Sandra‘s Closet

At this year’s Art Basel Miami Beach, Louis Vuitton will present a selection of the works that legendary Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry has produced during his wide-ranging and longstanding collaboration with the Maison. The specially designed booth in which the works will be presented embodies his trademark aesthetic and his constant experimentation with forms. Wood and cardboard models that have always been central to the architect’s design process find their form in the scenography, while five enveloping sail-like mesh structures nod to Gehry’s 2014 window displays for the Maison. Organized into four themes dear to Frank Gehry – Architecture and Form, Material Exploration, Animals, and his Twisted Box creation for «Celebrating Monogram»– the objects on display include handbags, trunks, perfume bottles, original artworks, preparatory sketches, and architectural models.

The stand will notably showcase the world premiere of Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry, a limited-edition handbag collection. The collaborative capsule is based around three themes key to Frank Gehry’s long career – Architecture and Form, Material Exploration, and Animals – and features designs based upon the Maison’s iconic Capucines bags, the Twisted Box Trunk, and a remarkable Bear With Us Clutch, based upon Gehry’s 2014 Bear with Us sculpture.

Each bag exemplifies the unique combination of Frank Gehry’s design prowess and Louis Vuitton’s remarkable craft and savoir-faire, such as a Capucines Mini Blossom with its glass-like resin petals inspired by perfume bottles and hammered LV recalling the logo he created for the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the iconic building he designed in Paris; a Capucines MM Floating Fish with painstakingly worked leather marquetry inspired by the piscine lamps on display at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and a Capucines MM Concrete Pockets whose innovative 3D cement-effect screen-printing gives the bag’s calfskin exterior the varied textures of Frank Gehry constructions.

Another highlight of the Maison’s Art Basel Miami Beach stand is the «A Tea Party for Louis» Trunk, the architect’s distinctive creation for the 200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries exhibition that celebrated Louis Vuitton’s 200th birthday. Based upon Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, his striking sculpture-trunk is a collection of eight arrestingly inventive figurines, each one resembling both a character in the book and the model of an imaginary Frank Gehry building. When brought together, the characters form what the architect describes as a tea party for the Maison’s founder.

Other Frank Gehry projects and artworks for Louis Vuitton on show include his Les Extraits perfume bottles and their unique stoppers handcrafted in Murano, Italy, and the Flaconnier Les Extraits designed to transport them, as well as a selection of sketches and models, such as preparatory drawings for his work on the «Celebrating Monogram» project and maquettes exploring his design for the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. These are accompanied by videos illustrating Gehry’s most famous collaborations with Louis Vuitton, and a painted portrait of the architect by French artist Jean-Philippe Delhomme.

Following its successful initial presence at Art Basel in Basel, Paris and Miami Beach in 2022, Louis Vuitton has become a global Associate Partner of the prestigious fair this year. This additional support further confirms the Maison’s close and committed relationship to the arts, one that began nearly a century ago when Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson, began commissioning artists to collaborate with Louis Vuitton on advertisements and perfume bottles.

Since 1988, Louis Vuitton has continued this legacy by collaborating with some of the biggest names in modern art and design, including Sol LeWitt, James Rosenquist, Cesar, and Olafur Eliasson. It has curated exhibitions by artists such as Sophie Calle, Dan Flavin, Alberto Giacometti and Gerhard Richter in its Espaces Louis Vuitton, instore contemporary art spaces, and has also created innovative large-scale global art projects, such as the 2022 collaboration with Yayoi Kusama, and a capsule collection of bags, shoes, accessories, luggage, and fragrances. The Fondation Louis Vuitton, which opened in October 2014 in Paris, embodies the commitment of LVMH – and Louis Vuitton in particular – to corporate philanthropy in support of the arts and creative endeavours. The building, commissioned from Frank Gehry, is already recognised as an emblematic example of 21st-century architecture and has already welcomed millions of visitors from the entire world.

