1-54 Marrakech — Contemporary African Art Fair

The development of contemporary art in Africa has triggered a mountainous cultural shake resulting in the emergence of many fabulous art fairs. Today, we want to drag your attention to 1-54 Marrakech, an African art fair manifesting the plenitude of contemporary African art. The 2020 edition of the fair will encompass different performances across the city, so it is not only an opportunity to witness outstanding artworks but also an opportunity to become spiritually closer to the society and values of Marrakech.

The Contemporary African Art Fair in Marrakech

This year, it will be the third edition of the long-awaited fair. The start of the event is set on February 22, and it will last through February 23. 1-54 Marrakech returns with an exuberant exhibition consisting of 20 leading galleries from all over the world. Works of more than 65 artists will suffuse the venue with their brilliance. The list of the selected exhibitors includes Afronova Gallery, Goodman Gallery, Katharina Maria Raab, Loft Art Gallery, MAGNIN-A, and VOICE gallery, among others.

You should pay exceptional attention to gallery 127, which is genuinely the first contemporary photography gallery in North Africa. Having more than 14 years of experience, they managed to arrange around 70 solo and group exhibitions. The true value of gallery 127 lies in its dedication to Africa, the Arab world, and Morocco.

Another landmark addition to the fair is 1-54 Forum, during which everyone can attend panel discussions, accompanied by artists, curators, and cultural producers. Such dialogue ties the international art partnership and establishes the new look at the art of the future. In other words, it is the brim where the exchange of experience takes place.

1-54 Marrakech is, without a doubt, a notable and essential African art fair in the history of contemporary art of the continent. If you crave to visit Marrakech and enjoy art there, this opportunity is right in front of you.

The Image of St. Nicholas in Religious Art

Saint Nicholas is one of the central figures and most known saints in Christianity. It is no wonder that lots of works dedicated to his personality are immensely prominent around the world. Moreover, the image of the venerated bishop appears not only in traditional Orthodox icons but also in numerous paintings and other pieces of religious art.

St. Nicholas in Religious Art

Saint Nicholas of Myra was a Christian bishop of the ancient city of Myra in Greece. Being the benefactor for a vast spectrum of people, he is also known worldwide as Nicholas the Wonderworker, largely due to so many miracles attributed to his intercession.

The Image of St. Nicholas in Religious Art
Russian icon of Nikola Lipniy

The image of St. Nicholas is mostly prevalent in religious art and icon painting in particular. It would take a long time to list all popular St. Nicholas icons, but let us draw your attention to two special ones: the icon of Nikola Lipniy and the Byzantine icon of Saint Nicholas.

The Image of St. Nicholas in Religious Art
Byzantine icon of Saint Nicholas

The first icon was painted in 1294 for Saint Nicholas Church on Lipno Island in Novgorod and represents the ancient Russian icon painting style. The second icon shows the bishop from the Byzantine viewpoint; it was painted in the 10th century in the Byzantine Empire. Against the background of these two icons, we can see how two main icon painting schools depict the image of St. Nicholas differently.

It is also impossible not to mention the notable Ilya Repin’s tribute to the image of the saint. In his 1888 painting “Saint Nicholas of Myra saves three innocents from death,” Repin puts St. Nicholas in real conditions, showing him preventing the injustice at the time when the saint was a bishop in Myra in Lycia.

The Image of St. Nicholas in Religious Art
Ilya Repin’s “Saint Nicholas of Myra saves three innocents from death”

St. Nicholas has always been the source of hope for many Christians and the source of inspiration for many artists in all fields of art, and he will always be.

Stunning Noir Paintings by Jack Vettriano

The land of Scotland has always been abundant with gifted persons. Jack Vettriano is one of such individuals, whose incredible talent and original noir paintings have made him a notable name among contemporary Scottish artists.

Jack Vettriano was born in 1951 into a poor family. With the necessity to work hard to survive, he never thought of becoming an artist. However, everything changed when his girlfriend gave him a set of watercolors as a gift for his 21st birthday. That was the beginning of Vettriano’s passion for art, which would eventually bring him worldwide fame.

