23.1.10

NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA PRESENTS EXHIBITION OF RON MUECK'S WORKS


THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE, PRESENTS A MAJOR EXHIBITION OF THE WORK OF INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SCULPTOR RON MUECK. KNOWN FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY LIFE-LIKE CREATIONS, THE EXHIBITION FEATURES TWELVE SCULPTURES BY MUECK INCLUDING FOUR NEW WORKS. THIS IS THE LARGEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE MUECK EXHIBITION EVER TO BE HELD IN AUSTRALIA. DAVID HURLSTON, CURATOR AUSTRALIAN ART, SAID RON MUECK'S POIGNANT SCULPTURES ILLUSTRATE TIMELESS HUMAN CONDITIONS FROM BIRTH TO DEMISE. THE EXHIBITION DRAWS FROM AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIONAL COLLECTIONS, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: 'MASK II 2001/02', 'MAN IN A BOAT, 'OLD WOMAN IN BED', 'WILD MAN', 'TWO WOMEN', 'IN BED', AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE ICONIC WORK 'DEAD DAY'. IN ADDITION TO THESE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF NEW WORKS CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THE EXHIBITION WHICH WERE UNVEILED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MELBOURNE.
IN HIS EARLY CAREER MELBOURNE-BORN MUECK WORKED AS A PUPPET MAKER, HOWEVER SINCE 1997 HE HAS BEEN ENTIRELY DEVOTED TO MAKING SCULPTURE. IN 1996, HE WAS 'DISCOVERED' BY THE BRITISH ADVERTISING GURU CHARLES SAATCHI, WHO INCLUDING MUECK'S 'DEAD DAD' AS PART OF THE HISTORY MAKING SENSATION EXHIBITION THE FOLLOWING YEAR. MUECK WENT ON TO REPRESENT AUSTRALIA AT THE 2001 VENICE BIENNALE, CAPTURING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION FOR HIS 4.5 METER SCULPTURE, 'CROUCHING BOY'. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN THE CONTEMPORARY ART WORLD.

22.1.10

GEORGIA ART MUSEUMS COLLABORATE TO SHARE RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS ACROSS STATE


THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, IN COLLABORATION WITH FOUR GEORGIA MUSEUMS, HAS ESTABLISHED THE GEORGIA ART MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE SHARING OF RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS AMONG MUSEUMS IN GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHEAST. THE FIVE PARTNERING MUSEUMS ARE THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, THE ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART, THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM, THE TELFAIR MUSEUM OF ART (SAVANNAH) AND THE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (ATHENS). FOR THIS THREE YEAR PILOT INITIATIVE, THESE PARTNERS WILL DRAW ON EACH OTHER'S RESOURCES FOR EXHIBITIONS AND LOANS OF INDIVIDUAL OBJECTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS AND COLLECTION STORAGE. 'THIS NEW PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA AND WILL BE MUTUALLY VALUABLE TO THE HIGH AND ITS PARTNERS', SAID MICHAEL E SHAPIRO, THE HIGH'S NANCY AND HOLCOMBE T GREEN, JR DIRECTOR. 'JUST AS WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS FROM OUR PAST PARTNERSHIPS WITH RENOWNED MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE LOUVRE AND THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, WE HOPE TO CREATE A FULL ECOLOGY OF PARTNERSHIPS HERE IN GEORGIA. TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TO ENGAGE A WIDER AUDIENCE WITH GREAT ART AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, INSPIRE COLLABORATION AND STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNER INSTITUTIONS AND ENHANCE ART MUSEUMS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION.' DURING THE INITIATIVE, THE PARTNERING MUSEUMS WILL NOT ONLY DRAW ON EACH OTHER, THEY WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS. WORKSHOP TOPICS INCLUDE FUND-RAISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING, EXHIBITION DESIGN AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN CURATORS AND EDUCATORS. THESE MEETINGS WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEAGUES TO SHARE IDEAS, RECEIVE FEEDBACK AND RELAY SUCCESSES. THE GEORGIA ART MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE STAFF MEMBERS FROM EACH INSTITUTION ACCESS TO A STATEWIDE SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATIONS AND CURATORIAL RESIDENCIES.

JAMIE HAYON RE-DESIGNS FABERGE GENEVA BOUTIQUE


DESIGNER JAMIE HAYON HAS RE-DESIGNED THE NEW FABERGE BOUTIQUE IN GENEVA, GIVING IT A STUNNING NEW LOOK. HAYON LEFT NO STONE UNTURNED TO CREATE THE STORE IN THE EPITOME OF SHEER LUXURY AND BEAUTIFULLY ADDED GLAMOR REMINISCENT OF THE ART DECO PERIOD. THE ELEGANT AND LUXURIOUS SHOP FOR THE UBER-RICH OVERPOWERS YOU WITH THE FULL HEIGHT INTERCONNECTING DOORS WITH TINTED GLASS OF CUT OUT GEM-SHAPED PANELS. THE GEM PATTERN ALLOWS THE NATURAL DAYLIGHT TO BE RETAINED AND ENHANCE THE BEAUTY OF THE CLASSIC INTERIORS. THE FINISHES ARE DONE USING A COMBINATION OF EXQUISITE MATERIALS SUCH AS CARRARA MARBLE, RARE WOODS, AND SILK DRAPES. THE MAIN VIEWING SALON REFLECTS THE FEEL OF AN INTIMATE AND INVITING LIVING ROOM WITH DELICATELY COLOURED SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND A MIRRORED CEILING ADDING THE FINISHING TOUCH TO THE ELEGANTLY REFURBISHED BOUTIQUE.




