French Maze at Opera Gallery: A selection of artworks from French masters

French Maze, Opera Gallery — Marc Chagall, Les amoureux le soir, 70×55,4cm, watercolour, pastel and pencil on paper laid on board, 1949

For the first time ever in Hong Kong, works of 10 French artists made between 1949 and 2017 will be showcased under one roof, courtesy of Opera Gallery, Hong Kong. Always a pioneer in Hong Kong’s art scenario, Opera Gallery proudly presents French Maze, a selection of 27 artworks from French masters, ranging from the Post War period to contemporary times. Running from 17 May to 30 June 2018, the exhibition offers art connoisseurs a chance to turn the pages of art history, where French art plays a pivotal role in shaping European and world art scenes.

Figurative and abstract, these compositions form a collection of highly personal memories and ideas, interweaving the artists’ reflections and their artistic paths. Exploring different styles and mediums in the French art scene, French Maze will showcase works by Marc Chagall, Bernard Buffet, Jean Dubuffet and Mathieu Georges to the contemporary Andre Brasilier, Pierre Soulages, Chu The-Chun and Robert Combas, Andre’ Lanskoy and Haudressy Pascal.

Exhibition Highlights

French Maze at Opera Gallery — Brasilier Escale sous la neige à Loupeigne, 2017

Andre Brasilier’s work is typified by a breezy lyricism, wherein real-life subjects are transposed into dreamlike settings. Brasilier’s images portray a peaceful world, with delicate composition and colour harmonies bathed in soft, cool light.

Marc Chagall’s world is dreamlike as well, with flying lovers, musicians, circus figures, flowers and animals – all intense personal symbols that combine in a complex tapestry of multiple narratives.

Jean Dubuffet – known for his idealistic approach to aesthetics – embraced the so-called ‘low art’ and eschewed traditional standards of beauty in favour of what he believed was a more authentic and humanistic approach to image-making.

To find out more about Opera Gallery, visit www.operagallery.com or click here to read our interview with Director, Sharlanee Foo.

Exhibition dates: 17 May – 30 June, 2018

Opera Gallery, W Place, 52 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong

Monday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm | Sunday and Pubic Holidays: 12:00 am – 6:00 pm

Golden Touch: Gold Infinity unveils unique gold-plated iPhone X

Luxury brand Gold Infinity is teaming up with local celeb Mr. M and, thanks to the sponsorship of German auto maker Audi’s R8 V10 super car, is shining the spotlight on a dazzling, one-of-a-kind 24k gold iPhone X.

This particular iPhone X was plated entirely with a luxurious 3-micron-thick layer of 24k yellow gold, and boasts a gloriously shimmering finish thanks to Gold Infinity’s precision handcraftsmanship.

For the uninitiated, Gold Infinity is the go-to specialist when it comes to customised gold-plating services. From phones and watches to a whole host of other luxury accessories, its unique products are a benchmark of quality and style.

To get more information or to place an order for your own unique gold-plated accessory, please visit www.goldinfinity-luxury.com

This Mother’s Day, treat your mum to something special from the Gafencu E-shop

This Mother's Day, say thank you with a little something special from the Gafencu E-shop — *This Mother’s Day, say thank you with a little something special from the Gafencu E-shop*

With Mother’s Day just two days away, there’s never been a better time to show your appreciation for the very special lady that raised you.

So put a smile on your mother’s face this May and treat her to something truly special from the Gafencu E-shop’s carefully curated collection of luxury lifestyle goods.

From elegant Frey Willie jewellery to Michael Kors sunglasses to elegant Juvenia timepieces, these stylish and luxurious gifts will light up her day.

Don’t miss out. Check out the selection on offer right now!

Rare Vintage Macallan Bottles: Spirits of the Age from Pop Art Greats

Two extremely rare vintage Macallan bottles – originally auctioned back in the 1980s – have reappeared on the market after three-decade interval. They will now headline the Bonhams’ Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky sale in Hong Kong later this month.

Macallan-1926-60 year old Sir Peter Blake © Bonhams © Mark French Photography (HK$3,600,000-4,600,000 per bottle)

Encased in specially commissioned cabinets (or ‘Tantaluses’), the 60 Years Old 1926 vintages – a Peter Blake Label and an Adami Label – together make up a hyper- exclusive limited edition of just 24 bottles (12 of each) and are estimated to fetch between US$460,000 – 586,000 apiece.

