No. 022 | January 2025

DRAX ISSUE 22

JANUARY 2025

THE FINE ART ISSUE FEATURING DRAX FINE ART

VON LIEBIG PRIZE PARTY GALLERY //

SWEET POTATO PANCAKES

DRAX CONTENTS

ISSUE 22

JANUARY 2025

02

FROM THE EDITOR

03

ART WORLD UPDATE FROM DRAX FINE ART

05

BUSINESSES

05

Bread Story

06

Drax Productions

07

von Liebig Prize Photo Gallery

09

Wellness+ Studio

10

SWEET POTATOES PANCAKES

01

FROM THE EDITOR layering pigments on a canvas. Every step forward builds upon Mrs. von Liebig’s legacy of meaning, innovation, and positive impact—work that we’re honored to carry into 2025, a year of exciting shifts and changes.

This month, we’re thrilled to turn the spotlight on Drax Fine Art, a branch of our organization that feels perfectly aligned with January’s spirit of renewal. Just as every great masterpiece begins with a single brushstroke, every transformative venture begins with a bold vision. Though some of our plans remain under wraps, we can promise that exciting developments are on the way—a foundation being laid for something remarkable, like the early underpainting of a grand composition. With spring just around the corner, we look forward to seeing these seeds blossom into vibrant works of art.

As you step into this new year, we invite you to take a moment to reflect. Whether you see January as a fresh slate or a continuation of an already colorful journey, may it bring you closer to your aspirations.

Happy New Year, Dearest Digest Readers!

Can you believe it? 2025 has arrived, and with it, the promise of new opportunities, fresh perspectives, and the chance to write another chapter in our collective story. It feels like only yesterday we were celebrating the start of 2024, and yet here we are—on the brink of Drax Digest’s second anniversary, just two months away! They say time speeds up as you get older, and while I always laughed that slightly terrifying notion away, experiencing it firsthand is something else entirely.

January is often considered a blank canvas—a pristine surface waiting to be filled with bold strokes and bright colors—a chance to start anew. Here at the Drax Group, we view it as both a reflection point and a moment to gaze on ahead. The past year brought its fair share of lessons and challenges, each one shaping and refining us, much like an artist layering

Keep an eye out for updates on Drax Fine Art—we can’t wait to share more with you in the months to come. Until then, enjoy this mini-issue of updates as we prepare for the bigger waves of change coming our way.

Until next month!

With love, light, and gratitude,

Eleonora Fogg EDITOR-IN-CHIEF eleonora@svvl.net

Publisher

Editor-In-Chief

Michael Ennis

Eleonora Fogg

Drax Digest is published monthly by Drax Publishing, LLC. Don’t hesitate to contact us with your ideas for future issues at eleonora@svvl.net!

02

DRAX FINE ART Art World Highlights of 2024: A Look Back and Glimpse Ahead

by Giavanna Mattera, Assistant Director at Drax Fine Art

Art Basel Miami Beach 2024: A Testament to the Contemporary Market Art Basel Miami Beach 2024 showcased the thriving art market with standout sales like David Hammons’ Untitled ($4.75M) at Hauser & Wirth—the fair’s top sale—and Georg Baselitz’s bronze sculpture (€2.5M) at Thaddaeus Ropac. Emerging talents shined, with Marlon Mullen’s works selling out ($20,000–$30,000 each) and Argentine gallery PIEDRAS debuting with Jimena Croceri’s Impossible Jewel series ($8,000–$10,000).

Women artists also excelled, including Joan Snyder’s painting ($500,000) and Zilia Sánchez’s sculptures ($85,000–$150,000). Samsung Art Store expanded the fair’s reach with a curated digital collection, blending innovation and accessibility.

Art Basel continues to connect blue-chip masterpieces with rising stars, cementing its global significance. We look forward to Basel's next adventure in Hong Kong, this spring.

03

DRAX FINE ART

Steve McQueen, Kim Yun Shin, and Joan Jonas: Artists Shaping 2024 Steve McQueen ranked 4th on the ArtReview Power 100, showcased Bass (2024) at Dia, premiered the war drama Blitz, and will curate Resistance at Turner Contemporary in 2025.

At 88, Kim Yun Shin gained global acclaim with her Add Two Add One, Divide Two Divide One series at Frieze L.A. and the Venice Biennale, solidifying her presence at major fairs like Art Basel.

Joan Jonas, a pioneer in video and performance art, was celebrated with a MoMA retrospective and the 2024 Nam June Paik Prize. Her innovative influence spanned Ahead art and fashion, cementing her legacy.

Art World Highlights of 2024: Aworks Lookand Back and Glimpse These three artists define the diverse forces driving contemporary art forward.

Celebrate the Art season with Wellness+ StudioThat at the official holiday of Madison Avenue on December 2024’s Viral Moments: Conversations Captivated From event Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana 7th, featuring strolling carolers, the chance to meet the MSK Caring Canines, and enjoying complimentary (Comedian) selling for $6.2 million to Banksy’s mural blitz across London, 2024 was rife with cultural hot beverages.

Nothighlights only will included this event get you Yeo’s in thedivisive holidayportrait spirit, but you’ll also be a good flashpoints.

Other Jonathan of King Charles IIIsupporting and Ivan Argote’s cause!

The Studio will donate 20% of the day’s sales to The Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer towering aluminum pigeon on the High Line, sparking debate and delight alike.

Center, which will support their pediatric programs.

What’s Ahead in 2025?