Louis Vuitton will be present at Art Basel Miami Beach in the West Lobby of the Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA. Public opening from 8th – 10th December 2023.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Experience the holiday magic by my dear friend Finnish artist Jani Leinonen at Dolder Grand Hotel, who has for the second time portrayed his idea of Christmas in a colossal art project for the Dolder Grand. For last year’s installation, click here please. Yesterday, I went to lunch with him in Zurich and heard all about this beautiful artwork.

Leinonen, who was born in Finland, has created a lighting installation consisting of stained glass windows, which will be on display in the Canvas Bar & Lounge from 1 December 2023, transforming the space into an arena of colours and patterns. «It’s probably the most beautiful work of art I’ve ever created», he says. And the most elaborate. «The making of stained glass windows is based on a complex technique that uses light to change the appearance of the space and can have a calming effect on the observer – both physically and emotionally. The history of stained glass windows is full of elaborated meanings that not only illustrate fundamental concepts of life – such as death, birth and the meaning of life – but also reflect the belief systems and power structures in our society.»

24 MESSAGES – 24 CUBES

To give his pieces deeper meaning, Leinonen asked 24 people from around the world – including artists, authors, mothers and children – to write a personal letter to Father Christmas. «The letters lend each light cube a special meaning that encompasses not only joy, but also grief, loss and the hope for a better world», he adds. «We received letters from all over the world, including one from an Egyptian poet who has been in prison since 2018 because of his poems. There is also a letter from a Ukrainian artist called Olena, who had to leave her home because of the war. And a letter from Basil, who has been living in the Za’atari refugee camp in the Jordanian desert since war broke out in Syria in 2011.»

Got a very special message from Jani in the book.

All the letters have been compiled in a book, created in collaboration with designer Riikka Kuukka, the aim being to reflect what Santa Claus really means to us. But they also show how different people’s wishes or messages are. Jenni from the Arctic, for instance, wants winter to return. Ten-year-old Maya wants some money for piano lessons. Gina wants her brother back. «The letters are not at all what I was expecting», states Leinonen. «But they do show that, for many, this has not been an easy year – or decade.»

Jani Leinonen has assigned a letter to each of the cubes he has created. A new light cube illuminates every day, symbolising that this particular wish is to be fulfilled. To fulfil the wishes of people in need, the Dolder Grand sends Christmas greetings to its guests, customers and partners by digital means, donating the saved production and Christmas postage costs to Winterhilfe Schweiz. This aid organisation assists families, couples and individuals affected by – often invisible – poverty.

I absolutely recommend the pumpkin soup at the Canvas Bar & Lounge at the Dolder Grand.

The light show will be celebrated at 6 p.m. every day from 1 to 24 December 2023, accompanied by music and a Christmas aperitif for all those gathered in the Canvas Bar & Lounge.

And what does the artist himself want for Christmas? «On 24 December, I’d like all the light cubes to be lighting up the Dolder Grand in radiant colours, and for the wishes of those who have written the letters and read the book to come true. That’s my Christmas wish.»

Hyvää Joulua Maailmam upeimalle Sandralle!
Merry Christmas to the world’s most wonderful Sandra!

Thank you, Jani!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht and Courtesy of The Dolder Grand #doldermoments
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

The 2023 edition of Louis Vuitton’s Artycapucines Collection sees five leading contemporary artists – Billie Zangewa, Ewa Juszkiewic, Liza Lou, Tursic & Mille and Ziping Wang – bring their unique visions to the timeless and classic Capucines bag.

Billie Zangewa

Since the first collection in 2019, the Capucines bag – named after Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, the Parisian street where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854 – has provided a perfect blank canvas for 29 contemporary artists to create an Artycapucines, including Alex Israel, Beatriz Milhazes, Daniel Buren, Henry Taylor, Paola Pivi, Park Seo-Bo, Tschabalala Seif, Ugo Rondinone, Urs Fischer, Vik Muniz and Zhao Zhao.

