Celebrity Life

It's that magical time of the year again: the Venice Film Festival 2021 - the oldest fest still running - is back to grace us with long-anticipated premieres, memorable red carpet outfits, grand entrances by boat, and everything in between.

This year, the line up is pretty impressive, with celebrated directors like Pedro Almodóvar and Ridley Scott presenting new features, documentaries on global stars like Led Zeppelin and Leonard Cohen making their debut, and, of course, a biopic-style film about royalty.

We can't wait for the lido to light up, in the meantime, here are five movies that we are looking forward to checking out at Venice Film Festival 2021.

Halloween Kills

The twelfth instalment of the cult Halloween series, directed by David Gordon Green, sees Nick Castle and Jamie Lee Curtis (who will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at Venice 2021) reprising their roles as Michael Myers and Laurie Strode respectively. The movie begins where the previous chapter ended and we can't wait to watch the next clash between Laurie and her family and Michael in Haddonfield.

Becoming Led Zeppelin

Venice 2021 will be a particularly good year for music documentaries. One that we are really looking forward to seeing is Becoming Led Zeppelin, a years-in-the-making project that chronicles the lives of each member and the legendary band's meteoric rise to stardom through rare footages and interviews with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.

Spencer

Looking at the trailer and images, Kristen Stewart's transformation into Princess Diana, looks remarkable. Pablo Larraín's take on the late princess' life focuses on the Christmas festivities of 1991, when Diana decides to leave Prince Charles. Now, the premise is interesting enough to hope that the latest biopic-esque movie on the Princess of Wales will have more luck than its predecessors.

Last Night in Soho

At first glance, Last Night in Soho looks remarkably stylish - and drenched in neon lights. The psychological thriller stars Anya Taylor-Joy (we love you), Matt Smith and Thomasin McKenzie, who plays an aspiring fashion designer that is mysteriously transported back to the 1960s in the body a singer named Sandy (played by Taylor-Joy).

Parallel Mothers

In Parallel Mothers (Madres paralelas in Spanish), Pedro Almodóvar explores womanhood and social dynamics through the stories of three mothers plays by Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Penélope Cruz and Milena Smit. Those in awe Almodóvar's distinct auteur style might be in for a treat.

The post 5 Movies We Can’t Wait to See at Venice Film Festival 2021 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Casanova’s island becomes a haven for art this year. Visitors to the iconic Belmond Cipriani in Venice are in for a treat as the luxurious hotel turns its historic gardens into a unique open-air art gallery to celebrate the 58^th Venice Biennale. 

The unassuming yet highly picturesque Giudecca Island was once the hunting grounds of Italy’s most prolific lovers. Now, it is the setting of the very exclusive and internationally acclaimed Belmond Cipriani. And it is amongst these romantic environs that the island-hotel is opening its elegant restaurants and extensive gardens to showcase a selection of celebrated artwork by world-renowned sculptors and artists. Given the rich diversity of the art on display, it’s clear that this oasis for art lovers encapsulates the theme of the Biennale: ‘May You Live in Interesting Times’. [inline_related_article article_id="40068"]

And interesting times they are, indeed. Especially in the Casanova Gardens where famous artists Roberto and Rodolfo Guarnieri will conduct alfresco art classes for guests at the hotel. These group or individual sessions will teach participants ancient painting techniques with a modern sensibility. This is quite the treat, considering the exalted status enjoyed by the Guarnieri brothers in art circles around the world. In fact, one of their stunning masterpieces, the sailing-inspired “Dreams of Regatta”, greets guests at the first point of embarkation onto the property.

The curated experience at the Cipriani is completely immersive, thanks to several sculptures and paintings that have been displayed in and around the hotel. These include artwork by Igor Mitoraj, Pablo Atchugarry, Julio Larraz and Enzo Fiore — four prominent artists whose works are part of the Contini Gallery, a highly reputed Venetian collection of galleries. The idea behind this spread-out arrangement is to inspire conversation and creative debate across every nook and corner of the property.

And so, the two huge canvases by Enzo Fiore, placed on either side of the library just off the lobby, express two perspectives of the Grand Canal. Made using natural materials such as moss, leaves, roots, cement, stones and insects, the paintings bring an evocative realism to the scenes.

Guests entering the Michelin-starred Oro restaurant will be greeted by the “Flower Storm, over Sappho’s House”, a canvas by Julio Larraz, which references Surrealism and the Spanish painting techniques of the 17th century. The eyes of the diners here may also be drawn to the lagoon outside and the strategically perched Ikaria, a striking two-winged bronze sculpture by Mitoraj. [inline_related_article article_id="45803"]

This affair with air continues beyond the walls of the Belmond Cipriani, as well. The Guidecca Art District — founded by curators Pier Paolo Scelsi and Valentina Gioia Levy — sprawls across the island, showcasing a range of contemporary works by several artists. Guests can take a stroll down the many streets and explore the projects, exhibitions and events planned around the theme: ‘Take care of your garden. Cultivating a new humanism’. Over 60 artists, including Yoko Ono, Kendell Geers, Kazuko Miyamoto and Moataz Nasr — will display their work here through 20 exhibitions.

All the artwork on display at the Belmond Cipriani can be purchased; prices are available on request.

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Works from the biennale that blur the boundaries between art and design.

The post 7 stunners from the 2019 Venice Biennale appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Works from the biennale that blur the boundaries between art and design.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Included are projects from Louis Vuitton's head of menswear Virgil Abloh and Spanish designer Nacho Carbonell.

The post Venice Biennale 2019: highlights from the world’s largest arts biennale appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Included are projects from Louis Vuitton's head of menswear Virgil Abloh and Spanish designer Nacho Carbonell.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

One of his latest artworks includes creating "mixtapes" for people who send in letters telling him about their life.

The post Venice Biennale artist Song-Ming Ang on creating art with sound appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

One of his latest artworks includes creating "mixtapes" for people who send in letters telling him about their life.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

The No More Free Space? showcase in Venice will feature the works of architects who made creative use of spaces in Singapore.

The post Space-defying Singapore architects to be celebrated at prestigious Venice Biennale appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The No More Free Space? showcase in Venice will feature the works of architects who made creative use of spaces in Singapore.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Prestige’s exclusive cover story on the hairdresser who became America’s most important artist.

The post Inside Artist Mark Bradford’s LA Studio appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Southeast Asia scores both hits and misses at the 57th Venice Biennale — one more so than the other

The post Venice Biennale 2017: Southeast Asia represented by pavilions from Singapore, Indonesia and more appeared first on LUXUO.