'Tis the Party Season
Photos: zVg/GSTAADLIFE
Events at Local Galleries and Private Chalets Shine
Chiharu Shiota, left, and Patricia Low
Left to right, Mona Khashoggi, Prince Mubarak of Kuwait, IID Director Homayra Sellier
The 2015–2016 winter season is off to a superb start with a bevy of highprofile gatherings and glamorous soirées held in January. Two events stood out in particular.
ambience for a hotel lobby or other distinctive room.
inal piano solo version of his Rhapsody in Blue.
“Keys are familiar and very valuable things that protect important people and spaces in our lives,” said Shiota. “They also inspire us to open the door to unknown worlds…"
At the party, royals Princess Léa of Belgium, King Fouad II of Egypt, and Prince Mubarak of Kuwait were just a few of the distinguished guests present.
After a successful evening, the installation was bought by art historian and collector Georges Marci. Marci (see GSTAADLIFE’s 18 December 2015 interview) founded Chalet Saqqarah, the first gallery in Gstaad, bringing important art to our region.
The festival, founded by Princess Caroline Murat (known professionally as Caroline Haffner), celebrated its 10th anniversary this year and brought a world premiere, international prize-winning musicians, and stars of the stage and screen to the Saanenland. It runs annually from Christmas to New Year’s and welcomes the best in both established and up-and-coming artists our region.
BY JANUARIA PIROMALLO
Shiota at Patricia Low Contemporary 4000 keys, a red grid, an elaborate entanglement of red wool, a crossing of strings, and a week of work–what is the tie that binds these things? Chiharu Shiota. The artist is one of the most acclaimed of the moment; the Japanese Pavillion at the Venice Biennale saw crowds waiting hours in line for just glimpse at her colourful work. Now Shiota’s art is in Gstaad at Patricia Low Contemporary. Under a red rain of ancient keys and people from around the world, a gourmet buffet was served in the company of the artist. A delicious pumpkin soup with mascarpone foam and canapés de fois gras were prepared by L'Atelier d'en Bas, bringing a touch of the Pays-d’Enhaut to the event’s international guests. Each key holds memories, says the artist, as she hung them as talismans above the heads of passing visitors. Hoteliers take heed: Shiota’s custom work can be installed in most spaces, providing a unique
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NYMF Party with Homayra Sellier Homayra Sellier, founder of the celebrated local charity Innocence in Danger, hosted a fabulous affair at her home in early January. The evening featured several royal guests of honour, as well as musicians from the New Year Music Festival in Gstaad, whose Gershwin concert 8 January she sponsored. The concert, held at the Grand Hotel Park, was truly magical. Musicologist C. Agathe Amzallag gave a fascinatingly detailed account of George Gershwin’s life and work. French-American pianist François-Joël Thiollier played with a rare combination of logic and emotion, bringing to life some of Gershwin’s most moving compositions including the orig-
LIFESTYLE // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 1 // JANUARY 29, 2016
Pianist François-Joël Thiollier