The Wellness+ Studio is excited to announce the official opening of the W+ Aesthetics. With the holidays approaching, what better gift to give than a luxurious facial? From cleaning your skin to extracting your As 2024 fades, the art world looks forward to new milestones, including McQueen’s Resistance and the pores, the Wellness+ team has all the bases covered. They even customize their aesthetic services based on ongoing fusion of technology and creativity. From blockbuster sales to emerging voices, the art market shows your skin concerns. Facial rejuvenation acupuncture is an enjoyable and natural alternative to fillers and no signs of slowing, promising another year of transformative innovation. botox, specifically designed to reduce wrinkles and inflammation while boosting collagen and elastin. By inserting delicate, hair-thin needles at specific facial points, this service helps increase energy flow throughout the face and neck, leaving you feeling refreshed and restored. Visit the Wellness+ Studio’s website to learn more about W+ Aesthetics, and make sure to book your appointments through info@wellnessplusstudio.com.

04

BUSINESSES

Bread Story It's not uncommon in France to come across baguettes on the way home already bitten, right? Have you ever thought they were sold like this? Of course not, they are sold whole baguettes. So why can't most people help it but right away eat the crunchy end part of it? Perhaps doing so is an expression of a deeper phenomenon. A little snack before the meal, that simple bite of bread on the way home is not gourmandise, nor impatience.

When we bite into "le quignon de pain" right outside of the bakery, it connects us secretly to the past, to childhood, and takes us back to shared meals around delicious bread. It teaches us the traditions of a well-done job, of the love of craftsmanship that is kept alive and transmitted when the baker puts his heart into work. His knowledge and learned skills will be then taught to his children. In the aroma of this piece of bread in our mouth, the past, and the future rub shoulders.

~ A Brief Story of le Quignon de Pain | A Bread Story

05

Drax Productions The recent release of Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín and starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic Maria Callas, has captured the world’s attention. The film, set in the final days of Callas’s life in 1970s Paris, is a heartfelt tribute to one of opera’s greatest legends. Jolie’s transformation into Callas, which involved months of vocal training and meticulous attention to detail, has been widely lauded as one of her finest performances, earning her critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination.

This resurgence of opera in mainstream culture feels particularly meaningful in the context of Drax Productions’ work on OPERATIC, our documentary series exploring the world of opera.

The renewed interest in opera, from stories like Maria to other media, signals a cultural moment where audiences are reconnecting with the drama, passion, and artistry of this timeless art form.

Maria Callas, known as “La Divina,” was not only a virtuoso but also a symbol of opera’s emotional depth and complexity. Her groundbreaking interpretations revitalized bel canto and cemented her as a transformative figure in the 20th century. Yet her life was far from idyllic— marked by fame, heartbreak, and personal struggles, including her highly publicized romance with Aristotle Onassis. Callas’s story encapsulates the human drama that makes opera so captivating.

As Maria reignites public fascination with Callas and the opera world, it aligns beautifully with the mission of OPERATIC—to showcase opera’s enduring relevance and its ability to resonate deeply with modern audiences. This cultural revival underscores the importance of storytelling in preserving and celebrating opera’s legacy, making it accessible to a new generation eager to discover its magic.

Left Page Top: Bread Story’s Baguettes Bottom: Chef Yann in Action Right Page Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in the new movie Maria

06

THE VON LIEBIG PRIZE 2024

PRIZE PHOTO GALLERY

WELLNESS+ STUDIO Start 2025 Strong with a Full Body Assessment!

Kick off the new year and prioritize your health and wellness with a visit to Wellness+ Studio.

Begin your journey with a Body Composition Analysis and Full Body Assessment to understand precisely where you stand and how to achieve your fitness and wellness goals best.

At Wellness+ Studio, we leverage cutting-edge technology like the InBody270 Body Composition Analysis Machine to provide a highly detailed and personalized understanding of your body’s current state. This advanced technology enables our trainers and practitioners to pinpoint areas of concern with precision, allowing us to tailor your wellness plan specifically to your unique needs.

The InBody270 performs analyses, including:

comprehensive

• Muscle-Fat Analysis: Understanding the balance between your weight, skeletal muscle mass, and body fat mass to provide a clear picture of your overall health.

• Segmental Lean Analysis: Offering an in-depth look at your fat-free mass in key areas—arms, legs, and trunk—this analysis evaluates whether you have sufficient fat-free mass in each segment and identifies potential imbalances between your limbs.

All this valuable data is provided on an easy-toread printout, giving you a snapshot of your body’s composition. Even better, the InBody machine stores your results, so you can track changes and monitor your progress over time.

Future assessments will showcase your improvements in a tangible and motivating way.

Don’t wait—start 2025 with clarity, confidence, and a plan. Book your Body Composition Analysis and Full Body Assessment today at Wellness+ Studio and take the first step toward your healthiest self!

Image of the InBody270 Machine Now at Wellness+ Studio

Recipe by Christopher Varroux-Renaud

Makes 4 Servings (About 8 Pancakes)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Ingrédients: 1 cup leftover mashed sweet potatoes 3/4 cup all purpose flour 1/2 cup milk 2 large eggs 2 TB packed light brown sugar 2 TB butter (plus more for cooking) 1 TB maple syrup (plus more for serving) 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon Pinch of salt Pinch of nutmeg

Directions: 1. Mix mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, brown sugar, and maple syrup in a bowl and whisk until combined.

2. Sprinkle flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder over the potato mixture and stir until smooth.

Add melted butter and mix until combined.

3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add a small pat of butter. Drop 1/3 cup portions of the sweet potato batter onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles form on top of the pancakes, 2-3 minutes, and then flip, cooking for additional 2 minutes. Repeat the process until all the batter has been used.

4. Serve warm with fresh berries, whipped cream, maple syrup, or a light dusting of powdered sugar. Enjoy! :)

10

NOW AVAILABLE AT WELLNESS+ STUDIO - WWW.WELLNESSPLUSSTUDIO.COM