art, whether by creating it or being part of it, leads us to an innate desire to leave the drama, the noise, the crowd behind for the sake of hearing our pure voice again.

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