Commenting on their value, Daniel Lam, Head of Fine Wine and Whisky at Bonhams Hong Kong, said: “These bottles are incredibly rare. The exceptional calibre of the whisky, combined with artwork from two of the towering figures of 20th century pop art – Peter Blake and Valerio Adami – represent a unique marriage of excellence. The sale is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for collectors to acquire this Holy Grail of the Macallan world.”

Macallan-1926-60 year old Valerio Adami © Bonhams © Mark French Photography (HK$3,600,000-4,600,000 per bottle)

For the initiated, Sir Peter Blake and Valerio Adami are among the true pioneers of 20th century pop art. While Blake shot to fame as the designer of the famous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band Beatles’ cover (yes, the same one that was voted the no.1 album cover of all times by Rolling Stone magazine), Valerio Adami was an Italian artist feted for his comic art style.

Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay
Image courtesy: Bonhams Hong Kong

Van Cleef & Arpels historic 1925 Egyptian-style jewellery

High joaillerie connoisseurs had something of a rare treat last month April when historic 1925 Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet surfaced at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Sale in Hong Kong.

Valued at some HK$ 6,600,000 – 8,500,000, the wide diamond bracelet came decorated with five quatrefoil motifs in rubies and onyx, alternating with Egyptian lotus motifs set with emeralds and sapphires, mounted in platinum. Serving as a tabula rasa for an avant garde design in contrasting colour schemes, the bracelet was heralded as a prime example of the bold Art Deco jewellery of the Roaring Twenties.

Casting off the gloom of World War I, the Roaring Twenties was a time of exuberant creativity, sustained economic prosperity and undoubted joie de vivre. Arguably, the most revolutionary change that this period witnessed was women winning voting rights in most Western economies – a move that, among others, revolutionised all aspects of women’s fashion.

Embracing the spirit of adventure, women found themselves drawn to exotic motifs from faraway lands, mainly Egypt, thanks in no small part, to Howard Carter’s discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Van Cleef & Arpels, too found themselves riding the tide of Egyptomania, with archival sketches of this, jewellery revealing striking similarities with iconography from the lost Valley of Kings.

Le Matador: A remarkable self-portrait by Picasso

Le Matador, a remarkable self-portrait by Pablo Picasso created just three years before his death in 1973, went under the gavel at earlier this year with a staggering reserve price of US$20-25 million.

First unveiled at an exhibition at the Palais des Papes in Avignon shortly after the artist’s death, Le Matador depicts Picasso as a sword-yielding bullfighter in a ring surrounded by thousands of spectators, holding his blade in the style of a paintbrush, as if preparing for some final battle.

One of the most mature works in his oeuvre, the painting has been aptly described as a culmination of the painter’s life-long obsession with matadors. Familiar bullfighting from an early age, his first-ever painting – Le Picador, depicting a bullfighter on a horse entering an arena observed by spectators – was created when he was just eight, not long after his father had taken him to watch his first such contest.

Though Picasso spent most of his adult years in Paris, he had always retained a strong sense of his Spanish heritage. It’s perhaps fitting, then, that as he neared the end of his life, he returned, once again to the image of the matador and to the subject of his earliest artistic endeavour.

Patek Philippe: Monarch’s minute monitor makes its debut at auction

This particular Patek Philippe watch that was auctioned at Christie’s Dubai last month was truly unique in several ways. One of the first perpetual chronograph watches ever made by Patek Philippe, its historic value was upped still more by the fact it was once owned by King Farouk, the penultimate monarch of Egypt and the Sudan and a man who was known for his fondness for all things luxurious – from Rolls-Royce cars to vintage timepieces.

Commissioned by the King in 1945, the 18-carat gold watch – one of only 281 ever made – is the first ‘1518’ edition of the iconic three-dial style that still in production today. Highlighting its significance, John Reardon, Christie’s International Head of Watches, said: “The same design concept still exists on new Patek Philippe watches, but it has gone through five iterations in as many decades, which is why the original 1518 is known today as the great-great-grandfather of the series.”

In what was then considered an unprecedented horological feat, the timepiece incorporated a triple-complication movement, which micro-mechanically counts seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years. It also includes a moon-face calendar between its two chronograph registers.