EXPERTS MAY HAVE FOUND BONES TO ENGLISH PRINCESS EADGYTH


SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL ENGLISH PRINCESS WHO MARRIED ONE OF EUROPE'S MOST POWERFUL MONARCHS AND DAZZLED SUBJECTS WITH HER CHARITY AND CHARM. NOW A TEAM OF BRITISH AND GERMAN EXPERTS SAY THEY THINK THEY'VE FOUND THE BODY OF PRINCESS EADGYTH (PRONOUNCED EDITH), A 10th CENTURY NOBLEWOMAN WHO HAS BEEN COMPARED TO PRINCESS DIANA. 'SHE WAS A VERY, VERY POPULAR PERSON', SAID MARK HORTON, AN ARCHAEOLOGY PROFESSOR AT BRISTOL UNIVERSITY IN WESTERN ENGLAND. 'SHE WAS SORT OF THE DIANA OF HER DAY IF YOU LIKE, PRETTY AND FULL OF GOOD WORKS.' HORTON IS ONE OF A TEAM OF EXPERTS WORKING TO VERIFY THE IDENTITY OF SOME BONES FOUND BUNDLED IN SILK IN MAGDEBURG CATHEDRAL IN GERMANY. SHOULD THE SKELETON BE POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS BELONGING TO EADGYTH, IT WOULD BE THE OLDEST REMAINS OF ANY ENGLISH ROYAL DISCOVERED SO FAR. EXPERTS SAY HER CLOSEST COMPETITORS, THE VARIOUS SAXON ROYALS IN WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND, ARE SO HOPELESSLY JUMBLED TOGETHER THAT NO SINGLE PERSON CAN BE IDENTIFIED. THE SKELETON WAS UNCOVERED AS PART OF A WIDER RESEARCH PROJECT INTO MAGDEBURG CATHEDRAL, ABOUT 90 MILES WEST OF BERLIN. THE ELABORATE 16th CENTURY MONUMENT IN WHICH HER BODY WAS FOUND WAS LONG THOUGHT TO BE EMPTY. WHEN ARCHAEOLOGISTS OPENED THE MONUMENT IN 2008, THEY FOUND A LEAD COFFIN BEARING HER NAME AND CARRYING A NEARLY COMPLETE SET OF BONES WRAPPED IN SILK. HORTON SAID THE SKELETON BELONGED TO A WOMAN BETWEEN 30 YEARS AND 40 YEARS OF AGE. BUT THERE IS SOME DOUBT IT IS THE LATE ROYAL: HISTORIANS BELIEVE EADGYTH'S BODY WAS MOVED AT LEAST ONCE, AND MAY HAVE REPLACED IN THE TOMB WITH THOSE OF ANOTHER PERSON. TESTS WILL NOW BE PERFORMED TO FIGURE OUT THE AGE OF THE BONES AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
EADGYTH GREW UP AT THE DAWN OF THE 10th CENTURY, A PERIOD DURING WHICH HER HALF BROTHER ATHELSTAN EXTENDED HIS RULE OVER ALL OF ENGLAND AND DREW ON HIS SISTERS TO CEMENT HIS INFLUENCE AMONG FOREIGN RULERS. EADGYTH WAS DESTINED FOR DUKE OTTO OF SAXONY, A WARLORD'S SON WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY RISE TO BECOME THE FIRST RULER OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. TRADITION HOLDS THAT SHE AND HER YOUNGER SISTER ADIVA WERE BOTH PRESENTED TO OTTO, WHO WAS INVITED TO PICK WHICH ONE HE LIKED BEST. EADGYTH'S LOOKS AND CHARM WON OUT OVER HER SISTER'S YOUTH.

BBC ORDERS AUCTION HOUSE TO REMOVE NEO-CLASSICAL PAINTING IN CASE NIPPLE OFFENDS VIEWERS


BBC BOSSES RECENTLY ORDERED AN AUCTION HOUSE TO REMOVE A NEO-CLASSICAL OIL PAINTING OF A SEMI-NAKED WOMAN IN CASE HER EXPOSED NIPPLE MAY OFFEND VIEWERS. AUCTIONEER ALAN ALDRIDGE WAS BEING FILMED FOR FLOG IT!, BBC2'S DAYTIME ANTIQUE PROGRAM, WHEN THE PRODUCTION TEAM ASKED HIM TO TAKE DOWN THE 19th CENTURY OIL PAINTING. IT FEATURES THE MYTHICAL GREEK GODDESS ARIADNE HOLDING A GOBLET OF WINE WITH HER LEFT BREAST EXPOSED. ALDRIDGE WHO RUNS ALDRIDGE AUCTIONEERS IN DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE, OFFERED TO COVER THE OFFENDING NIPPLE, BUT WAS STILL TOLD TO TAKE THE CANVAS DOWN. HE SAID: 'IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. THIS IS A 19th CENTURY NEO-CLASSICAL WORK OF ART. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE GETTING OFFENDED OVER A NAKED NIPPLE THESE DAYS. I TRIED PUTTING A POST-IT NOTE OVER THE OFFENDING PART OF HER ANATOMY, BUT THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH APPARENTLY.' FLOG IT! PRESENTER PAUL MARTIN, WHO LIVES IN NEARBY SEEND AND USED TO RUN AN ANTIQUES SHOP, DEFENDED THE DECISION SAYING VIEWERS WOULD COMPLAIN. HE SAID: 'YES, THEY HAD TO HAVE THE PAINTING MOVED. IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL BUT THEY DO GET COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SORT OF THING. YOU'D BE SURPRISED.' THE CREW WERE FILMING FOR AN EPISODE OF FLOG IT! WHICH IS DUE TO BE AIRED IN THE SPRING. VIEWERS OF THE 30-MINUTE PROGRAM, WHICH INVOLVES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TRYING TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEIR ANTIQUES, WILL HOWEVER SEE A SINGLE STRAND OF ELVIS PRESLEY'S HAIR BEING SOLD FOR £350. DURING THE SHOW A COLLECTION OF FOOTBALL PROGRAMS ALSO SOLD FOR £670.

