QUICK CULTURE ISSUE 8 , Page 1

FEBRUARY 2012

Articles START WITH ART  Quick Culture News … pg 1  The Art of Travel ....pg 1 QUICK CULTURE‘S NEWSLETTER  Fashion Imitates Art… pg 1  Art Imitates Art Imitates Fashion.. pg 8  Tours…...pg 8

THE ART OF TRAVEL FASHION IMITATES ART

This past September I took an amazing trip to Eastern . I wanted to see all the celebrated famous sights as well as the little-known hidden ones. In the Art of Travel article, I promised that you Everyone warned me about the cuisine being boring and unimaginative so I would read more about Anselm Reyle in this was also determined to ferret out the best places to eat. And, of course, ex- section. Take another look at his artwork from perience the art---both old world and contemporary. My goal was to wrap the Boros Collection---now take a look at this--- myself in every facet of the culture of the I‘ve only read about. I suc- brought to you by Dior and Anselm Reyle! ceeded! So much so, that I am going to make this a 3-part series with each getting special attention: , Prague and Budapest. So, grab a Anselm Reyle Pfannkuchen and an espresso and start the adventure with…

Bodacious and Booming BERLIN!

After the long flight, my traveling compan- ion, Barbara, and I were anxious to get to the hotel but our driver captured our atten- tion by eagerly pointing out many of the famous sights along the way.

We managed to fight off the sandman until we got to our hotel---the Regent Berlin. It‘s Continued on page 6 the only German hotel that has not only made the Top 100 ranking of the best hotels in the world by Conde Nast in 2011, but according to the Gold List published in the latest edition of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine, the Regent QUICK CULTURE NEWS Berlin is Germany‘s best hotel. Well located but not for the budget-minded, In September, we celebrated our 6th year of the Regent Berlin is within walking being in business! It‘s been a great six years distance of all that‘s important--- fa- and we hope to have many more. mous historical sights, prominent mu- seums, gourmet restaurants and great We continue to expand our horizons by looking shopping! The room (and bathroom) for new endeavors especially travel adventures were not only spacious but appointed which we both love. Last year there were trips Regent Berlin’s Lobby beautifully and equipped with every to Germany, The , Hungary, Photo Courtesy of Berlin Regent amenity you could imagine. With the India and of course there are those trips to New added joy of extraordinary comfortable beds, we were in dreamland in a York. But don‘t worry we still offer our ever nanosecond. Add to that the impeccable service of the staff--- professional, popular Kids Museum Tour and our Demystify- efficient, personal and warm. Experiencing all this from the moment we ar- ing Tour for Adults at LACMA. rived, we couldn‘t wait to shake out our jetlag at the hotel‘s sumptuous health One very special experience we had in Los club and spa, so we quickly scheduled massages. My therapist was Sami Angeles was a tour of the Ovitz House and Beg, born in Berlin but brought up in Calcutta. His technique, a combination Collection a few months ago. It is truly an of Ayurvedic and Thai is masterful and his skill truly captures the blend of unique experience and if you ever get a chance spiritual thought, therapy and wellness. After his massage, I was energized to to visit.. Jump on it. take on the city. Continued on page 2

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Out of over 170 museums in Berlin, we decided that if we were going to go to any museum, we wanted to go to one that had artifacts we probably would never see in the States. We decided on the Pergamon, one museum of five on on the Spree River. It‘s home to a vast collection of Greek and Babylonian antiquities including the impressive Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the enormous Pergamon Altar (180-160 B.C.) which is so huge that it requires an entire room. Constructed in Pergamon, Asia Minor, as an altar to Zeus, this gigantic structure is the centerpiece of the museum.

We also wanted to see the exceptional exhibit, ―Renaissance Portraits‖ at the Bode Museum, also on Museum Island, but the special tickets were sold out! Fortunately, (although we were unaware of it at the time) it is now at the Met- ropolitan Museum of Art in NYC until March 18, 2012. This exhibition brings together approximately 160 works on loan from the collections of several international museums —by artists including Donatello, Filippo Lippi, Botti- celli, Verrocchio, Ghirlandaio, Pisanello, Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, and Antonello da Messina. The media ranges from painting and manuscript illu- Pergamon Altar Detail of Ishtar Gate mination to marble sculpture and bronze medals. Fortunately, I made the trip to the Met over the holidays and the exhibit was all that it promised.

