Monaco Art Week, a diversified art experience, is aimed at bringing together galleries, auction houses, artists, and collectors all in one beautiful event for the public. This year’s Art Week was its 3rd edition with Chic Icon as the official media partner, and displayed various forms of art along the illustrious French Riviera. With an assorted lineup of art from different time periods consisting of classic to contemporary, it was an art lover’s dream.
Immerse yourself in some of the world’s most prominent art; whether your taste is modern paintings or brutalist sculptures, this year’s Monaco Art Week touched all corners of the art world, truly making for an incredible experience. There was no stagnant moment.
What makes Monaco Art Week so special is that it is spread over three districts. The route started in the Condamine district, at the NM Contemporary gallery, whose exhibit was filled with optical installations by the Italian artist Vincenzo Marsiglia.
Within the route, you are able to view various forms of performance and street art by the astonishing Sonia Falcone (the main image), Jean Antoine Hierro, Manou Marzban, and Joris Brantuas. After finishing the many surreal installations in the Condamine district, you enter the Monte-Carlo district, where visitors could discover a historical gallery of the Principality, the Galerie Adriano Ribolzi, which celebrated the centenary of Maison Ribolzi.
The beauty of Monaco Art Week is the cornucopia of cultures from around the world meeting in the opulent Principality of Monaco to celebrate art and life. Each district and installation you stumbled upon was better than the next. Whether your niche is classic art or photography, there was everything you needed. Sculptures were a huge emphasis in this year’s event, with a special feature of Louis Bourgois’ famous spiders standing tall at the entrance of the Hauser & Wirth’s new majestic space.
As you make your way through each district, you had the opportunity to stop by a plethora of restaurants spread around the city and experience the mouthwatering food of Monaco. With the world being tragically struck by the pandemic, Monaco Art Week was a must need for the people needing to bring color into their world again. There is always a longing for art and travel, and there’s no better place than in Monaco along the breath-taking French Riviera.
As the official media partner of the event, Chic Icon had the opportunity to truly absorb the culture and art at this year’s event and had a first-hand look at the world’s best. We believe art is meant to be viewed in person with a core goal of touching someone somehow. This year’s event showed true talent, culture, and aesthetics. Meandering through the summer sun to each district viewing some of the most inventive art in the world is truly a sublime experience everyone enjoys.
Chic Icon had a pleasure to meet and interview Mark Armstrong, who’s managing Sotheby’s Monte Carlo office, which covers Monaco and the Alpes-Maritimes area. Sotheby’s was one of the exhibitors this year’s at the Monaco Art Week, introducing its first private “pop-up” sales area. The first exhibition featured a selection of works by major artists such as Picasso, Picabia, Braque, Renoir, Léger, Matisse, Nolde, and Twombly, mixed with those by modern Italian masters of Fontana, Boetti, and Burri.
How would you evaluate the past edition of Monaco Art Week?
I found it very interesting, and it was at a particularly dynamic time in the Principality with major exhibitions here such as Giacometti and Bijoux d’Artistes as well as others across the Riviera.
Did you face any difficulties with the organization due to Covid- 19?
No, not really, we did organize a small event in our amazing Summer Gallery space and then at the Casa Del Caffé across the road, which worked very well indeed.
What achievements can you highlight?
It is great that Monaco Art Week actually happened! Many thanks to Louise and Andrea and their hard work.
Which masterpieces did you like the most?
It is difficult to decide! At our Gallery, I particularly liked a Gouache of Flowers by Chagall and the fabulous Yellow Fontan, but my all-time favorite was a stunning view of the Church of the Redentore by Canaletto.
Mark, as an experienced art expert, how do larger events such as Monaco Art Week differ from specific showcases and galleries?
It is a great showcase for all that is going on in Monaco and the large palette of galleries and creativity in Monaco.
What makes the art scene in Monaco so unique?
Its diversity, contemporary art galleries, modern art galleries, old masters, silver, fine jewelry, the luxury element too. Everything that one could wish for so close to hand.
Lastly, what is your next endeavor in the art world?
We are busy in our fabulous Summer Show Room “Pop-Up” Gallery, 20 Avenue de la Costa, till the end of October. We will be hosting various events in September during the Yacht show, and then in December, there will be the amazing Karl Lagerfeld Sale in Monaco.
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