Ewa Juszkiewicz

Each special bag is further proof of how for over a century Louis Vuitton has continuously placed its innovative spirit and artisanal expertise at the service of artists and their creativity, from Louis Vuitton’s grandson Gaston-Louis commissioning work back in the 1920s to collaborations with legends such as Sol LeWitt, Yayoi Kusama, Richard Prince, and Takashi Murakami, to the opening of the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Vuitton in 2014. The Artycapucines Collection reveals the quintessence of that commitment to artistic creativity, savoir-faire and craft, while affirming the Capucines as the ultimate expression of femininity.

Liza Lou

They five latest designs pay testament to the collection’s ability to unite the artists’ talent and invention with the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the Maison’s masterful artisans. All bags in the 2023 Artycapucines Collection, presented in specially designed boxes, will be available in limited editions of 200, with a worldwide reveal on 12th October 2023.

My favorite: Tursic & Mille

Since I am a big fan of these collaborations, I will spotlight each artist with small interviews in the next posts. Seeing the craftsmanship that goes into these pieces is truly captivating and I hope that you will enjoy it as much as I do.

LoL, Sandra

Ziping Wang

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Continuing to expand its cultural universe, Jaeger-LeCoultre announces the latest instalment in its Made of Makers program: a new collaboration with Brendi Wedinger, a Los Angeles-based multi- media artist recognised for her work in 3D digital arts, sculpture and floristry, to celebrate the design of Reverso.

Expanding the Dialogue Between Watchmaking and the Arts
Through a series of collaborations with artists, designers and craftsmen from disciplines outside watchmaking, Made of Makers explores and extends the dialogue that naturally exists between horology and art. The programme focuses on artists who share Jaeger-LeCoultre’s values of creativity, expertise and precision, with nature at its core, exploring new forms of artistic expression through different and often unexpected materials and media. Like the watchmakers of La Grande Maison, these artists and innovators have a deep respect for the past as their creative foundation and a springboard for their trailblazing work. This year, Jaeger-LeCoultre further explores the world of contemporary art with an unexpected new collaboration.

A Distinctive Artistic Vision that Unites Nature with Technology
Based in Los Angeles, Brendi Wedinger is a multi-disciplinary artist and designer whose three-dimensional, digital artworks blur the boundary between real life and fantasy. Taking inspiration from nature as her primary theme – with an emphasis on biodiversity, sustainability and renewal, and a particular love of flowers – she combines various elements to form a new and surreal visual reality that is almost tangible, occasionally abstract, often highly sculptural, and always emotionally captivating.

While the virtual world of Brendi Wedinger’s art and the technical tools employed to create it, appear to be the antithesis of the organic world that she portrays, a strong affinity with traditional craftsmanship underpins her creative process.

«Rather than using a computer programme to design the work from the outset, I always begin by using the technical tools to hand-sculpt the larger three-dimensional elements, such as the petals of a flower, and hand-draw the fine details. Once I have completed this stage, I use a lot of mathematical equations to create textures, transparency and layering effects,» she explains. «What drew me to the digital medium is that it gives me more tools to play with and a wider scope for experimentation, so that my work becomes a more expressive homage to nature rather than a literal representation of it.»

New 3-D Artworks Inspired by the Flora of the Vallée de Joux
For each Made of Makers collaboration, Jaeger-LeCoultre commissions an original work, inviting the artist to express a theme of interest to the Maison through their particular craft. Given Brendi Wedinger’s deep affinity with the natural world it was self-evident that the theme of the new work would be nature – one of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s core values – and flowers, specifically.

Like all Made of Makers collaborators, before starting work on the commission Brendi Wedinger spent time at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in the Vallée de Joux, discovering the crafts of watchmaking and exploring the natural world that surrounds the Manufacture. She combined elements from every aspect of the visit to create her new work – a series of three surrealistic flowers.

«Everything about that visit – from the wildflowers in the fields, to the incredible complexity and tiny scale of the watch components and the patience and skill of all the different craftsmen in the Manufacture – was like a romantic fantasy world, so far from the lightning-fast pace of modern life,» says Brendi Wedinger. «Aside from the natural beauty of the valley, I felt very inspired by the high- complication watches and the unique details you find in them. I wanted the flowers to be complex and one-of-a kind, like the watches, with all of the beauty and immense detail that can be found in both.»

