Last week’s Art Basel Miami Beach saw Oettinger Davidoff AG presenting the new artist studios for the Davidoff International Art Residency and the announcement of the next Dominican artist to take part in the Art Residency and a new recipient of Art Grants.
These programmes are part of the Davidoff Art Initiative, which was launched in 2012 with the mission of supporting contemporary art and artists in the Caribbean and Dominican Republic and fostering cultural engagement between the Caribbean region and the rest of the world.
As Associate Partner of Art Basel for the third consecutive year, Davidoff Cigars operated a VIP hospitality lounge in the Collectors Lounge as well as an outdoor lounge in the Botanical Garden.
 |
Davidoff’s VIP hospitality lounge in the Collectors Lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach |
“Once again, we return from Art Basel in Miami Beach with new experiences, new contacts, new friendships, and perhaps most importantly, having further solidified the visibility and reputation of our brand in the eyes of cultural aficionados from all over the world,” said Oettinger Davidoff AG CEO and member of the Board Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard.
“There is really no event quite like Art Basel Miami Beach, with its enormous attendance from North America, South and Central America, Europe and even Asia, and its vast press coverage. In this important and intense gathering of high net-worth individuals and opinion-makers, it is heartening to know that the Davidoff Art Initiative now counts as one of the most innovative and respected art initiatives, not only in our own industry, but among luxury lifestyle brands worldwide,” he added.
New artist studios for the Davidoff International Art Residency
In collaboration with Altos de Chavón School of Design, the International Art Residency will host the first five international artists at the newly built residency facilities in La Romana, Dominican Republic, from 18 January to 5 April 2015.
They will work in new, custom-built artist studios designed by Costasur Dominicana SA Director of Planning and Design Adolfo Despradel. The maquette of the new studios was displayed in the Davidoff Cigars Lounge in the Botanical Garden at Art Basel Miami Beach.
 |
The Davidoff International Art Residency Studios in Altos de Chavón |
 |
Oettinger Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard (middle) with two of the five artists selected for the Davidoff International Art Residency, Cathleen Mooses (left) and Soledad Salamé |
Nominated by a global network of art professionals and selected by the International Advisory Council, the five artists in the inaugural group are: Alia Farid, Nuria Montiel, Cathleen Mooses, Mathilde Rosier, and Soledad Salamé.
In addition to pursuing their own work during the residency, the artists will have opportunities to engage with the Dominican cultural community, as well as with students and residents of Altos de Chavón and the neighbouring region.
Davidoff Art Residency in Beijing, China
Engel Leonardo will be the sixth artist to take part in the Art Residency. He will be in residence at the Red Gate Gallery Residency in Beijing, China, from 1 May through 30 June 2015.
Leonardo, who hails from Baní, Dominican Republic, works across sculpture, installation, site-specific interventions and ready-mades to address issues related to climate change, nature, traditional crafts, architecture and popular culture of the Caribbean.
 |
Engel Leonardo’s work entitled Antillas, 2013 |
“This residency programme will allow me to do research about the production of objects in China, from traditional craft practices to industrial objects of mass production,” said Leonardo.
“Industrialisation, globalisation and the integration of international trends have significantly impacted the local lifestyle and traditions of the Caribbean, and they have altered the physical environment as well. My research will be documented through drawings and photographs that will create a taxonomy of Chinese objects to be compared with the imported objects typically used in the Caribbean,” he added.
Davidoff Art Grants
Davidoff Art Initiative has selected Tilting Axis as the recipient of the next grant. Tilting Axis is a regional meeting based in Barbados aimed at promoting the exchange of artists and professionals working within the visual arts communities across the wider Caribbean region.
Tilting Axis: Within and Beyond the Caribbean – Shifting Models of Sustainability and Connectivity will take place 24-25 February 2015 in Barbados.
Davidoff Limited Art Edition 2014 by Quisqueya Henríquez
The first Limited Art Edition cigar boxes were launched during Art Basel in Hong Kong in May 2014. These editions were also available in Davidoff’s Lounge inside the Collectors Lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach.
Featuring original commissioned artwork by acclaimed Caribbean artist Quisqueya Henríquez, two Limited Edition cigar cases were produced, and stocked with custom-made cigars blended exclusively for the edition.
In addition, the artist was invited to create a limited run of 50 Collectors Edition, which includes the special edition of cigar case, as well as an original artist’s print from the series of images developed for the project. Part of all sales generated by the Limited Editions are dedicated to supporting the Davidoff Art Initiative.
Furthermore, building on the success of the special-edition collaboration, several new works by Quisqueya Henríquez were on view in the Davidoff Collectors Lounge at Art Basel Miami Beach, from 3-7 December 2014.