Jack Vettriano is a self-taught contemporary artist. He started his artistic career with creating copies of the famous Impressionist paintings that he signed as Jack Hoggan. The year 1989 was a turning point for the artist. Two of his paintings were accepted by the Royal Scottish Academy to be showcased at the annual exhibition, and both of them were sold on the same day. It was a complete surprise for the artist. That success gave a strong driving force to Vettriano’s further professional growth and served as a background for the appearance of his famous noir paintings. It is interesting that at the time, Jack Vettriano was not taken seriously by both art critics and his colleagues, but as it turned out, it was a mistake.

Today, Jack Vettriano is a well-known artist whose works have been featured at many exhibitions around the world. The artist creates paintings mainly in a romantic style. The colors and shapes that he uses to portray reality make his works look like real photographs. However, what has made him famous is his noir paintings evoking feelings of nostalgia.

If you are not familiar with the work of Jack Vettriano, then it is time to learn more about this talented Scottish artist. You will love his style and ideas put in his beautiful artworks.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons User Jack Vettriano / CC BY-SA 4.0

Simon Mosheshvili – An entrepreneur, innovator, philanthropist.

Discover the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA

The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA opened its doors in 2006. Today, it is a reputable no-profit museum with an important mission of strengthening the cultural relations between Russia and the US and ensuring a robust connection between the two nations with the help of art.

The Museum houses an impressive collection of religious icon art and artifacts, with more than 1,000 Russian icons that range from unique pieces dating back to the mid-15th century to masterpieces of modern religious art. The highlight of the collection is a very special exhibit – 17th-century Royal Doors that once were part of an old Orthodox Church in Russia and led to the High Altar.

It is also worth noting that the permanent collection presented at the Museum of Russian Icons is currently the largest private collection of Russian icon art outside of Russia. It was started by Gordon B. Lankton, the founder of the Museum. Gordon B. Lankton is a plastics engineer, former CEO of the famous Nypro Company, and a passionate traveler who even made a motorcycle trip across many countries in 1956-1957. In 1989, during his visit to Russia, Lankton bought his first icon, which marked the beginning of his collection and led to the opening of the Museum years later.

The Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton is located in a former mill building with a 150-year-old history and also occupies a nearby modern building that previously served as the Police Station and the Clinton District Court. The Museum displays a permanent collection on the three floors of the galleries and has a special gallery space for temporary exhibitions. Besides, it hosts various events, concerts, and lectures.

If you happen to be in Clinton, Massachusetts, take your time to visit the Museum of Russian Icons and discover its amazing collection of Russian icons and artifacts. Very recommended!

Photo credit: Wikipedia User Vlad b / CC BY-SA 3.0

Duran|Mashaal – An Innovative Art Gallery in Montreal

Duran|Mashaal on Sherbrooke Ouest is a relatively new fine art gallery in Montreal, Canada, which was opened in 2017. The gallery has been operating for only two years, but it has already become one of the most renowned and reputable Montreal galleries representing innovative artists.

A Must-Visit Art Gallery in Montreal

Aimed at making high-quality contemporary art accessible to everyone, Duran|Mashaal is largely focused on the work of talented and inspiring emerging artists who are not known to a wide audience yet. However, the gallery also represents local and international mid-career artists who have already had solo shows and displayed their art at the art fairs. For today, Duran|Mashaal collaborates with 18 innovative artists working in the fields of painting, sculpture, and photography, showcasing their artworks at the well-thought-out exhibitions distinguished by their unique atmosphere that inspires a dialogue between intellect and emotion. These include Simon Andrew, Mark Lang, Ben Thomas, Laura Wood, Michael Flomen, Adriana Oliver, Andrew Pink, Victoria Wonnacott, and other contemporary talents who are not afraid to pioneer new art forms and experiment with the process of artmaking.

Since its very foundation in 2017, Duran|Mashaal has been promoting innovative artists by organizing truly gorgeous solo and group exhibitions, along with other events, for collectors and admirers of contemporary art. Besides, the gallery provides a range of specialist services to businesses, private collectors, and corporate clients. These include art consultancy, art appraisal, art resale, and even financing services that make owning high-quality art more affordable and much easier.

Duran|Mashaal is an exceptional fine art gallery in Montreal, with a fantastic selection of original works by so many talented artists. Once you are in Montreal, be sure to visit this amazing place and enjoy its fabulous atmosphere of culture and art!