21.1.10

600 YEAR OLD PIRATE SKULL STOLEN FROM GERMAN MUSEUM


A 600 YEAR OLD SKULL BELIEVED TO BE THAT OF A LEGENDARY GERMAN PIRATE HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM A MUSEUM IN HAMBURG, GERMANY, THE MUSEUM'S DIRECTOR SAID WEDNESDAY. KLAUS STOERTEBEKER WAS THE MOST FAMOUS GERMAN PIRATE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. HE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEN BEHEADED BY AUTHORITIES IN 1400 IN HAMBURG, TOGETHER WITH 30 OF HIS FOLLOWERS. THE HEADS WERE NAILED ON PILLARS AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE HAMBURG HARBOUR IN AN EFFORT TO DETER WOULD BE PIRATES. THE SKULL WAS STOLEN FROM THE MUSEUM FOR HAMBURG HISTORY ON 8.JANUARY, BUT THE MUSEUM DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCE THE THEFT SO AS NOT THE HAMPER THE INVESTIGATION. IT WASN'T CLEAR HOW THE EXHIBIT WAS STOLEN, OR WHY. THE SKULL, WHICH IS PERFORATED BY A MASSIVE NAIL, WAS FOUND DURING BUILDING WORK IN 1878 ON THE SITE WHERE THE EXECUTION IS SAID TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE. SINCE 1922, IT HAS BEEN AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM, WHERE IT WAS PRESENTED BEHIND GLASS BESIDE A RECONSTRUCTION OF STOERTEBEKER'S FACE. HE AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE SAID TO HAVE OPERATED IN THE NORTH AND BALTIC SEAS IN THE 14th CENTURY.

PRINCE WILLIAM SHOWS OFF HIS SHOOTING SKILLS IN AUSTRALIA


PRINCE WILLIAM RECENTLY DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS A TRULY FORMIDABLE SHOT. HE PARTICIPATED IN A LIVE AMMUNITION FIRING EXERCISE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SYDNEY THAT LEFT MORE EXPERIENCED SOLDIERS FULL OF ADMIRATION FOR HIS SKILLS. THE PRINCE SCORED A RATING DESCRIBED AS 'EXCELLENT' BY ONE OF THE SENIOR OFFICERS EVEN THOUGH, UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE WORLD'S MEDIA, HE WAS USING A RIFLE THAT HE HAD NEVER FIRED BEFORE. PRINCE WILLIAM, WHO WAS WEARING CIVILIAN CLOTHES AND USING PROTECTIVE EAR PLUGS, LAY ON THE GROUND TO FIRE REAL BULLETS AT A TARGET 100 METERS AWAY AT THE HOLSWORTHY ARMY BARRACKS. HE SCORED A RATING OF 104 WHICH REPRESENTED THE AVERAGE SPREAD IN MILLIMETERS BETWEEN ALL THE BULLETS FROM HIS FOUR FIVE-ROUND GROUPS. EACH OF THE ROUNDS WAS FIRED INTO A CIRCULAR, WHITE TARGET AS THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE ECHOED ALL AROUND THE FIRING RANGE, LT COL TRENT SCOTT, THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE PARAS FROM THE 3rd BATTALION OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN REGIMENT, WAS TOLD THE SCORE BY THE PRINCE. 'THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S EXCELLENT', HE REPLIED, CLEARLY HUGELY IMPRESSED. PRINCE WILLIAM WHO WAS ON HIS FOURTH DAY OF HIS FOREIGN TOUR REPRESENTING THE QUEEN, FIRED AN F-88 AUSTEYR PERSONAL RIFLE, USED BY THE REGIMENT'S SOLDIERS WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2008. HE ALSO FIRED A F-89 MINIMI MACHINE-GUN. THERE WAS NO SCORE FOR THIS EXERCISE BUT HE HIT HIS TARGET WITH ALL THE 100 ROUNDS FIRED FROM THE 'BELT'. THE YOUNG PRINCE POSED FOR A GROUP PHOTOGRAPH WITH THE UNIFORMED SOLDIERS, WHO THEN PRESENTED HIM WITH A BROWN 'SLOUCH HAT' TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE SCORCHING SUN. HE FLEETINGLY PUT IT ON AND WAS ASKED IF IT FITTED. 'NOT QUITE, NO. BUT IT'S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS!', HE REPLIED.

COUNTESS OF WESSEX TO BE HONORED WITH ROYAL ORDER


THE COUNTESS OF WESSEX IS TO BE HONORED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH II WITH A ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER FOR HER 'PERSONAL' SERVICE TO THE QUEEN AND THE MONARCHY. A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SOURCE SAID: ' THE COUNTESS IS DELIGHTED AND HONORED FOR THIS RECOGNITION. THE ORDER, FOUNDED IN APRIL 1896 BY QUEEN VICTORIA, IS GIVEN TO PEOPLE 'WHO HAVE SERVED THE QUEEN OR THE MONARCHY IN A PERSONAL WAY'.' IT WILL BE FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE COUNTESS, THE WIFE OF THE EARL OF WESSEX, AT A LATER DATE. THE EARL AND THE COUNTESS, WHO MARRIED IN 1999, HAVE TWO CHILDREN, LADY LOUISE WINDSOR AND VISCOUNT SEVERN.