It’s the caseback, though, that gives it its royal heritage. Engraved with a crowned ‘F’ on the reverse, complete with a star and a half-moon on the crown (a symbol of the then-Egyptian flag), the watch was believed to be a harbinger of good luck by King Farouk himself. That, however, was probably before he was forcibly deposed in 1952.

LOUIS XIII collaborates with Pharrell Williams for a song that we can hear only if we care

LOUIS XIII cognac has mastered the art of preserving a century in a decanter. The latest venture by the premium cognac-maker is a collaboration with musical sensation, Pharrell Williams, for a music composition named “100 Years”, which will only be released in 2117!

The song is a creative expression of the delicate relationship between nature and time, and the effect humans have on their environment. Each decanter of LOUIS XIII represents the life achievement of generations of cellar masters, so LOUIS XIII must always think a century ahead.

Pharrell’s exclusive track has been recorded onto a record made of clay from the chalky soil of the Cognac region and will be stored in the cellars of LOUIS XIII in a state-of-the-art safe specially designed by Fichet-Bauche that is only destructible when submerged in water. If sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, scientists project that in 100 years, a portion of the world’s land might be underwater. The only way to guarantee this original piece of music will be heard again in 2117, one century from now, is if we address the tragic consequences of global warming – if we do not change our way of living, future generations will never be able to hear this song. “100 Years” by Pharrell Williams will be out in 2117, but only #IFWECARE.

“I love the fact that LOUIS XIII thinks a century ahead”, said Pharrell Williams. “We should all do the same for the planet. We have a common interest in preserving nature for the future. Each bottle is the life achievement of generations of men and women. It’s all about legacy and transmission.”

According to Ludovic du Plessis, Global Executive Director of LOUIS XIII, “Nature and time are at the heart of what we do. If the environment is unstable, even the greatest cellar master would not be able to compose the exceptional blend that is LOUIS XIII. Global warming is one of the most important issues of the 21st century; with “100 Years” – the song we’ll only hear if we care, we hope to inspire people around the world to take action.”

Reflecting Light: Giacometti’s chandelier depicts the dark days of World War II

Alberto Giacometti, one of the most prominent sculptors of the 20th century, is best known for the haunting, stark qualities of his work. His most mature piece, Lustre avec femme, homme et oiseau, an elegant chandelier only ever produced in a limited edition of just three, recently came under the spotlight at Sotheby’s London, offering a rare chance to acquire one of his most admired pieces.

In the years following World War II, Giacometti found himself entirely overcome with a sense of isolation and loneliness. His sculptures, which were already stark to begin with, became ever more austere and basic, reflecting his take on human condition. This particular work – valued at around £6,000,000-8,000,000 – has long been seen as the apotheosis of his Post-War work.

Originally conceived in 1949, but not cast in bronze until 1952, the chandelier embodies the artist’s unique Post-War vision. Depicting a solitary woman in a cage and a man circling it, the artist set out to capture the pathos of an existential crisis, one where captivity and release are not simple binaries, with neither bringing true freedom.

Summarising the piece, Thomas Bompard, Head of Sotheby’s London Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sales, said: “This work represents a tangible coming together of visual arts, decoration and theatre.”

High Spirits: Japanese whisky shatters world record at auction

Japanese whisky passed yet another milestone recently when a single bottle of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky Aged 50 Years NV went for a whopping US$ 298,879 at a recent Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction. Sold for twice its pre-sale estimate, the auction house confirmed that it was the highest price ever commanded by a single bottle of Japanese whisky.

Commenting on this highly positive outcome, Adam Bilbey, Head of Sotheby’s Wine Asia, said: “With the hammer dropping way above the already high estimate, this was an incredible way to kick off our 2018 sales season in Hong Kong. Once again, we saw active bidding from across Asia, all underpinned by the discerning buyers here in Hong Kong.”

Indeed, Japanese whisky is getting something of a reputation for shattering world auction records. Only last year, the world’s largest-known collection of Karuizawa, a premium out-of-production single malt, set a new world record when it went for almost US$1 million, making it the most expensive Japanese whisky collection of all time.

Other impressive performers at the Sotheby’s event included the Macallan Millennium Decanter 50 Year Old 1949, which sold for US$62,922, and the Karuizawa Single Malt Whisky Aged 50 Years 1965, which fetched US$55,057.