New month full of art and culture with the 7 highlights of February. Starting month and new lunar year, welcoming the water rabbit with festivities. Also, with the originality of many fashion houses inspired by the animal.
Among the 7 art highlights of February, we find more details of the Christian Dior: Designer of dreams exhibition in Tokyo. The Auckland Lantern Festival festival to close the inauguration of the Chinese New Year, as well as the 42nd edition of ArcoMadrid. On the other hand, the presence of Picasso and Gaudí, the former through photographs, and the latter within an immersive exhibition. Ending with the Reial Cercle Artistic Cercle Artistic of Barcelona and the objective of continuing to maintain the traditional cultural heritage. In addition to the creative game of Guillermo del Toro when creating the new Pinocchio film.
The connection between Christian Dior’s dreamy art and Japan
As mentioned in the December highlights, the Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams exhibition arrives in Tokyo, at the Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art (OMA), after great success in Europe and North America. On this occasion, being able to reveal the interior of the exhibition already installed. The exhibition is divided into different rooms where visitors can discover different aspects of the Maison. In this way letters, sketches and pieces that took place in Japanese cities are revealed. Memories that reflect the connection between Dior and houses such as Daimaru or Kanebo.
Throughout the rooms, the perfect contrast of black and white is played with, revealing the energetic New Look. There are many silhouettes reminiscent of that traditional Japanese style. Meanwhile, dresses and dresses evening dresses are present flourishing on their own. From the delicate gold pieces to the splendor of the flowers portrayed on the fabrics. The complements are not far behind, as well as cosmetics and perfumery, without forgetting the personalities who wore Dior as Grace Kelly or Marilyn Monroe.
The accessories stand out on their own. In one of the best-designed rooms where bags surround visitors passing through its walls. Daici Ano
Christian Dior connected with the art of the Japanese country, allowing to create a special narrative connecting the two cultures. Florence Müller, curator of the exhibition, has recognized that the contact of the French house with Japan “revolutionized post-war fashion.” Intertwining contacts from 1953 allowing to inspire and be inspired in a mutual way and to continue creating haute couture.
When? December 21, 2022 through May 28, 2023
Where? 4 Chome-1-1, Miyoshi, Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Schedule: From 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Tickets: You can purchase tickets here here.
Paper lanterns celebrating the lunar new year
Since 2000, New Zealand has been celebrating the Chinese New Year year after year. And, this 2023, the Auckland Lantern Festival, will be celebrated with more gusto after an enforced hiatus. Hundreds of Chinese lights, handcrafted will be on display along with music and dance performances. Accompanying the festivity with traditional Chinese food and crafts. Starting the new year of the water rabbit with energy and hope.
Traditional paper lights on the occasion of the new year. Represented with the intense red color. Bevan Read/Stuff
More than 800 paper lights will be on display, including the new one in the shape of a rabbit, commemorating the new lunar year. In addition, those that could not be shown since 2020 will also be on display. From the rat, the ox and the tiger, the last one with which we have finished 2022. The cinema also has a place in the festival, being able to watch a mini documentary about the Chinese New Zealanders, the journey of a mother and her daughter through the city of Auckland. And for the little ones, the series Tales of Nai Nai, traveling throughout Asia through the stories of grandma;
Chinese lanterns fly over the heads of visitors as they enjoy Chinese culture.
In addition, throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy traditional Chinese delicacies such as wontons, small stuffed dumplings, or nian gao, rice cake. The latter, being one of the small dishes that are traditionally eaten for the entrance of the new year. Ending the night of February 5 with fireworks, melting into the darkness of the sky;
When? 2 February to 5 February 2023
Where? Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau City Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Hours: Thursday to Sunday from 4.30pm to 10.30pm
Strengthening cultural traditions at the Reial Cercle Artístic
Art connects through time, inspiring from the past to create in the present and represent the possible future. Art and culture continues in a visible and invisible way, because everything that surrounds us cannot be touched, but it can be felt. The Reial Cercle Artistic of Barcelona brings this February the exhibition Relatos (In) Visibles: Between Heaven and Earth , offering an immersion to places and people in constant change, but with an invisible cultural heritage on their backs.
The exhibition features 14 works by contemporary Italian artists, an audiovisual exhibition consisting of 4 films and a series of ethnographic reportages. With this, the exhibition project aims to maintain and strengthen the traditional art that has always existed, and which may be in danger of disappearing. The essence of popular celebrations, oral traditions or the natural identity of a society.
In this way, the artists connect the art of the past to understand today and continue the evolution without losing the essence of the origin. Using contemporary art as a way to question ourselves as a society and the relationships between people and social identities. The exhibition will visit different cities around the world. Starting in Barcelona, passing through Madrid, Lisbon, Havana and New York. Finishing its tour in the summer of next year.
When? 2 February to 12 March 2023
Where? Carrer de les Arts, 5, Barcelona, Spain
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00h to 14.00h and from 15.00h to 20.00h
The Mediterranean territory at the center of ArcoMadrid
This February, ARCOmadrid will celebrate its 42nd edition, continuing the objective of promoting art past, present and future. The firm commitment and new expectations are reflected year after year in the participations, incorporating new galleries to the fair. This year, 214 galleries from 37 different countries will gather to exhibit all kinds of art, with the Mediterranean as the central element.