20.1.10

EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART REVEALS MYSTERY BEHIND LIFE STUDY CAST


FOR GENERATIONS, THE CAST OF AN UNKNOWN CRIMINAL DUBBED WITH THE MOCK LATIN TITLE OF 'SMUGGLERIUS', HAS BEEN USED IN THE TEACHING OF ANATOMICAL DRAWING AT EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART WITH NO REAL KNOWLEDGE OF ITS PROVENANCE. A NEW EXHIBITION, DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE ONGOING RESTORATION OF THE EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART CAST COLLECTION, AT LAST REVEALS THE MAN BEHIND THE CAST. IN ADDITION TO DETAILED RESEARCH WHICH EXAMINES THE HISTORY OF THE CAST AND THE LIFE OF THE MAN IT WAS MOST LIKELY MOLDED FROM, THE EXHIBITION INCLUDES ORIGINAL ARTWORKS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO 'SMUGGLERIOUS' AND THE THEME OF A PAST UNVEILED. DATING FROM 1854, THE COLLEGE SMUGGLERIOUS IS A COPY OF AN ORIGINAL ECORCHE, A FIGURE WITH THE SKIN AND FAT REMOVED TO EXPOSE THE MUSCLES AND TENDONS, MADE IN 1776 AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ART IN LONDON. THE EARLIER CAST, NOW LOST, WAS MOLDED FROM THE BODY OF A HANGED CRIMINAL BY THE SCULPTOR AGOSTINO CARLINI, FOLLOWING ITS DISSECTION BY WILLIAM HUNTER, THE FAMOUS ANATOMIST. THE COLLEGE CAST, WHICH RETAINS THE STUNNING DETAIL OF THE ORIGINAL, WAS MADE BY A LITTLE KNOWN 'MOLDER AND FIGURE MAKER' CALLED WILLIAM PINK, PROBABLY AT THE TIME OF HIS EMPLOYMENT AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM; AN INSCRIPTION ON THE BASE OF THE CAST STATES 'PUBLISHED BY W PINK MOLDER 1854'. WORKING ALONGSIDE THE RESTORATION PROJECT, ARTIST AND LECTURER JOAN SMITH JOINED FORCES WITH ANTHROPOLOGIST DR JEANNE CANNIZZO TO DEVELOP A RESEARCH PROJECT THAT WOULD EXPLORE THE PROVENANCE OF SMUGGLERIOUS. WORKING TOGETHER FOR TWO YEARS, THE RESEARCH PROJECT NOW REACHES FRUITION WITH THE EXHIBITION, REVEALING THE HISTORY AND THE IDENTITY OF THE FLAYED MAN. SEEKING TO EXPOSE AND REVERSE THE PROCESS BY WHICH A LIVING MAN WITH A NAME BECAME AN ANONYMOUS SPECIMEN AND EVENTUALLY A REPLICA CAST, SMUGGLERIOUS UNVEILED EXPLORES QUESTIONS OF IDENTITY, AND IMMORTALITY IN ART.

TAIWANESE MAN CREATES SCULPTURE SMALLER THAN A GRAIN OF RICE


A TAIWANESE MAN HAS TAMED THE TIGER, SHRINKING THE CHINESE ZODIAC ANIMAL INTO A SCULPTURE SMALLER THAN A GRAIN OF RICE THAT'S FULLY VISIBLE ONLY THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS. CHEN FORNG-SHEAN, WHO HAS BEEN SCULPTING AS A HOBBY FOR SOME 30 YEARS, CARVED FROM RESIN WHAT HE CALLS THE WORLD'S TINIEST TIGER AT 1 MILLIMETER HIGH AND JUST OVER A MILLIMETER LONG AHEAD OF THE CHINESE LUNAR YEAR OF THE TIGER WHICH STARTS 14.FEBRUARY. BUT CHEN SAID THE BRIGHTLY COLOURED BEAST NEARLY GOT THE BEST OF HIM OVER TEN ATTEMPTS TO CREATE IT. 'IF THE HANDS SHAKE A LITTLE BIT, THE WORK WOULD JUMP AWAY AND DISAPPEAR', CHEN SAID, A MINTING PLATE DESIGNER BY TRADE. THE SINGLE ANIMAL, CREATED AFTER THREE MONTHS OF INTENSIVE LABOR, WAS FINISHED IN NOVEMBER AND CHEN SAID IT WAS WORTH $94,200, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT FOR SALE. TIGERS, WHICH ROTATE WITH 11 OTHER ANIMALS ON THE CHINESE LUNAR YEAR ZODIAC, BRING VARIABLE LUCK, BEING DEPENDABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE AT THE SAME TIME. CHEN SAID HE HAS ALREADY FELT THE SUSPENSE THE NEW YEAR IS LIKELY TO BRING.

