Arts and Culture
Oscars 2017 highlights
The 89th Academy Awards took on political statements, fabulous gowns and of course, a few mishaps along the way.
Here are the Sybarite’s highlights of The Oscars 2017…
A number of Oscar-nominees threw their support behind the organisation who first challenged President Donald Trump's travel ban by wearing blue ribbons to the ceremony. Irish-Ethiopian star Ruth Negga, who is up for best actress for her role in Loving, was first on the red carpet and sported the political accessory on her red Valentino dress. As...
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Featuring Sotheby’s Erotic: Passion & Desire Auction
Where the boundaries between the sensual and the obscene are gloriously blurred. “The erotic is a realm where desire and imagination meet. When you look at a great work of erotic art, you sense a world outside its obvious parameters: a complicit triangulation between the creator, the subject (perhaps more than one) who inspired such intimate expression, and the viewer turned voyeur. There’s a disruptive quality to the best erotica, which filters into your dreams and waking fantasies. It doesn’t just seduce its audience – it transports them without permission,” says Rowan Pelling, a Daily Telegraph columnist known for her eight-year editorship of The Erotic Review and her sex column for GQ, who has written the catalogue introduction for the Sotheby’s Erotic sale.
Featuring The best London art exhibitions to visit
The Sybarite serves up something for every taste with our exhibition guide below…
Featuring How to become an art collector
The search for art can be joyous, and with some thought behind it, your purchases can turn into a collection, and possibly an investment.
Featuring Inside David Bowie’s private collection
Bowie's maverick ways of re-invention and curiosity are mirrored through his weird and wonderful art collection, which has been kept private up until now. Over 400 pieces including Harold Gilman, Frank Auerbach, Damien Hirst and painter Peter Lanyon in particular depth are on display, however, his collection is by no means limited to British art alone and also encompasses Contemporary African art, self-taught artists from Vienna’s Gugging institution, as well as designs by Ettore Sottsass and the revolutionary Memphis group. Encompassing some 400 objects from the personal holdings of a man who approached collecting with the same inspired sense of individualism that defined his own fiercely original art. "Art was, seriously, the only thing I'd ever wanted to own. It has always been a stable nourishment. I use it. It can change the way I feel in the mornings. The same work can change me in different way, depending on what I'm going through."- David Bowie
Featuring Salute the Sixties at the V&A
For those who missed the ’60s (or just can’t remember), The V&A is recreating the era of sex, drugs - LSD trips are included - and rock ‘n’ roll with a new exhibition: You Say You Want a Revolution? Records and Rebels 1966 – 1970. The museum's latest show invites Sybarites to explore the era-defining significance and impact of the late 1960s upon life today. From global civil rights, multiculturalism, environmentalism, consumerism, computing and communality to neoliberalist politics, the world we live in has been vitally influenced by five revolutionary years 1966 – 1970 - and this new exhibition will investigate the upheaval, the explosive sense of freedom, and the legal changes that took place resulting in a fundamental shift in the mindset of the Western world.
Featuring Death of the logo
Forget labels. The fashion mantra for autumn/winter 2016 seems to be if you've got it - don't flaunt it. For while designer logos were popular in the eighties, nineties and noughties - when celebs and civilians alike used them as way of showing off their status and wealth - fast forward to today and every self respecting Sybarite knows that true luxury doesn’t need to shout about its status. We’re still purchasing luxury brands - take a bow Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Hermes et al - but whereas once we would have splashed the cash on monogrammed belts and bags, now we’re purchasing clothes and accessories by the aforementioned labels, sans logos. So why are are we all showing off by, erm, not showing off? The answer, I think, is two fold. Our desire for discreet branding is one way to distance ourselves from tacky reality TV stars, with whom we don’t want to be aligned - say hello to Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, both of whom shot to fame (and fortune) on the back of leaked ‘home’ video tapes and thus have the cash, if not the class, to kit themselves out in high end labels. Ditto WAGs and Russian oligarchs…
Featuring Room with a view: Haute art hotels around the world
Make no mistake: the hotel scene has been on fire for the past few years, partly because these plush properties offer a discerning home from home in the most perfect locations - a mere jaunt from excellent restaurants, world class museums and luxe bars. But also because today, some of the hautest hotels are showcasing some of the most majestic modern pieces of art.
The Queen’s birthday commemorated in gold
Born on April 21, 1926, to Prince Albert, Duke of York - later King George VI, and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Elisabeth II became the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953. To join in the celebrations of this remarkable birthday, many people were looking for commemorative investments for their loved ones. London's coin galleries in Mayfair are busier than ever welcoming clients who are looking for unmissable treasures or bullion gifts for this occasion. In particular The Queen's Beasts 2016 and Her Majesty The Queen’s Fifth Portrait are very sought after. The Queen's Beasts 2016, available in gold or silver, are the most recent releases and celebrate the Queen and Her heraldic beasts. The Beast in fact commemorates the ten heraldic sculptures made for the coronation and placed in Westminster Abbey during the ceremony. The Beast has been designed by Royal Mint Engraver 33 year old Jody Clark.
Featuring Fashioning a Reign: 90 years of royal style
The unique exhibition features garments spanning 90 years of The Queen’s life - from christening and Coronation gowns, to the wedding dress and a plethora of mesmerizing hats. The exhibition at Buckingham Palace is one of three separate displays in celebration of The Queen’s 90th birthday at each of Her Majesty’s official residences during 2016. A total of 150 outfits will be shown across the Palaces, and the content of each exhibition has been selected to have particular association with the location: At the Palace of Holyroodhouse the use of tartan in royal dress is explored, while at Windsor Castle magnificent evening gowns worn on official occasions will be contrasted with Princess Elizabeth’s fancy-dress costumes from wartime family pantomimes held at the Castle. The exhibition at the State Rooms explores ceremonial and military attire, dress for State occasions and overseas tours, outfits for family celebrations, and Her Majesty’s support of British design.
Featuring Last night a DJ saved my life
Turn your disc-jockey dreams into reality on a DJ Dispensary retreat “You ruin your life by tolerating it. At the end of the day you should be excited to be alive. When you settle for anything less than what you innately desire, you destroy the possibility that lives inside of you, and in that way you cheat both yourself and the world of your potential. The next Michelangelo could be sitting behind a Macbook right now writing an invoice for paperclips, because it pays the bills, or because it is comfortable, or because he can tolerate it. Do not let this happen to you.” So scribbled Bianca Sparacino in her first published work, How To Ruin Your Life Without Realising You Are. Here at Sybarite HQ we know we’re not the next Michelango but as teens we indulged in fantasies about working as a DJ, before stepping on the career treadmill and giving up on our dreams.