Each of the three creations is an idealised homage to a variety of flowers found in the Vallée de Joux throughout the changing seasons, rather than a particular species that exists in nature.

«When people look more deeply at each work, they will see that every element is recognisable and traceable to a natural flower, but I remixed and layered the details to emphasise their surreal nature,» Brendi Wedinger explains.

Another important element of the commission was that the flowers should be (digitally) rendered in one of the precious metals used at Jaeger-LeCoultre, which creates a hyper-realistic illusion of the shadows and reflections created by light falling on polished gold, further amplifying the surreal effect. In creating this work, the artist has deliberately played with contrasting notions – the opposition between the organic softness of nature and the cold solidity of metal, the digital and the physical, the ephemeral and the static – adding subtle layers of tension and intrigue that heighten the emotional impact of each piece.

From Nature to Art…and Back to Nature
In a play on botanical tradition, the flowers have each been given official Latin names with formal English counterparts. Linking them back to the Maison’s history, Jaeger-LeCoultre has added an official name to each flower, which pays tribute to the Reverso’s year of origin. Thus, elements of poppy, alpine pasque and grass of parnassus have been combined to create Flos Montis Fluit (Flower of the Mountain Flows), known as the 1931 Golden Poppy. Poet’s daffodil, red hemp nettle and late spider orchid are blended to create Gemma Vallis (The Jewel of the Vallee), known as the 1931 Golden Orchid. For the third flower, water mint, pincushion flower and alpine thistle have been combined to create Rhapsodia Petalorum Alpinorum (The Rhapsody of Alpine Petals), known as the 1931 Golden Thistle.

Further blurring the lines between the real and surreal, Jaeger-LeCoultre commissioned a French plant breeder to identify a flower that closely resembles the form of the 1931 Golden Orchid and to breed a hybrid exclusively for the Maison. Named the 1931 White Orchid, it is a natural and physical representation of Brendi Wedinger’s art piece. The flowers – in both their physical and virtual forms – will become part of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s visual identity and seen in a wide variety of initiatives in the future.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Jaeger-LeCoultre
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

While being in Seoul for the Frieze Art Fair, I was invited by MCM to explore The Upcycle Project, a 20-piece exhibit by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori, who is known for his playful design approach, at the MCM HAUS Flagship in Seoul.

Through emotion and perspective, the pieces in this collection converge at the junction of fashion and contemporary art. A true reflection of Ilori’s signature approach, the collaboration thrives on diverse color motifs, architecture, and spaces to encourage visitors to see new perspectives.

(Part 1) «There is Good in All of Us» on then ground floor of the store features an assortment of 10 renewed chairs that incorporate unused Visetos materials. By repurposing and revitalizing materials, the collaboration highlights the importance of environmental consciousness and responsible consumption.

«Complementing each artwork is a kaleidoscope, enticing visitors into a dance of colors and patterns.»
— Yinka Ilori

(Part 2) «Looking at Me», the latter half of the exhibit on the third floor of the shop, features a mix of Ilori’s older works alongside new ones from his most recent collection. The first six chairs reflect Ilori’s memories of growing up in London as a British Nigerian and explores heritage, culture and family.

The next four (from a new collection titled «All of Us») are bolder, more unapologetic and expressive to capture Ilori’s coming of age as an artist and designer.

«It’s an invitation to delve deeper, to discover the beauty beneath the overt, signifying an unending cycle of growth, balance, and rejuvenation.»
— Yinka Ilori

The pieces are on display at the MCM HAUS Flagship Store in Seoul from 4 September until 22 October, 2023. All works of art can be purchased at MCM HAUS, Seoul, after 22 October, 2023. For more information, please click here.

MCM HAUS
412 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu
Seoul, South Korea
11am- 8pm
+82 2-540-1404

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

At this year’s Paris+ par Art Basel, Louis Vuitton continues its longstanding commitment to the arts by exhibiting and showcasing a curated selection of creative collaborations and original artworks from leading international artists. The Maison is also revealing wave five of the Artycapucines collection.