19.1.10

PRICELESS AMBER ROOM OF TSARS MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND BY TREASURE HUNTER



THE AMBER ROOM OF THE TSARS, ONE OF THE GREATEST MISSING TREASURES OF WORLD WAR II THAT WAS LOOTED BY THE NAZIS DURING THEIR INVASION OF THE SOVIET UNION, MAY HAVE BEEN FOUND. A RUSSIAN TREASURE HUNTER IS CURRENTLY EXCAVATING IN THE ENCLAVE OF KALININGRAD WHERE HE HAS DISCOVERED A WORLD WAR II AREA BUNKER THAT THE LOCAL GERMAN HIGH COMMAND USED IN THE BATTLE FOR THE CITY IN 1945. IF SERGEI TRIFONOV IS CORRECT THEN HE HAS SOLVED ONE OF THE GREATEST RIDDLES LEFT OVER FROM THE WAR. HE ANTICIPATES THAT HE WILL BREAK INTO THE BUNKER BY THE END OF THE MONTH TO FIND THE TREASURE. CRAFTED ENTIRELY OUT OF AMBER, GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES, THE ROOM MADE OF NUMEROUS PANELS WAS A STUNNING MASTERPIECE OF BAROQUE ART AND WIDELY REGARDED AS THE WORLD'S MOST IMPORTANT TREASURE. WHEN ITS 565 CANDLES WERE LIT THE AMBER ROOM WAS SAID TO 'GLOW A FIERY GOLD'. IT IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH AROUND £150 MILLION, BUT MANY CONSIDER THE WORK PRICELESS. IT WAS PRESENTED TO PETER THE GREAT IN 1716 BY THE KING OF PRUSSIA. LATER, CATHERINE THE GREAT COMMISSIONED A NEW GENERATION OF CRAFTSMEN TO EMBELLISH THE ROOM AND MOVED IT FROM THE WINTER PALACE IN ST PETERSBURG TO HER NEW SUMMER PALACE IN TSARKOYE SELO, OUTSIDE THE CITY. THE ROOM WAS SEIZED BY THE MARAUDING GERMANS DURING THEIR ONSLAUGHT ON RUSSIA IN 1941. PRUSSIAN COUNT SOMMES LAUBACH, THE GERMAN'S ART PROTECTION OFFICER AND HOLDER OF A DEGREE IN ART HISTORY, SUPERVISED THE ROOMS TRANSPORT TO KOENIGSBERG CASTLE IN WHAT WAS THEN EAST PRUSSIA. HISTORIAN TRIFONOV BELIEVES HE HAS SOLVED A DECADES OLD RIDDLE AND THAT THE TREASURE LIES IN A BUNKER 40 FEET DOWN IN THE SOIL OF KOENIGSBERG. 'BELIEVE ME OR NOT, IT'S THERE, 12 METERS SOWN IN THE SUB-SOIL', HE SAID, POINTING TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE BUNKER. TO TEST HIS THEORY, TRIFONOV HAS BEGUN TO PROBE THE SOIL UNDER THE BUNKER USING A GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR AND HAS STARTED TO PUMP OUT WATER. HE HS ALREADY UNEARTHED A BRICK-LINED ROOM. THE BUNKER IS 1,000 YARDS FROM THE SITE OF THE CASTLE THAT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1967. HE SAYS HE HAS 'INFORMATION' FROM ARCHIVES THAT THIS IS THE REPOSITORY OF THE FABLED ROOM, BUT HE ISN'T SAYING WHERE HIS SOURCES ARE. THE GOVERNOR OF KALININGRAD APPEARS CONVINCED AND HAS PROVIDED FINANCING FOR THE PROJECT, BUT MANY IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMMUNITY REMAIN SKEPTICAL.

TATE BRITAIN DESTROYS A RICHARD WRIGHT FRESCO


ART HANDLERS AT THE TATE BRITAIN MUSEUM SANDED DOWN AND PAINTED OVER A RICHARD WRIGHT PAINTING LAST WEEK, COMPLETELY OBLITERATING THE WORK, WHICH HA HAD REALIZED ON MUSEUM WALL WITH GOLD LEAF. NO NEED TO WORRY, THOUGH: THE DELETION WAS INTENTIONAL AND APPROVED BY THE ARTIST, WHO ORDERS MANY OF HIS WORKS ERASED AFTER THEIR EXHIBITION. THE FRESCO IN QUESTION EARNED WRIGHT BRITAIN'S COVETED TURNER PRIZE LAST YEAR, BEATING OUT THREE OTHER ARTISTS, INCLUDING ROGER HIORS, WHOSE INSTALLATION WAS FAVORED TO WIN, ACCORDING TO ODDS-MAKERS TAKING BETS ON THE OUTCOME. WRIGHT'S WORK LIVES ON ONLY IN PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE EXHIBITION AND THE MINDS OF VIEWERS, WHO NUMBERED 77,000 AT THIS YEAR'S TURNER PRIZE EXHIBITION, DOWN FROM A TOTAL OF 92,000 AT 2008'S EXHIBITION. WRIGHT IS REPRESENTED BY THE GAGOSIAN GALLERY, WHERE, ONE IMAGINES, THERE ARE NON-EPHEMERAL WORKS FOR SALE. . .

VIETNAM ENTREPRENEUR TO CREATE WORLD'S LARGEST CARVED JADE BUDDHA


ONE OF THE MOST FLAMBOYANT ENTREPRENEURS MAKING IT BIG IN BOOMING VIETNAM UNVEILED A MASSIVE PRECIOUS STONE ON MONDAY THAT HE PLANS TO TRANSFORM INTO THE WORLD'S LARGEST JADE BUDDHA. DAO TRONG CUONG, THE OWNER OF A VIETNAMESE GEM MINE, PURCHASED THE 35 TON STONE IN MYANMAR LAST YEAR FOR $2 MILLION AND IMPORTED IT TO VIETNAM IN OCTOBER. BY THE TIME A TEAM OF 50 ARTISTS AND SCULPTORS FINISHES CHIPPING AWAY AT IT, THE FINISHED BUDDHA IS EXPECTED TO WEIGH NEARLY 20 TONS. 'WE HOPE TO GET IT INTO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS', CUONG TOLD A CROWD OF NEARLY 2,000 PEOPLE DURING A CEREMONY UNVEILING THE STONE, WHICH IS 10 FEET TALL, 6.5 FEET WIDE AND 6.5 FEET DEEP. CUONG COUNTS SOME OF VIETNAM'S MOST POWERFUL POLITICAL FIGURES AMONG HIS FRIENDS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT NGUYEN MINH TRIET, WHO SPOKE AT MONDAY'S CEREMONY AFTER ABOUT 250 MONKS IN SAFRON ROBES CHANTED AND RANG BELLS IN A BLESSING CEREMONY. TRIET PULLED BACK A CURTAIN COVERING THE MASSIVE HUNK OF JADE, WHICH HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY ADORNED WITH A PAINTING OF A TRANQUIL BUDDHA SITTING IN THE LOTUS POSITION. CUONG SAID IT WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE THE STATUE.