Untitled works from the series Saq taq achik’ by artist Manuel Chavajay. In the Latin American section Never the same
The general program features 171 international galleries, with 30 of them joining ARCO for the first time. Counting with Captain Petzl, Contemporary Fine Arts or galleries like Société, Mai 36 or ProjecteSD that return for another year. In parallel, the fair will feature three curated sections. On the one hand, Mediterranean: a round sea, curated by Marina Fokidis, with the aim of uniting the cultures surrounded by our sea;
Two of the works featured in the Opening section. Luna Roja by Kenia Almaraz Murillo and Verdant Embers by Diana Sofia Lozano.
On the other hand, the presence of 20 galleries from 13 countries, where works by artists such as Anna Boghiguian, Laia Estruch or Mohamed Bourouissa, among others, are analyzed and analyzed in depth. The young gallerist will once again be placed in the Opening by Allianz space, while Latin American creation will be shown in Nunca lo mismo. Latin American Art with 11 galleries.
When? 22 February to 26 February 2023
Where? Avda. del Partenón, 5, Madrid, Spain
Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 12.00h to 20.00h. Friday and Saturday from 12.00h to 20.00h. Sunday from 12.00h to 18.00h.
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
The link between puppets and animators in Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.
The cinematic art of filmmaker Guillermo del Toro has arrived at The Museum of Modern Art with the animated film Pinocchio. The work done behind the scenes is always exhaustive, and thanks to the Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio exhibition, one can observe the creativity that is ultimately conveyed through the screen. Offering visitors to explore the visual development up to the production process. Being able to discover the largest Pinocchio puppet, with a body of 172.2cm.
The great figure of Pinocchio with his cricket companion. Emile Askey
The privilege of observing firsthand how Guillermo and Mark Gustafson interacted with the artisans and artists under their direction inspired our selection and installation of the works on display,” said curator Ron Magliozzi.
Throughout the tour, you can see five working stages and four large pieces, as well as puppets and marionettes. Different models, drawings, molds and photographs. In addition to 375 images from different workshops spread between Mexico, England and the United States where they worked side by side with Del Toro. The first section of the exhibition, Look Development, focuses on the research and experimentation carried out by the production team to create the natural elements of the work. Including elements of wood and stone, in addition to all the puppets that were made along with different models that served as inspiration.
One of the scenes where Pinocchio appears giving spectacle. Being the wooden figures moved by the light threads. Emile Askey
Meanwhile, the second section, On the Set, presents eight stages, paying great attention to the detail and symbolism given to each stage, and the artistry in making them. From MoMA, the stained glass windows and frescoes on the walls of the stage in particular Church Corner stand out, being characteristic in Guillermo del Toro. As well as the behind-the-scenes vision and how they use video live-action and stop-motion animation to bring scenes to life through puppets.
When? 11 December 2022 – 15 April 2023
Where? 11 West 53 Street, Manhattan, New York, USA
Hours: Sunday to Friday from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Saturday from 10.30am to 7pm.
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
The art of Picasso through photography
This year 2023, Picasso will have a presence halfway around the world, as his work will be honored celebrating the 50th anniversary of his departure. At the Picasso Museum in Málaga you can already enjoy the exhibition Picasso as seen by Otero. The Argentine journalist and photographer Roberto Otero was able to have contact and get closer in a more private way to the residence and life of the artist. He was able to capture his day-to-day life in the seventies while he was creating and spending time with his family and friends. Photographs from 1961 to 1970, appearing working in his studio, or with people like the writer Rafael Alberti.
From left to right: Picasso decorating a pottery in the Madoura Vallauris pottery workshop, August 11, 1966. Rafael Alberty and Pablo Picasso leafing through a book. Mougins, Notre-Dame-de-Vie, 1968
The exhibition also includes a large part of archival material from the Roberto Otero Fund. Manuscript notebooks where the journalist collected fragments of conversations held with Picasso. In this way he was able to collect the most intimate and personal moments of a character who, in addition to being an artist, was also a person. More than 1500 images are those that make up the archive, leaving a documentary testimony when Picasso lived in the south of France. In addition, during the tour, visitors can see the model of Otero’s book, Far from Spain, and some photographs by Otero shown in 1997 at the Gmurzynska gallery in Art Basel.
When? 17 January to 23 April 2023
Where? Calle San Agustín, 8, Málaga
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10.00h to 18.00h
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
Gaudí’s legacy reflected in his buildings
Bassins des Lumières presents a short immersive exhibition reflecting the art that Gaudí left as a legacy among the most emblematic buildings in Barcelona. Under the name Gaudí, Architecte de l’Imaginaire, the experience pays tribute to the genius of architecture that inspired and continues to inspire in the art world. Visitors, once inside its walls, will embark on a journey from Park Güell to Casa Batlló, passing through Casa Milà and the Sagrada Familia.
The iconic ceramic lizard that presides over Park Güell has a presence, representing the colors that dress it © Culturespaces / Eric Spiller
Through the mirrors and projections, the figures and shapes recognized within the walls of the buildings will come to life. Illuminating the bright color of the flowers that live in Park Güell, moving visitors through mosaics and spirals. To the rhythm of the musical curves of Gershwin, the Art Déco will also be present to show the beauties of Casa Batlló and end in the great Catalan basilica. The play of light and reflections will transmit the magic of stained glass and its colors;
When? 3 February 2023 – 7 January 2024
Where? Bassins des Lumières Imp, Brown de Colstoun, Bordeaux, France
Opening hours: From 3 to 19 February: Sunday to Thursday from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm. Friday and Saturday from 10.00h to 21.00h.
From February 20 to March 31 and from October 1 to January 7, 2024: Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Friday and Saturday from 10.00h to 20.00h.
From April 1 to September 30: Sunday to Thursday from 10.00h to 19.00h.
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
Images provided by the brands mentioned