The Louis Vuitton booth for Paris+ par Art Basel 2023, which runs from 20-22 October at the Grand Palais Éphémère, has been designed to resemble an oversized Louis Vuitton trunk. The exterior of the booth is inspired by the Copper Malle Courrier by Pharrell Williams, which was presented on the runway for his debut Louis Vuitton menswear collection, for S/S 2024. The booth’s interior walls feature the iconic malletage pattern, the refined crisscrossing motif that has padded the inside of the Maison’s trunks since Louis Vuitton founded his business in 1854. The booth is the perfect showcase for an exhibition of curated works by an ensemble of world-renowned artists, including collaborations on bags and canvas by Takashi Murakami; reworked, unique travel trunks by Damien Hirst; and Stephen Sprouse‘s Roses Monogram Alma bag.

Other original artworks on show include three paintings by Richard Prince; one by Takashi Murakami; a circular portrait of a young Louis Vuitton by Yan Pei-Ming; and an AI-data painting entitled Finding LV by Refik Anadol. Also included are seven new works by Yayoi Kusama, exhibited for the first time, each entitled Every Day I Pray for Love. The phrase has featured on the back of Kusama’s recent paintings, including this new series, which was begun in 2022 during the conception of the artist’s latest collaboration with Louis Vuitton.

At Paris+ par Art Basel, the Maison will also reveal five additions to its now iconic Artycapucines Collection. Since 2019, the collection has seen leading international artists – including Daniel Buren, Urs Fischer, Donna Huanca, Vik Muniz, Park Seo-Bo, Tschabalala Self, Kennedy Yanko, and Zhao Zhao – bring their unique creative visions to the blank canvas offered by the Capucines bag’s modern classic design. The five new bags on display at Paris+ par Art Basel are by Ewa Juszkiewicz, Liza Lou, Tursic & Mille, Ziping Wang, and Billie Zangewa, and reveal the ingenious creativity of their artist designers and the creative ingenuity of Louis Vuitton’s artisans who turned those visions into reality.

In 2023, following its successful presence at last year’s inaugural Paris+ par Art Basel, Louis Vuitton is now proud to become a global Associate Partner of Art Basel.
This additional support further confirms the Maison’s close and committed relationship to the arts, one that started nearly a century ago when Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson, began commissioning artists to collaborate with Louis Vuitton on advertisements and perfume bottles.

Since 1988, Louis Vuitton has continued this legacy by collaborating with some of the biggest names in modern art and design, including Sol LeWitt, James Rosenquist, Cesar, and Olafur Eliasson. It has curated exhibitions by artists such as Sophie Calle,Dan Flavin, Alberto Giacometti and Gerhard Richter in its Espaces Louis Vuitton around the world (Tokyo, Munich, Venice, Beijing, Seoul and Osaka), and has more recently created innovative large-scale global art projects, such as the 2022 collaboration with Yayoi Kusama that included giant statues of the artist in Paris and London, an anamorphic billboard in Tokyo, and a capsule collection of bags, shoes, accessories, luggage, and fragrances. In 2014, the Maison opened the landmark Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, which further strengthened its continuing mission to bring the best modern and contemporary art to new audiences.

Louis Vuitton will present during Paris+ par Art Basel, which runs 20 – 22 October 2023 at the Grand Palais Éphémère, 2 Place Joffre, 75007 Paris, France.
From 13 October, the Louis Vuitton City Guide app will feature a new Contemporary Art «flânerie» – or stroll route – which will include a stop at Paris+ par Art Basel.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Louis Vuitton
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise.

Life is beautiful, especially in sunny California. Here you see me this week on iconic Rodeo Drive in front of the the sculpture «Life is Beautiful» by Mr. Brainwash. His real name is Thierry Guetta, and the French-born, Los Angeles-based artist rose to fame as a protégé of Banksy after appearing in his film Exit Through the Gift Shop.