PRINCE WILLIAM WINDED BY WAYWARD RUGBY BALL


PRINCE WILLIAM, WHO RECENTLY EMBARKED ON HIS FIRST FOREIGN TOUR REPRESENTING THE QUEEN, WAS GIVEN AN INSIGHT INTO SOME OF NEW ZEALAND'S GREATEST SPORTING PASSIONS, RUGBY AND SAILING. HOWEVER, HE ALMOST RECEIVED A PAINFUL LESSON BY IGNORING THE OLD ADAGE: NEVER WORK WITH ANIMALS OR CHILDREN. WHILE SHOWING OFF HIS BALL HANDLING SKILLS WITH A GROUP OF PROMISING UNDER-TENS AT THE PAKURANGA CLUB IN AUCKLAND, ONE YOUNGSTER THREW A BALL HARD AND LOW TOWARDS HIS GROIN AREA FROM JUST FIVE YARDS AWAY. THE PRINCE PARRIED THE BALL WITH HIS HANDS, GAVE A LOUD GASP AND HAMMED IT UP THAT HE HAD JUST BEEN WINDED, OR EVEN HIT SOMEWHERE MORE PAINFUL "DOWN UNDER". IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE BOY WHO THREW THE BALL WAS CALLED RYAN WALLACE. 'HE GOT HIM IN THE CROWN JEWELS", JOKED ONE OF HIS YOUNG TEAM-MATES. THE YOUNG PRINCE SHOWED NO ILL EFFECTS FROM THE MISTIMED CATCH THAT LEFT THE SCHOOLBOYS LAUGHING. THE YOUNGSTERS HAD BEEN PLAYING MINI RUGBY AT THE STADIUM WHICH WILL BE THE MAIN SPORTING VENUE FOR THE 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP BEING HOSTED BY NEW ZEALAND NEXT YEAR. THE PRINCE IS ON HIS FIRST SOLO OVERSEAS TOUR. THE START OF THE THREE-DAY VISIT HAS BEEN MARKED BY ITS RELAXED ATMOSPHERE AND LACK OF FORMALITY. ASKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FILLING IN FOR THE QUEEN, HE RELIED; 'IT MEANS AN AWFUL LOT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY SHE'S EXTREMELY BUSY AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING GOOD AND KEEPS THE STANDARDS UP THAT SHE'S LED THE WAY WITH.' ON WHETHER THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TOUR OF MANY, PRINCE WILLIAM SAID: 'WE'LL WAIT AND SEE, I WOULDN'T GET TO CARRIED AWAY. I'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF TRAINING TO DO AND I NEED THE TRAINING, BELIEVE ME.'

ITALIAN ART POLICE RECOVER 60,OOO PIECES OF LOOTED OR STOLEN ARTWORKS


ANCIENT FRESCOES, STATUES AND DECORATED VASES THAT GRACED TABLES MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS AGO WERE AMONG TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ARTIFACTS RECOVERED LAST YEAR BY ITALY'S ART POLICE, OFFICIALS SAID RECENTLY. AUTHORITIES SAID THEY RECOVERED OR SEIZED NEARLY 60,OOO PIECES OF LOOTED OR STOLEN ARTWORK AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS WORTH MORE THAN $239 MILLION IN 2009. POLICE FIGURES SHOW THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS DISCOVERED IN 2009 DECREASED DRAMATICALLY, FROM 238 IN 2008 TO JUST 58 IN 2009. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE CHARGED WITH FALSIFYING ARTWORK ROSE MORE THAN 400%. GIOVANNI NISTRI, THE COMMANDER OF THE CARABINIERI'S ART SQUAD, SAID MOST OF THE FALSIFICATIONS WERE OF MODERN ART 'PROBABLY BECAUSE THE ART OF TODAY IS EASIER TO FALSIFY WITH FEWER TECHNICALITIES.' IN ALL, ITALY RECOVERED 39,584 LOOTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS AND 19,043 OTHER CULTURALLY IMPORTANT WORKS, INCLUDING ENTIRE LIBRARIES, IN 2009, OFFICIALS SAID. AMONG THEM WERE 137 ARTIFACTS RETURNED TO ITALY FROM SWITZERLAND WHICH HAD BEEN IN THE POSSESSION OF ZURICH-BASED RESTORES FRITZ BURKI & SON. BURKI IS KNOWN FOR HAVING RESTORED THE EUPHRONIOS KRATER, ONE OF THE FINEST ANCIENT GREEK VASES IN EXISTENCE. THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART IN NEW YORK PURCHASED IT FOR $1 MILLION IN 1972 FROM AN ART DEALER LATER ACCUSED OF ACQUIRING LOOTED ARTIFACTS. THE VASE WAS RETURNED TO ITALY LAST YEAR. THE ITALIANS ARE WORKING WITH SWISS AUTHORITIES TO LOCATE ANOTHER 300 MISSING PIECES BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN IN BURKIS' POSSESSIONS, A CARABINIERI PRESS RELEASE SAID. OVERALL, THEFT OF ITALIAN ARTWORKS DECREASED 14.5% IN 2009 COMPARED TO 2008, THANKS IN PART TO BETTER INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION, BETTER SECURITY MONITORING AT MUSEUMS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AND BEEFED UP CULTURAL HERITAGE DATA BANKS, OFFICIALS SAID.

