In a world brimming with cultural and artistic offerings, it can be overwhelming to decide where to focus your attention. That’s where we come in. Our editorial team has handpicked a diverse array of recommendations to inspire and entertain you.
BOOK
Michael Finkel, “The Art Thief”
From a criminal to a celebrity? Nowadays those histories are nothing unusual! Same thing happened to Stéphane Breitwieser – french art thief, that stole 239 art works, worth around 1,4 billion dollars. Sentenced in 2005 by a Strasbourg court for 3 years of imprisonment, he served only 26 months (2 years in Switzerland and the last few months in France). After getting back his freedom, he published a book Confessions of an Art Thief, accompanied by meetings with readers and media interviews.
Michael Finkel, investigative journalist decided to follow the footsteps of Breitweiser, resulting in a movie-like book The Art Thief. Finkel describes not only the artworks stolen by French criminal but digs deeper into the criminal’s mind trying to understand what was driving Breitweiser to those spectacular thefts. Was he completely possessed by the idea of beauty and art? Too poor to just buy and invest in artworks? You can find all the answers reading the Michael Finkel magnificent book. Intertwining art, crimes and psychological aspects it creates and unforgettable experience of getting into an art thief mind. Maybe you find some time during this holiday season to get to know one of the most spectacular personas of the art crime world.
Julia Olszewska
EXHIBITIONS
“Ellsworth Kelly. Shapes and Colors, 1949-2015” at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris
Ellsworth Kelly is considered one of the most influential American abstract painters and sculptors. His seven-decade career was characterized by a strong sense of artistic independence from any particular school or movement. Kelly’s use of vibrant colors and straightforward shapes significantly impacted 20th-century painting. He once explained, “I have worked to free shape from its ground, and then to work the shape so that it has a definite relationship to the space around it. So that it has a clarity and a measure within itself of its parts (angles, curves, edges, and mass); and so that, with color and tonality, the shape finds its own space and always demands its freedom and separateness.”
This exhibition in France, open until September 9th, is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of Kelly’s work, covering both his career timeline and the variety of media he employed. Featuring over 100 pieces, the exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, and collages.
“Nora Turato – the next big thing is YOU” Until July 20, 2024, at Galerie Gregor Staiger in Zurich
Nora Turato (born 1991) is a Croatian graphic designer, installation, and performance artist based in Amsterdam. She is renowned for her works that explore everyday linguistic usage, which she then enlarges and imprints onto exhibition walls. Turato’s scripts are crafted from texts appropriated from Facebook, internet forums, print media, and literature. Turato channels the chaotic stream of text from our smartphones to highlight the volatility of language when taken out of context. Her work reflects an era where language is disconnected from its informative function and words are abstracted from their meaning.
MOVIE
“Past Lives”
Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood friends with a deep connection, are separated when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they reunite for one significant week, confronting themes of love and destiny. The film delivers everything you want: a charming romance, a philosophical narrative, and characters who feel authentic, even with minimal screen time. The scriptwriters have masterfully woven a touching romance from brief moments, making it feel complete and impactful.
A simple plot transforms into a richly complex tale of lost love, sought closure, and found purpose, thanks to Celine Song’s brilliant use of silence. Despite frequent moments of quiet, not a single second feels wasted. Every shot and line is carefully crafted to maximize emotional impact.
ART HUB 
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