The Luxury Travel Magazine
The Luxury Travel Magazine
By Mansi Tailor
It’s the perfect time to plan a trip to Monaco and indulge in its luxurious offerings. Whether you prefer immersing yourself in art, fashion or savouring refreshing drinks like aperitifs or pastis, the “playground of the rich and famous” on the stunning French Riviera has it all. And artmonte-carlo ties it all together for an exhilarating experience.
Artmonte-carlo is an art fair that aims to create a top-tier platform for contemporary and modern art. The venue itself is fitting as an art piece. The fair takes place at the Grimaldi Forum on the Larvotto’s seafront, under the direction of Thomas Hug and the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. As numerous art enthusiasts and collectors gather around, the Côte d’Azur reveals its magnificence in full swing.
The Salon d’Art will showcase a prestigious selection of international galleries, alongside a significant retrospective of Claude Monet’s work. In line with artgenève, artmonte-carlo is distinguished by a carefully curated selection of leading international galleries showcased in a sophisticated scenography and enriched by a program of special exhibitions promoting a dialogue between the market and the institutional environment. The second art fair presented by Salon d’Art is artgenève, which takes place in Geneva and complements artmonte-carlo, held in the Côte d’Azur. These two important European art events bring together numerous art spaces and residences, attracting art enthusiasts and collectors alike throughout the year.
"
"The booths are elegantly furnished, and the carefully placed artworks evoke a mixture of both ecstasy and a feeling of gone days of youth creating an immediate sense of playful intrigue and wonder."
ARTMONTE-CARLO’S RICH HISTORY
The first edition of artmonte-carlo was held in April 2016 at the Grimaldi Forum, a renowned exhibition centre in the heart of Monaco. The fair attracted over 6,000 visitors, showcasing works from 36 international galleries, and featuring a special exhibition dedicated to the work of Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. Since its debut, artmonte-carlo has become a highly anticipated annual event, attracting leading galleries, collectors, curators, and art lovers from around the world. In addition to the exhibitions, artmonte-carlo also hosts a series of special events and talks, bringing together key figures from the art world to discuss current trends and issues. Through its short history, artmonte-carlo has quickly established itself as a major player in the European art fair scene, and its success has been attributed to its high-quality offerings and unique location on the Côte d’Azur.
A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Upon arrival, the Grimaldi Forum is lit with artworks, almost enticing, and overwhelming the guests with the first impression. Some of the artists celebrated in the past include Gonzalo Lebrija, Ugo Rondinone, Angela Bulloch, Manolo Valdez, and Igor Mitoraj. This year’s artists to be exhibited are expected to be brilliant contemporary artists who will create a balance with the timeless eminence of Monet. This structure goes hand in hand with artmonte-carlo’s mission of highlighting the classics as well as modern, and contemporary art.
The forum’s lowest floor is the exhibit area and is filled with an array of colours, patterns, and shapes. It’s immediately clear that the gallerists have curated a sensational show featuring a captivation collection of diverse media. It goes beyond the expectations you’d have for a standard art fair. There are sculptures, photography exhibits, paintings, illustrations, and textile art, among others.The booths are elegantly furnished, and the carefully placed artworks evoke a mixture of both ecstasy and a feeling of gone days of youth creating an immediate sense of playful intrigue and wonder. It’s refreshing to see galleries choosing artworks that focus on pressing political issues while merging them with striking visual forms.
"
"The event is a dreamy reflection of Monte Carlo’s luxurious and refined spirit."
A REFRESHING NEW TAKE
Artmonte-carlo is unlike any other contemporary art fair. It doesn’t just focus on contemporary, innovative, and abstract art, but gives a comprehensive experience that encompasses art from the past, present, and a promised, bright future. It achieves this by including contemporary, modern, as well as renaissance art and design. What sets artmonte-carlo apart from other art fairs, and why it is an experience not to be missed is its intimate nature and size. It provides a much needed, stimulating change from the large and overpowering fairs that simply demand too much. Each gallery has a 40-square-meter booth, deliberately the same size to maintain uniformity and to give emerging artists as much exposure as established artists. This creates an awe inspiring and relaxed atmosphere where the art is on centre stage to be admired, immersed into, debated; all the things that art should do, rather than just being consumed.
ART WITH A PURPOSE
Artmonte-carlo has a clear purpose, which is to strengthen the emerging art scene in the Principality and encourage a lively conversation between international galleries and institutions. The aim is to maintain an engaging and dynamic format which has been well received by guests and gallerists alike. The opening night is one of the most successful events of the whole affair with a display of affluent artworks and significant sales. The event is a dreamy reflection of Monte Carlo’s luxurious and refined spirit. Looking forward, it is apparent that the fair will continue to attract a broader audience from all over Europe and beyond, drawing curious individuals and art lovers alike to explore and experience art in a fresh and stimulating way.
The art fair in Monte Carlo may be a recent addition to the city’s luxurious offerings, but it has already established itself as a prominent event in the global art scene. It has not only secured a venue at the Grimaldi Forum but also a place on the calendars of art enthusiasts worldwide. If this isn’t enough, one can book a private helicopter from Nice to Monaco which guarantees a breath-taking view of the Côte d’Azur. A seven-minute helicopter ride more enchanting than any game of “seven minutes in heaven” ever was.
Petra: What to know before visiting Jordan’s Lost City
Luxury Redefined: Experiencing Opulence in Las Vegas
you might also like
ARTS | CULTURE
ArtGenève: A ‘Human-Sized’ Art Fair
Cultural Events
Top 6 Cool Festivals of Malaga: Atmospheric Spain
SEARCH
MUST READ