The architecture in Berlin is eclectic and varied in style mainly due to its history rather than by design. Berlin was devastated by bombing raids during World War II and many architecture programs were instituted to build new residential and commercial buildings. It was a city divided by the construction of the Wall in 1961 until the fall of the Wall in 1989 followed by the complete reunification of the east and west in 1990. By default, these events provided the inspiration for its diverse cityscape. Predictably, one sees many con- trasts that reflect the old and new political past. One such notable design paradox can be found in the former Reichstag () building. It was opened in 1894 and then closed due to a huge fire in 1933. It was not used until 1999 when reconstruction was com- pleted by Sir Norman Foster, British architect who studied at Yale University. It is now the meeting place of the modern German par- liament, presently referred to as the Bundestag.

Bundestag: Note: Attached Exterior details of the dome of the Bundestag Bundestag Dome Interior- contemporary glass dome Parliament meets right below the circular glass ―roof‖ at ground level

In 1964, a television tower was built as a show of East Germany‘s secular strength and was thought to have been deliberately con- structed at a location that would impose on views of 's Reichstag (now Bundestag) building. (You can see evidence of this view of the tower in my photo of the modern exterior detail of the Bundestag.) At a height of 1,207 feet, it is the tallest structure in Ger- many.

Another startling futuristic design is that of the Humboldt Box Museum. Also near Museum Is- land and the TV Tower (note it on the left) the ―Box‖ is an interim fill-in for the Humboldt Forum, envisioned as a place for the exchange of cultures from around the world. This structure will be dismantled when the ―Forum‖ is completed, probably in 2019. The building stands as a com- plete piece of art unto itself. Presently, inside, there is a unique installation by The DoBeS Pro- ject--- ―Languages of Southwest Ambrym.‖ This installation presents the different ways in which culture, language and knowledge are transmitted within written (books and recordings) and oral societies (sand drawing and story telling). The highlights of the installation are sandroings: a unique form of art practiced in Vanuatu. Sandroings are intangible masterpieces which require no materials - only the ground itself. See an example of this in a short film by clicking this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OHXRRPQjaQ&context=C279eaADOEgsToPDskIX_cOgnumtl295Rvp843jO Humboldt TV Tower Box Continued on page 3

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I have a penchant for urban art and just had to snap a photo of this street graffiti...in English!

There are numerous other interesting public architectural structures but what I found the most overwhelming of all the public art and edifices was the infamous ―Wall‖. Even though it is symbolic of countless sad and tragic stories, this urban art (only on the West side) was and is vibrant and full of life and hope. At a length of approximately 87 miles, it was efficient in its purpose yet it provided a tableau that chronicled its history. Only a few frag- Street Art ments exist today because soon after the broadcast in November of 1989 announcing that the GDR was opening the borders, people came to the wall Barbara and I in front with sledgehammers and chisels to chip off souvenirs and, in the process, demolished lengthy parts of it. of the ultimate in street Many segments have been given to various institutions around the world. They can be found in presidential art---the . and historical museums, lobbies of hotels and corporations, at universities and government buildings, and in public spaces. A 40-foot-long section of the Wall is at 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, and is the largest remnant outside Ger- many. Two artists were chosen to paint the back (East) side of the wall by its owner, the Culver City-based Wende Museum. "The west side of the wall had graffiti painted all over it," said Siddiqui, 30, one of the artists who hails from Heidelberg, Germany. "When the wall was up, we could never have worked on this.‖ The bleak east side of the Berlin Wall was untouched because the area next to it was considered a death zone, where intruders risked being shot.

In Berlin, where there isn‘t a remaining Wall fragment, double Cobblestone divid- ing line- where there rows of cobblestones continue the line of division and serve as a once was a section reminder of what once was. of the Berlin Wall.

Another public art installation, ―Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe‖ represents the horrific Jewish devastation during the Holocaust, and is monumental in size and design. Consisting of approximately 2700 concrete slabs (steles) and arranged in a grid covering 12 square miles, it is imposing and hard to miss. However, the designer, Peter Eisenman, a New York architect, has said, "I want it to be a part of ordinary, daily life. People who have walked by say it's very unassuming... I like to think that people will use it for shortcuts, and as an everyday experience, not only as a holy place." Al- though controversial for not including other orientations and religions that were targeted, it remains an acknowledgement of Germany‘s shame and public apology. You can‘t help but walk through it with a Holocaust Memorial somber, reflective, collective sadness. Ironically, it is just a short distance from where the ruins of Hitler's bunker are buried------beneath a parking lot!

