Oettinger Davidoff AG, an Associate Partner of Art Basel which took place in Miami Beach this week, has announced major plans for the Davidoff Art Initiative.
The Davidoff Art Initiative was established to support contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean, strengthen art organisations in the Dominican Republic, share knowledge and expertise about contemporary art, and foster cultural engagement between the Caribbean and the rest of the world.
The company is working toward these goals through four global programme areas: the Davidoff Art Residency, Davidoff Art Dialogues, Davidoff Art Grants, and Davidoff Art Editions.
At Art Basel Miami, held from 5-8 December, the company revealed the first Davidoff Limited Art Edition artist, the next Dominican artist to take part in the Davidoff Art Residency, the two new recipients of Davidoff Art Grants, and the evolution of plans for an international residency in the Dominican Republic.
Davidoff Limited Art Edition
In a bid to extend the reach of contemporary art to its products and environments worldwide, Davidoff Cigars invited the first Caribbean contemporary artist, Quisqueya Henríquez, to create a series of artwork for the inaugural Davidoff Limited Art Edition.
Inspired by her visit to the Davidoff factory in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, Henríquez created 50 special Collector’s Editions comprising original and signed prints of her artwork alongside limited edition Davidoff cigar boxes.
The Davidoff Limited Art Edition will be unveiled at the Davidoff Lounge in the Collectors Lounge during Art Basel in Hong Kong in May 2014.
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(L-R) Artists Pascal Meccariello and Quisqueya Henríquez celebrate their Davidoff Art Initiative collaborations with Oettinger Davidoff AG President and CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard |
Davidoff Art Residency
Dominican artist Pascal Meccariello will be the third artist to take part in the Davidoff Art Residency, in Beijing, China, in collaboration with the Red Gate Gallery Residency from 1 May through 30 June 2014.
The Davidoff Art Residency seeks to help emerging and mid-career Dominican and Caribbean artists develop their skills, make connections within global artistic networks, earn exposure for their work, and share their expertise with others in the visited region.
The Davidoff Art Initiative is also putting together an international Art Residency programme in La Romana, Dominican Republic, in collaboration with the Altos de Chavón School of Design. The Initiative is planning to build new studios for the visiting artists at the school, in preparation for the launch of the residencies, in winter 2015.
Davidoff Art Grant
In addition, the company has awarded the Davidoff Art Grants to two recipients: ARC Magazine of Saint Vincent & Grenadines and Centro de la Imagen of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
“With the Davidoff Art Grants, we have an opportunity to offer specialised support to cultural institutions in the Dominican Republic, tailored to the needs of each organisation,” said Oettinger Davidoff AG President and CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard. “Davidoff has a role in ensuring the sustainability of these organisations and by extension, the cultural community of the Dominican Republic. This is the core aim of the Davidoff Art Initiative.”
Davidoff at Art Basel Miami Beach
As Associate Partner of Art Basel for a second consecutive year, Davidoff operated a VIP hospitality lounge in the Collectors Lounge featuring a walk-in humidor and a master cigar roller from the Dominican Republic.
An additional outdoor Cigar Lounge was situated in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, offering guests “a relaxed venue for discussion, reflection, and enjoyment of a fine cigar”. Part of the sales generated are dedicated to supporting the Davidoff Art Initiative.
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As Associate Partner of Art Basel for a second consecutive year, Davidoff operated a VIP hospitality lounge and an outdoor Cigar Lounge in the Miami Beach Botanical Garden |
About the Davidoff Art Initiative
In 2012, Davidoff became an Associate Partner of Art Basel for its shows in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. In conjunction with taking that step toward a closer involvement with the world of art, the company also launched the Davidoff Art Initiative in the same year. Its ambition is to make “a lasting contribution to the contemporary art field”, in particular in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region, where many of its products are cultivated and crafted.
The Davidoff Art Initiative comprises four global programme areas: the Davidoff Art Residency, Davidoff Art Dialogues, Davidoff Art Grants, and Davidoff Art Editions.
The centrepiece of the initiative is the Davidoff Art Residency, which offers residency opportunities for Dominican and Caribbean artists in selected leading artist residency programmes worldwide, as well as for international artists in the Dominican Republic.
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