Monet in Monaco

 

It will be a summer of art at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte-Carlo this summer with a vast array of his work on exhibition from July 8th until September 3rd coinciding with the 140th anniversary of Claude Monet’s first visit to both the French Riviera and Monaco with his work on display following his life and career path during his time in the region.

Gathered from around the world, approximately 100 of the French impressionist paintings will be on display throughout the 3000 m2 space.

The works of art on display will blend a mix of timelines and themes, curated by the art historian Marianne Mathieu in order to give visitors a deeper look and understanding of the artist’s work with many of his masterpieces having been shown together at one time.

“Monet’s work is very coherent. From his youth in Le Havre to the last paintings in Giverny, the painter does not try to paint a motif, but rather a moment; Monet does not paint a landscape, but an atmosphere,” Matthieu said of the artist in Bon Vivant Magazine. “On the Riviera, between 1883 and 1888, this means maturity; Monet discovers himself as the painter of the series.”

For this rare exhibition, the paintings on display have been sourced worldwide, with nearly half being on loan from the Musée Marmottan Monet. Others will come from private collections, including that of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, as well as major international institutions such as the Denver Art Museum, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Von der Heydt-Museum in Wuppertal and the Fondation Beyeler in Basel.

Pre-sale tickets are only €7 if purchased before June 30th. After that date, ticket prices are €14. For more information and to book tickets, click here.

An International Art Hub for Picasso’s Last Home

 

The last home of world-renowned artist Pablo Picasso is being transformed by its current owner into an international art center with an estimated price tag of €114 million.

The artist, who still influences artists to this day, was in his time a sculptor, painter, and ceramist with the Cote d’Azur being one of his most inspiring areas of the world in which to live.

His last home in Mougins, formerly known as Mas Notre-Dame-de-Vie, later renamed Château de Vie is about to undergo a major transformation for others to enjoy, 50 years after his death.

It was announced that the property owner Rayo Withanage, a New Zealand billionaire, has set out plans to convert the villa into a “global hub” where art will flourish through collaborations with “major artists and institutions from around the world”. In 2017, Rayo Withanage bought the expansive and quite magnificent property at auction for 20 million euros and pledged 114 million euros to get the project underway.

“We invite the most iconic artists and creative institutions around the world to see the world as Picasso saw it, to work in his studio, and to consider the influence of his work,” he has said, adding that he envisions the villa to be a place where artists can work in-residence and that part of whatever proceeds are made from the sale of artworks will be donated to charities.

In the last years of his life, it has been said that Picasso’s time in Château de Vie was some of his more inspiring, productive, and overall happiest. After his passing, the property went to his wife Jacqueline Roque in 1973. Bereaved, Jacqueline had reportedly left everything exactly as it was the day he died, down to the place he last set down his reading glasses. She later committed suicide in 1986 and the property was left empty for 30 years.

Now, future generations will be inspired and exude life into the former home of Pablo Picasso and Jacqueline Rogue.

More Celebrities for the Monte-Carlo Summer 2023 Festival

 

Yesterday an announcement was made by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the organizers of the 16th edition of the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival extending their list of international celebrities that will be in concert this summer in Monaco.

This year, the summer music festival will be quite varied and jam-packed throughout the season.

At the extended announcement in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Paris on April 13th, the Monte-Carlo SBM and Monte Carlo Live unveiled the full schedule.

Many of the performers at this year’s music festival had been announced in March with those being, Ricky Martin, Mika, Sting, Tarkan, and tribute performer ‘Michael’ The Magic of Michael Jackson.

Now, the Artistic Director, Gilles Marsan announced that headlining the music festival this year will be singing legend Robbie Williams, who will perform at the Red Cross Gala on July 29th.

Legendary crooner, Chris Isaak will play at the Opéra Garnier on July 10th, Norah Jones will perform at the Opéra Garnier on July 12th, and Seal will take to the stage in the Salle des Etoiles on July 16th.

 

On August 4th, in addition to Mika, it was stated that Eros Ramazzotti will perform on August 8th, Nile Rodgers & Chic will play on August 12th, and Tarkan will hit the stage of the Salle des Etoiles on August 19th.

This year, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy, making it a most memorable summer season.

Tickets can be found at Monte-Carlo Live.

First Female Political Minister Comes Out as Lesbian in France

 

A female politician in France has become the first minister to come out as gay after revealing her sexuality in an interview.

The youngest serving political minister, Sarah El Haïry, for the Democratic Movement revealed she is a lesbian and is dating someone.

The 33-year-old state secretary for youth at the Ministry of National Education casually mentioned her partner while discussing whether she uses Twitter.

In a recent interview with Forbes, the government’s youngest member responded to the question without hesitation saying she only ever reads Twitter when it affects her girlfriend or her family members.

The mention of her partner solidified Sarah El Haïry in the history books, becoming the first female minister in France to identify as part of the LGBTQ community.

Since being appointed youth secretary of state, the government minister has been outspoken regarding both women’s and LGBTQ rights and second nature in her comments.

She has previously called out discrimination against LGBTQ groups in France, saying that promoting LGBTQ rights is a “daily fight”.

Sarah El Haïry’s announcement, which the Forbes interview described as “discreet”, came not long after a similar reveal from former National Assembly of France member, Olivier Dussopt.

In an interview with the French magazine Têtu on March 24th, Olivier Dussopt said that his sexuality was “neither a secret nor a subject” while condemning homophobic attacks in France.

“Being homosexual is never neutral,” he said during the interview. “But one has the right to defend causes, to militate, to participate in the debate without making one’s personal situation a political element in itself.”

He added that, while this was his first time coming out, he has been outspoken for same-sex marriage and LGBTQ autonomy in the past.

Despite France’s current government in support of LGBTQ rights, the rise of the far-right in the country following the 2022 presidential election has caused concern.

Emmanual Macron defeated far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the 2022 presidential race, gaining a slim 58 percent of the vote compared to Le Pen’s 41.46 percent.

Although much more work needs to be done, France is still overall a very safe, and gay-friendly country to visit.