As far as bunkers go, there is nothing artistically redeeming about them unless they house a fantastic art collection---and so one does with the Boros Collection. A five-story concrete behemoth that is only open on the weekends by appointment, this 1945 above-ground bunker was transformed (with its cultural heritage designation intact) into a private museum with a family penthouse (including a pool) by its owner, Christian Boros. An adver- tising titan who started his own agency in 1990 while still a student, Boros has catapulted himself into the echelon of the serious collector. For me, this was the artistic highlight of Berlin. Concentrating on contemporary art, many of the pieces are site specific to the bunker and most were installed by the artists themselves. Originally built of concrete with a wood frame, the bunker was a shelter for over 1200 civilians who were escaping Allied bom- bardments during World War II. It has also been a prison, a storage facility for fruits and vegetables and lastly in the 90s, an alternative hardcore party scene techno club. Remember Mike Meyers‘ SNL‘s parody on these Here is the ―Bunker‖ --- note the Penthouse: techno clubs? For a quick reminder, check out this video: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxQ6olQjebg

Oops! Sorry for the digression but I just couldn‘t help myself! Waiting in the anteroom before the tour begins

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The Boros family moved in and maintains that it is not a museum, but a private collection. The Collection presents artworks by Michael Beutler, John Bock, Olafur Eliasson, Elmgreen & Dragset, Kitty Kraus, Robert Kusmirowski, Marc Leckey, Manuela Leinhoss, Sarah Lucas, Kris Martin, Henrik Oleson, Manfred Pernice, Daniel Pflumm, Tobias Rehberger, Anselm Reyle,---more on Anselm later!--- Bo- jan Sarcevic, Santiago Sierra, Florian Slotawa, Monika Sosnowska, Katja Strunz and Rirkrit Tiravanija. Not a Koons or Hirst in the bunch! In fact, no American artists are represented!

Anselm Reyle---(Read about him in the ―Fashion Imitating Art‖ section!)

What advice does Christian Boros have for the budding collector of contemporary art? ―Two things,‖ he says. ―Quantity and quality. You have to see a lot. You can‘t just go to one art fair and say, ‗Cool, I‘ll buy that.‘ It means seeing hundreds of exhibitions, museums, shows, events. That‘s quantity. Quality means pursuing works that are inherently difficult for you to comprehend. ― Not sure I agree with that statement, but it seems to be a truism for many collectors. And, of course, for the moneyed mono- graphic collectors, art as an investment can be more predictable and manipu- lated than volatile stocks. All you really have to comprehend is its rising value among the art intelligentsia.

This unreal, realistic patient in the bed is the art!

The piece of artwork to the right reminded me of how bad hospital food can be. So, in contrast and as promised, I will share with you the best ―taste of art‖ dining experience I had in Berlin. Hands down it was at Fischer‘s Fritz, the 2-star Mich- elin restaurant at our hotel, The Berlin Regent. The chef, Christian Lohse, is Berlin‘s only 2 Michelin-starred chef---and the first Berlin chef in 13 years to be awarded this coveted honor. Barbara and I had the prix fixe menu and it didn‘t disappoint. The surroundings, service and presentation were flawless! With a French-inspired, seafood menu, this restaurant has re- ceived the Michelin stars for five years in a row. To top it all off, it has also received 19 Gault Millau points which are based purely on the food regard- less of the quality of service, price or atmosphere---but rest assured, this restaurant is faultless and worth every penny…I mean, euro! One quick note---in the lounge we were entertained by a great trio and chanteuse as we sipped their signature cordial--- an ―Earl Grey Grape‖ made with Earl Grey infused vodka, sugar, lemon juice, lime juice and garnished with a gilded grape…perfection!

We also had the opportunity to enjoy the elegantly served tea time---

Tea Time- Photo courtesy of Berlin Regent Continued on page 5

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There are many options for entertainment in Berlin, but Barbara and I were up for what is uniquely Berlin. Visions of performance art like the aforementioned techno club… or a Bertolt Brecht play…or the Berlin Philharmonic came to mind. But, after much research and a yen for being completely entertained, we selected the show at the Friedrichstadt-Palast called Yma. It didn‘t let us down. What a spectacle! The best way to describe the show is to say it‘s part Cabaret, Cirque du Soleil, Vaudeville and Chippendales, with a soupcon of the Rockettes--- a gender-bending dream that is a completely unpredictable feast for the eyes and ears. I recently saw Cirque‘s Iris show at the Kodak Theater and I enjoyed the Yma show way more. Why? There was no redundancy to it and even when they sang and did routines reminiscent of the 70s and 80s, it was fresh and presented in an innovative way. I can‘t say the same for Cirque. Yma is a ―must see‖ experience!