18.1.10

SAKURA COLLECTION VEUVE CLICQUOT ROSE



JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY PREMIUM CHAMPAGNE, VEUVE CLICQUOT, HAS RECENTLY RELEASED THE STUNNING SAKURA COLLECTION. THE PRETTY IN PINK LIMITED EDITION SET FEATURES ROSE SAKURA BOX (SAKURA IS JAPANESE FOR CHERRY BLOSSOM) AND A HALF BOTTLE OF VEUVE CLICQUOT ROSE. THE JAPANESE ARTISTS HAVE BEEN UTTERLY INSPIRED BY SAKURA'S SIMPLE YET SOPHISTICATED FEATURES AND HENCE BEN CHOSEN BY ATELIER LZC TO CREATE TEH SAKURA COLLECTION VEUVE CLICQUOT ROSE. THE BOX ALSO INCLUDES TWO UNIQUE PLEXIGLASS FLUTES AS TEH WHOLE COLLECTION HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR OUTDOOR ENJOYMENTS.

PULSE NEW YORK ANNOUNCES MOVE TO NEW LOCATION


HELEN ALLEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PULSE CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, ANNOUNCED TODAY THE PULSE NEW YORK IS MOVING TO A NEW LOCATION AT 330 WEST STREET, AT THE CORNER OF THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY AND WEST HOUSTON STREET. THE NEW VENUE, A FORMER NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD FREIGHT TRAIN TERMINAL HOUSING FIVE BLOCKS OF THE ORIGINAL HIGH LINE, HAS 30 FOOT HIGH CEILINGS WITH VARYING LEVELS OF LOFTED SPACE TO BE USED FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS. THE FIFTH EDITION OF PULSE NEW YORK WILL TAKE PLACE 4-7.MARCH. ENCOMPASSING OVER 45,000 SQUARE FEET OF EXHIBITION SPACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 60 GALLERIES, THE FAIR'S NEW VENUE WILL ALLOW EXHIBITORS TO PRESENT WORKS AND INSTALLATIONS THAT DRAW UPON THE DRAMATIC SPACE. THE LAYOUT OF THE FAIR WILL MAXIMIZE THE WAREHOUSE'S LARGE, OPEN HALLS, HIGH CEILINGS, AND PROJECT SPACE AREAS, CREATING A UNIQUE SETTING FOR THIS YEAR'S TIGHTER ROSTER OF CUTTING-EDGE GALLERIES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMMING. LOCATED ACROSS THE WEST SIDE HIGHWAY FROM PULSE'S FORMER LOCATION AT PIER 40, THE NEW SPACE IS MORE CONVENIENTLY SITUATED FOR EXHIBITOR AND VISITOR ACCESS. ACCLAIMED AS ONE OF THE MOST INTERNATIONALLY-DIVERSE CONTEMPORARY ART FAIRS, PULSE NEW YORK WILL ONCE AGAIN FEATURE A DYNAMIC MIX OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITORS, INCLUDING ESTABLISHED AND EMERGING GALLERIES, AS WELL AS SOLO PROJECTS IN THE IMPULSE SECTION OF THE FAIR.

CLIVE CHRISATIAN LIMITED EDITION 1872 FOR MEN


LUXURY DESIGN HOUSE CLIVE CHRISTIAN HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A LUXURIOUS LIMITED EDITION OF HIS 1872 FRAGRANCE FOR MEN. THE LIMITED EDITION 1872 FOR MEN COMES IN AN EXCLUSIVE BOTTLE WITH A ROMAN EAGLE PICTURED ON THE FRONT. THE ROMAN EAGLE WAS CHOSEN DUE TO CLARY SAGE BEING THE PRINCIPAL NOTE AND THE CLARY SAGE'S HISTORY AS A SACRED HERB WHICH EMPEROR NERO HAD SCATTERED BEFORE HIS TROOPS RODE INTO BATTLE BEARING THE ROMAN EAGLE STANDARD. THE 1872 NOTATION COMES FROM THE YEAR THE CROWN PERFUMERY (NOW CLIVE CHRISTIAN PERFUME) WAS GIVEN QUEEN VICTORIA'S SEAL OF APPROVAL. ONLY ONE THOUSAND BOTTLES OF THE LIMITED EDITION WILL BE CREATED.

17.1.10

WHOPPIE PIES MAKE THEIR DEBUT AT HARRODS


THE WHOOPIE PIE, A DELECTABLE CAKE-LIKE SANDWICH, FILLED WITH FLAVORED BUTTER-CREAM, IS SET TO TAKE GREAT BRITAIN BY STORM WHEN HARRODS FOOD HALLS DEBUTS THE DEVINE PASTRIES IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS. ORIGINALLY CREATED AND BECOMING A PHENOMENON IN NEW ENGLAND, THE CRAZE FOR THE COOKIE-TEXTURED TREATS HAVE SWEPT AMERICA WHERE THEY ARE FLYING OFF THE SHELVES AT SPECIALTY SHOPS AND BOUTIQUE BAKERIES UP AND DOWN THE COUNTRY. HARRODS PASTRY CHEFS HAVE EXPERTLY CRAFTED FOUR OF THE DELECTABLE DELICACIES, CREATING LUXURIOUS WHOOPIES BASED ON THE TIME-HONOURED RECIPE OF THE PIES. EACH COMPRISES CAKE PILLOWS FILLED WITH HOMEMADE BUTTER-CREAMS AND TOPPED WITH CUTE EDIBLES. THE TEMPTING NEW FLAVOURS INCLUDE: THE CLASSIC, WHICH IS A HEADY MIX OF DARK CHOCOLATE CAKE, VANILLA CREAM; A SEASONAL GINGERBREAD, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY SPICY AND ADORNED WITH CHOCOLATE AND MINI POLKA DOTS; A PISTACHIO EXTRAVAGANZA FEATURING GREEN FONDANT ICY AND FINISHED WITH EDIBLE GLITTER AND SILVER BALLS AND THE RETRO RED VELVET, MADE WITH CHOCOLATE CAKES, PEANUT BUTTER, BURGUNDY FONDANT AND TOPPED WITH SUGAR HEARTS.

