Since it was opened on June 23, 2006, the Quai Branly Museum in Paris has been laden with controversy amongst its local both its national and international visitors.

Although unlike many entities bound in controversy become dogged with criticism and experience a rapid demise, the Musee Quai Branly’s controversy has aided its success and phenomenal popularity.

Controversy often sparks intrigue, especially within the world of art. Much of the Quai Branly Museum’s contents are items plundered from France’s colonial conquest, which many believe, should be returned to their country of origin.

The ‘artistic -ness’ of the museum’s contents and displays are also put in question, with even the Branly’s curators referring to the artefacts and displays as “objects” to convey that the pieces were not necessarily intended as pieces of art but rather for utilitarian and sacred uses, such as the Branly’s headdresses from Alaska, statues from Nigeria, its Djennenke statue from the 10^th or 11^th century pre-Drogon Mali era, and its Indian ornamental wear.

Although it is not just the Musee Quai Branly’s contents that have been doused in criticism, as the curators have been criticised for placing a too heavy dependence on ‘aesthetic appeal’, namely being committed to extreme lighting rather than accurate descriptions of its content.

Read full post

The High Museum of Art in Atlanta, with its world renowned collection of contemporary and award-winning architecture, has acquired major new works by artists Anish Kapoor and Alex Katz, adding to its exciting, diverse and innovative collection of contemporary art.

Talking about High’s latest editions, Michael Shapiro, the High’s Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr, Director, said:

“The High’s collection of contemporary art is growing in exciting and diverse ways, and signals our commitment to creating an anthology of important 21^st-century works. We are grateful to Alex for his generous gift of ‘Twilight’ and look forward to adding to our holdings of his work; his extraordinary paintings bridge the Museum’s fine collection of post-painterly abstraction with his expanding collection of Pop art.”

Alex Katz was born in New York in 1927 and is a figurative artist who became best known for his involvement in the Pop art movement, particularly for his sculptures, paintings and prints.

The artist, who has been described as being “one of the most significant artists of his generation”, has had his work exhibited across the world, including more than 200 solo exhibitions, and almost 500 group exhibitions since 1951.

With the inspirational artist’s works being displayed in the world’s biggest galleries and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Hirshhorn Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Sculpture Garde, it is no wonder the High Museum of Art is excited about being given Katz’s “Twilight” (1998) painting to enhance its exquisite collection that includes the works of many other Pop art sensations, including Andy Warhol and Chuck Close.

Read full post

Europe’s leading in-water exhibition returns later this year for its 34^th anniversary.

The exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to preview the finest yachts and boats on the market, all amongst the unique and exclusive setting of Cannes.

Yacht owners and buyers from countries gather from around the world to discover what the luxury boating world has to offer.

The show averages around 54,000 visitors each year and exhibits 500 boats in water, 87% of which are from overseas. It introduces 139 new models, and features 169 vessels that measure over 20 metres long.

There are also around 400 exhibitors, coming from 39 different countries. However, the organisers are continually pushing to expand into new exhibition areas to open the exhibition up to even more exhibitors and visitors.

The boat show is separated into 3 main areas:

The Vieux Port specialises in showing new yachts to potential buyers, boasting around 470 of the latest boat designs. They offer visitors the chance to preview the finest new models from the world’s leading shipyards. The collection is a mix of motorboats and sailing boats, measuring from 10 – 50 metres long. The Vieux Port also has 200 smaller boats that are shown on land, measuring less than 10 metres.

Read full post

New Jersey is home to a new ‘Fight Club’ that allows wealthy clients to blow off some steam by destroying an object of their choice.

This members-only club offers clients the chance to pay to use weapons and tools of their choice to destroy objects ranging from clothing to pianos.

They can pick from a list of objects to smash, including; furniture, televisions, guitars, fax machines, motorcycles, laptops and pottery. They also have the choice to request a particular item, which they can pay to have brought in.

Once the object of their rage has been decided upon, the member can then choose which weapon to use. Popular choices include baseball bats, golf clubs, sledgehammers, swords and chainsaws.

Each ‘destroyer’ visits the club’s warehouse to put on protective clothing. They are then taken to the roof top space, where their chosen item is brought out to them, ready to be demolished.

The smashing of the object is also filmed so that members can visit the club’s control room and watch back the footage of themselves. Prior to this, the member must sign a legal waiver to obey the following rules: no firearms, no living things or paperwork, and no alcohol or drugs.

The club says that the common theme is technology, including computers, laptops and iPads.

Read full post