My look: High Tide cropped embroidered tulle top, and matching High Tide tiered embroidered tulle maxi skirt, both by Zimmermann, Dellena 100 leather espadrille wedge sandals by Jimmy Choo, faux-pearl tassel earrings by Oscar de la Renta, medium Lady D-Lite Bag in burgundy multicolor Mizza embroidery, and matching Wildior Mitzah scarf in ivory and red silk twill, both by Dior.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht / @collagevintage2
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

At the WWD Art Gala in Seoul, I had the pleasure to sit next to Mike Winkelmann a.k.a. Beeple, digital artist and graphic designer, that you should definitely know. Based in Charleston, SC, USA, he does a variety of digital artwork including short films, Creative Commons VJ loops, everydays and VR / AR work. After he began releasing a set of widely used Creative Commons VJ loops he has worked on concert visuals for Justin Bieber, One Direction, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Zedd, deadmau5 and many more.

«BEEPLE is mike winkelmann
he makes a variety of art crap across a variety of media. some of it is ok, but a lot of it kind of blows ass. he’s working on making it suck less everyday though so bear with him… :)»

One of the originators of the current «everyday» movement in 3D graphics, he has been creating a picture everyday from start to finish and posting it online for over ten years without missing a single day. His Instagram account @beeple_crap is absolutely worth following – 2.3 million people would agree on that.

On 1 May 2007, he posted a new work of art online. He did the same thing the next day and the next, and the next one after that, creating and posting a brand-new digital picture, or «everyday» as he called it, every single day for 13-and-a-half years. Now those individual pieces have been brought together in EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS, a unique work in the history of digital art. This monumental collage was the first purely digital artwork (NFT) ever offered at Christie’s. EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS sold online for $69,346,250.

Beeple (b. 1981), EVERYDAYS: THE FIRST 5000 DAYS, 2021. Non-fungible token (jpg). 21,069 x 21,069 pixels (319,168,313 bytes). Minted on 16 February 2021. Sold for $69,346,250 in a single lot sale concurrently with First Open.

Beeple in Fashion

Apparently, Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton Creative Director, was thinking of using some futuristic landscapes for the Maison’s S/S 2019 ready-to-wear collection. Florent Buonomano, Louis Vuitton Artistic Director, then initially approached Beeple after noticing his work on Instagram and brought several of his designs to the attention of Ghesquière. Nine of the «Everydays» pieces were selected and adapted on 13 of the 45 pieces being shown in the Louis Vuitton S/S 2019 collection, mainly on shirts, jackets, and dresses.

When the collection debuted during Paris Fashion Week at The Louvre Museum in Paris, Mike Winkelmann and his wife, with whom he is together since 15 years, attended the show and were impressed themselves to see the digital artwork on the clothing.

Mike Winkelmann has an amazing success story, but he is still down to earth,  and very easy to talk to. The guy from next door. Bravo!

Below you can find some of his recent works that I really love!

LoL, Sandra

He posted this right after the trip to Seoul: JETLAG

FAMILY

X IS COMING

WORLDCOIN

NEW COOL THING

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht, © Louis Vuitton and © Beeple
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

I just got back from Seoul, South Korea after an amazing week. One of my highlights was the WWD Art Gala that took place at my Hotel Josun Palace.
Hosted by WWD Korea and parallel to the opening of Frieze Seoul, this illustrious event celebrated the vibrant and diverse world of art and fashion, while honoring the achievements of remarkable artists across all genres, collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts. This year’s gala featured captivating ballet performances  and several live acts, while fostering cultural exchange, and providing a platform to connect with luminaries in the creative communities of art, culture, entertainment and fashion.

The curated exhibition on display presented beautiful artworks for the live auction hosted by the famous Simon de Pury, captivating performances, an elegant cocktail reception and a gastronomically delightful dinner. I tried really hard to get one work but got outbidding by the wonderful Mrs Sung-joo Kim, who is the founder, chairwoman and chief visionary officer of the Sungjoo Group and MCM Holding AG.

Sun-joo Kim with my humble self at the gala. Such an inspiring woman.

«Women are often discriminated by age, especially in Asia. I am trying to represent a new kind of trendy woman, who is not victimized by fashion but rules over it!»
– SUN-JOO KIM.