KEYS AUCTIONEERS TO SELL WINSTON CHURCHILL CIGAR STUB


A HALF-SMOKED CIGAR STUBBED OUT BY SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR IS EXPECTED TO FETCH £300 AT AUCTION. THE 4 INCH LONG STUB WAS LEFT BY THE PRIME MINISTER BEFORE HE DASHED OFF FOR A CABINET MEETING ON 22.AUGUST.1941, THE DAY GERMAN TROOPS REACHED LENINGRAD. WHITEHALL VALET NELLIE GOBLE FOUND IT WHEN CLEANING AND SENT IT TO A FRIEND, WITH A NOTE ON N0.10 PAPER READING: 'JUST A SMALL SOUVENIR TO REMIND YOU AT SOME FUTURE DATE OF ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN THAT EVER LIVED IN ENGLAND.' THE FRIEND GAVE IT TO HIS DAUGHTER, NOW A PENSIONER, WHO KEPT IT AT HER HOME IN NORFOLK AND IS NOW SELLING IT. SHE SAID: 'IT RARELY CAME OUT OF THE DRAWER, SO IT SEEMED BETTER TO SELL IT TO SOMEONE WHO WILL TRULY APPRECIATE IT.' ANDREW BULLOCK, FROM AUCTIONEERS KEYS IN AYLSHAM, SAID: 'IT WAS RARE FOR CHURCHILL NOT TO FINISH HIS CIGAR, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETHING VERY URGENT IN THE CABINET ROOM.'

BONHAMS TO SELL SAMPSON AND HORNE COLLECTION


AFTER 40 YEARS OF TRADING AT THE TOP END OF THE BUSINESS, LEGENDARY ENGLISH ANTIQUE DEALERSHIP, SAMPSON AND HORNE, ARE TO SELL THEIR ENTIRE STOCK, COMPRISING NEARLY 800 LOTS, AND ATTRACTING A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £1,000,000, AT BONHAMS ON 28.APRIL.2010. WIDELY CONSIDERED AS THE LEADING DEALER IN BRITISH POTTERY AND COUNTRY FURNITURE, THE MAYFAIR-BASED COMPANY, WHOSE CLIENTELE INCLUDE IMPORTANT PRIVATE COLLECTORS AND INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS FROM THE UK AND THE US, IS CLOSING DUE TO THE ILL HEALTH OF ITS FOUNDER JONATHAN HORNE, AND HAS CHOSEN BONHAMS, WITH ITS RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL SINGLE-OWNER SALES AND LEADING CERAMICS DEPARTMENT, TO SELL THE EXCEPTIONAL COLLECTION. THE SALE WILL FEATURE 17th AND 18th CENTURY FINE AND RARE BRITISH POTTERY, COUNTRY FURNITURE, DECORATIVE AND UNUSUAL PERIOD ITEMS, NEEDLEWORK AND PAINTINGS.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV SELLS PHOTOGRAPH AT CHARITY AUCTION FOR $1.7 MILLION


PRESIDENT DMITRY MEDVEDEV HAS OUTDONE HIS POWERFUL PREDECESSOR, AS AN ARTIST. A PHOTOGRAPH MEDVEDEV TOOK OF THE KREMLIN, OR FORTRESS, IN A SIBERIAN TOWN SOLD FOR $1.7 MILLION AT A CHARITY AUCTION RECENTLY, SURPASSING THE $1.1 MILLION PAID LAST YEAR FOR A PAINTING BY PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN. MEDVEDEV'S BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO WAS SNAPPED UP BY MIKHAIL ZINGAREVICH, A BOARD MEMBER FOR ILIM GROUP, THE PULP AND PAPER COMPANY WHERE MEDVEDEV ONCE WORKED AS A LAWYER. ZINGAREVICH SAID HE PLANNED TO HANG THE 27 BY 38 INCH PICTURE IN HIS OFFICE. PROCEEDS OS THE AUCTION WILL GO TO BUY FURNITURE FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS RECEIVING LONG-PROMISED APARTMENTS, EQUIPMENT FOR A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND A NEW KITCHEN FOR AN ALCOHOL REHABILITATION CENTER. PUTIN, STILL SEEN AS THE MORE POWERFUL LEADER AFTER PASSING THE PRESIDENCY TO MEDVEDEV, LAST YEAR DONATED A PAINTING OF A FROST-RIMMED WINDOW IN A TRADITIONAL WOODEN HUT. MEDVEDEV, AN AVID PHOTOGRAPHER, ALSO CHOSE A SCENE STEEPED IN RUSSIAN TRADITION. HIS PHOTOGRAPH, TAKEN FROM THE AIR, SHOWS THE WHITE STONE WALLS AND TOWERS OF THE KREMLIN IN TOBOLSK. THE TOWN IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE FINAL HOME'S OF RUSSIA'S LAST CZAR AND HIS FAMILY DURING THE TIME OF THE 1917 RUSSIAN REVOLUTION.