September 20th – 23th, 2018
It’s the one art fair in the region that doesn’t need to worry about censorship, but it’s also becoming quite the darling of the global art community. “This region is hot now in Milan and at Art Basel.” That’s how Laure Hauteville, Beirut Art Fair’s Founder and Director, put it recently during a press conference at Le Gray in Beirut, the partner hotel hosting a series of Beirut Art Fair related social events.
Over 70 galleries are taking part this year, with an emphasis on emerging artists, including a fresh new crop of African artists. This 9th edition also focusses on photography with Across Boundaries, an extensive collection of Lebanese photographs spanning from the early 1900s until today, sourced from both private and public collections. “Many of these come from professional photographers who used to sell their photos to media outlets,” according to Tarek Nahas, a passionate collector who is behind the exhibit.
Though Lebanon has plenty of legitimate artwork from the 20th century, BAF leans heavily towards contemporary art with special areas like Revealing by SGBL dedicated to up-and-coming artists, and Art by Bankmed, showcasing 40 KAWS figurines - one of the most important collections of works by this American artist, a New York painter and designer whose real name is Brian Donelly.
Over 32,000 patrons and collectors are expected this year, making this the biggest BAF yet.
Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
August 21st – 26th, 2018
Some call it the Kentucky Derby of car shows. Indeed, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the most important event in the world for car collectors. Held annually on the 18th fairway at California’s Pebble Beach Golf Links, it’s where you’ll see multimillion-dollar racing Ferraris side-by-side with one-of-a-kind state cars owned by the likes of Winston Churchill and Kaiser Wilhelm.
This time around, there’s also a highly anticipated 952 Porsche 356 America roadster, one of only sixteen ever made and eleven that still exist. Restored by North Carolina-based Road Scholars (who count Ralph Lauren and Jerry Seinfeld as clients), the 356 was built by Ferdinand Porsche and his father and intended to be a lightweight bullet- with its thin aluminum body and hollow doors. Post-restoration (which can cost up to 600,000 USD and take up to 3½ years) this fire-red one is valued at “well over 2 million USD,” according to Cam Ingram, one of the car shop’s owners. If it wins best in class in Pebble Beach, that number could rise even higher. Be forewarned: this is the kind of fun that’s actually serious business.
Monaco Yacht Show
September 26th – 29th, 2018
Set in Port Hercules, the only deep-water port in the Principality of Monaco and one that has been used since ancient times, the Monaco Yacht Show is Europe's biggest in-water display of superyachts over 20m. It’s where suppliers, builders, designers, brokers, subcontractors, lawyers and advisors converge for a few days of networking, promoting and, of course, plenty of socializing. This year, you’ll be privy to a smorgasbord of over 120 of the world’s most outstanding boats, including 40 new launches.
This show’s Big Kahuna, though, is Lürssen’s 5.2-metre Kismet , a custom motor yacht with room for 12 guests across seven staterooms and for 28 crew members. It’s one of the largest yachts available for charter and a fine example of the builder’s capacity, even though Lürssen has announced it’s intent to build smaller, more intimate and efficient boats (see our story in the Vehicles section).
There’s nothing small about MYS, however: last year’s event drew an estimated €4.5 billion value in yachts in Monaco, and there’s no doubt this year will be even bigger.