The culmination of the night was the announcement of the winner of the Art Prize of the Year. Personally speaking, it was a great opportunity to engage with fellow art connoisseurs, meet amazing artists and collectors, forge meaningful connections, and immerse myself in the beauty and creativity that Korea has to offer, while supporting the arts.

Please enjoy my impressions of the night. I already marked my calendar for 2024!

LoL, Sandra

Most stunning floral decoration at the gala by LA based floral artist Gina Kim Park.

With wonderful Yuna Kim, CEO & Publisher WWD Korea

Live auction by Simon de Pury.

I sat next to digital artist Mike Winkelmann, alias Beeple, who sold «Everydays: The First 5000 Days,» an NFT-linked digital collage at Christie’s for $69.3 million two years ago.

And yes, we had a lot of fun!

With my dear friend Susan Shin, Art Advisor to WWD Korea, who helped organizing the event, and Jamie QQ Wu.

From left to right: Yuna Kim, a guest, my humble self, Kim Robson Ortiz, Amy Kim Young, Kim Heirston, Susan Shin and a guest.

Always inspiring Nataliya Pissarro.

With artist Dustin Yellin, who wore a traditional festive Korean outfit.

Amazing goodie bag with lots of Korean beauty products!

Photos: Courtesy of WWD Korea, © Sandra Bauknecht and Photo of me at photo wall: @photo_hola_
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!

This was one of my favorite encounters this week while being in South Korea. I met artist and curator Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, known for the popular Instagram art meme account @JerryGogosian, to talk conceptual art, including her work «Neo-Narcissus» at the PhillipsX exhibition «Briefly Gorgeous» in Seoul.

The «Briefly Gorgeous» exhibition has been curated in collaboration with Joan Tucker, and sponsored in part by Hanwha Life. Featuring work by over 30 international artists, this exhibition presents an exciting blend of talents from a new generation such as Susan Chen, Hilde Lynn Helphenstein, Yoora Lee, Se Oh, Kaifan Wang, and Ho Jae Kim; alongside art historical titans such as Hernan Bas, Alexander Calder, David Hockney, Scott Kahn, and Yayoi Kusama.

«There is no collecting art without social media anymore.»
— HILDE LYNN HELPHENSTEIN

The notion of impermanence in beauty is a poignant reminder that nothing lasts forever. By showcasing the dynamic interplay between these fearless new voices and established luminaries, this exhibition prompts us to reflect on the significance of embracing beauty in its transitory forms, while  remaining true to our own principles and values. It encourages us to recognize that true beauty lies beyond fleeting trends and external judgments, and that our own standards and beliefs can shape our appreciation of the ever-changing world around us. Briefly Gorgeous serves as an enduring testament to the profound understanding of beauty’s temporality.

It was a true pleasure talking to Hilde Lynn. She explained that bringing this one sculpture to life has been a «wild mission». She found the original photograph of the statue of narcissist that sits in the Louvre. And then on Instagram she found someone to draw that sculpture but change it the way she wanted it to. «Neo-Narcissus» is her largest and most complicated physical work that she has ever exhibited. The price for this amazing sculpture is approximately $150.000.

Hilde Lynn said: «It seems as our relationship with technology develops and we become more intertwined with it every day deeper and deeper, this warning seems to be disappearing. Even in the ’90s, ’80s, ’70s, things were considered beautiful multi-dimensionally, because a person had beautiful personality or they gave a lot to charity, or they helped others, there was something about their being, that made them lovelier. Because today we live with technology, that is alienating and dividing us, and then reflecting back, not just our own image constantly, but an unreal artificial version, there is an implication of ugliness in that. But it is very hard to parse, because there are some people who fall somewhere into it, some people are deep and some people are watching it trepadaciously happen. Some people are like me and go «OMG that is awesome, OMG no its is not,» they go back and forth with it.»

Songwon Art Center
75, Yunposun-gil, Jongno-gu,
Seoul, 03061, Korea (map)

Viewing
1-9 September 2023
Open daily: 10am – 6pm

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
DISCLOSURE: We may earn commission from links on this page, but I only recommend products I love. Promise!