Fortunately, I was able to interview one of the dancers for the show, Willow, a 20-something Canadian who has been with the Palast for 9 years. It was fascinating to learn of her artistic journey and what in- spired her to move from her home to Berlin. Willow shared that at 5‘ 9‖ she is considered on the short side for a dancer. Europe provided a better opportunity. Working on the largest stage in the world (yes, world!) allows for some pretty tricky routines that range Willow stretching backstage Willow — Almost showtime from complicated aerial acro- batics to loooong, synchronized-with-precision chorus lines. I‘m sure her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School serves her well in mastering intricate moves and needed stamina to perform 7-8 shows per week. Meeting Willow and seeing the human side of the show was in stark contrast to what we were going to experience.

Click onto http://vimeo.com/23154239 to see the 1 ½ minute trailer of the show.

Beyond the unreal reality that is Yma is a clear message. Centering on a fictitious beauti- ful woman, the show draws us into her internal world. We are voyeurs that peek into the illusion-filled psyche that begs us to be tolerant--- and we become completely captured by Yma‘s elegance, sensuality and humor. What a surprise it was to later read in the program that Yma is played by a man! As in Magritte‘s ―Treachery of Images‖, the art of Yma al- lowed us, even just for an evening, to suspend our preconceptions and accept alternative Our gal Willow (on the right) onstage perceptions.

By bringing you the highlights of my personal Berlin, I feel that I have only scratched the surface of this complex, multifaceted city. Clearly, it has emerged from being a war-torn country to a thriving and vibrant nation. The face of the Berlin and Germany of the disastrous years in the 20th Century is almost unrecognizable moving into the 21st Century. The warmth, energy, innovative art and sophisticated culture of its people is… well… bodacious and booming!

Recommended links for Berlin that have absolutely nothing to do with Art!  www.toursbylocals.com (great guides!)  http://mike-chauffeur.cz/ (Driving service- intra/inter-country )  http://www.a2btransfers.com/ (Airport transfer service)  http://www.fassbender-rausch.com/ (Chocolate Emporium)  http://berlin.barwick.de/sights/famous-places/index.html (famous places to see)  http://www.kadewe.de/en (The ―Bloomies‖ of Berlin that has a gourmet food court!)

Next newsletter: ―The Art of Travel‖ journeys to fairytale Prague!

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Continued from page 1: Fashion Imitates Art

Fine art at its finest…nail polish to mimic colors used in his work. Holy Katy Perry! And it doesn‘t stop at polish… This new Anselm Reyle Collection from the French fashion house, Dior, is what‘s hot in 2012. From cosmetics to accessories---- to shoes

―For me it‘s interesting to see how camouflage design has been adapted by the pop world from its military background and how it then loses the original meaning. It remains a kind of empty phrase. Usually the camouflage hides something, but here it‘s the op- posite – it is very visible because of the signal neon colors.‖ – Anselm Reyle

No need to buy one of his abstract paintings that sold in 2007 at Christie‘s for over $600,000. Just get a pair of his ―original‖ shoes and move the decimal point to the left---but not too far left. ―Totally rad!‖ It‘s the 80s all over again!

In all fairness, at least Dior paid Reyle for inspiring their Collection. 2012 seems to be the year for ripping off---I mean being in- spired by---artists. The below speaks for itself.

In Menswear:

Lace-Up Derby Shoes- ASOS

Trenchcoat – Burberry Trouser: Topman Turquoise Cashmere Sweater – J Crew Tintin

Ties from the Great Italian, Dutch and French Masters

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Continued from page 6 Other designers and their inspirations

Rodarte - Van Gogh

Akris – Monet

Celine- Mondrian Jill Sander—Picasso

Lisa Perry—Lichtenstein

So, isn‘t turnabout fair play?

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Art Imitates Art Imitates Fashion Mike Frederiqo was born in 1991, and now lives and works from The Hague in The Netherlands. As a young Dutch artist he started off with tattooing and making graffiti. He is obviously not the creator (Stephen Hillenburg is) of Spongebob SquarePants; however, he has managed to replicate the character into caricatures of famous designers. Can you guess who they are? Too funny! Enjoy! The answers are at the bottom of the page.

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Q UICK C ULTURE UPDATE

We are continually offering scheduled tours for our 2 most popular tours...the Museum Tour for Kids and our Modern Art Tour both at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

And don‘t forget, you can always schedule a private tour of either our Kids or Adult tour. It only costs $125 (total) for a group of up to 10 people. You pick the time and date!

Answers: 1: Terry Richardson, 2: Karl Lagerfeld, 3: Marc Jacobs, 4: Coco Chanel, 5: Takashi Murakami, 6: Pharrell Williams

Written and Published by Ellen Greenberg and Charlotte Robinson, co-owners of Quick Culture.

PHONE: 1-310-800-6710 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.quickculture.com