J Balvin to be the first-ever cultural ambassador of Hirshhorn Museum

A SUMMARY OF THE MOST EXCITING ART NEWS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

While we focus on Indian art, we can’t obviously function in a vacuum. It’s a small world and everything is connected, especially on the web. So, let’s train our spotlight across the world map to see what’s going on — from art trends to socio-political issues to everything that affects the great aesthetic global consciousness. Or, let’s just travel the world and have some fun!

J Balvin to become Hirshhorn Museum\’s first-ever cultural ambassador

The Colombian pop star J Balvin has become the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden’s first cultural ambassador. In a move designed to boost youth engagement, Balvin will work with the museum to reinvigorate its social media presence. It’s a push that aims to reach new and diverse audiences on a global basis. “Balvin will engage in our award-winning educational programs on and beyond our campus in Washington D.C.,” said Melissa Chiu, Hirshhorn director, in a statement. “Our collaboration, the first of its kind, stands to energize global audiences by connecting them with the most exciting artists of our time.” Specifically, the Latin Grammy Award-winner will be tasked working on English and Spanish language original short videos for Hirshhorn Eye, the museum’s smartphone guide, and taking part in ArtLab, its maker-space for creatives aged 13 to 19. More generally, Balvin will work to advance the Hirshhorn’s public art education programs. Read more at Pagesix.

Phillips 20th century and contemporary art evening sale nets $139 million

The second night of the New York auction season brought in a fairly tepid sale of 20th century and contemporary art at Phillips, with a total net sale of $139 million. Don and Mera Rubell were spotted in the room, which had an early air of optimism as the evening had the potential to be the auction house’s most lucrative sale of all time, with a pre-sale estimate of $118.5 million to $165.3 million. Two lots were withdrawn and 17 pieces were guaranteed by third parties, and two had in-house guarantees. This potential for profit came mostly due to the consignment of an untitled piece by Cy Twombly from his Bacchus Psilax Mainomenos series, eight paintings that were completed in the year 2005, five years before the artist’s death. The works all use blood-red pigment splashed in unrelenting loops, combining feelings of revelry and violence. The piece sold for a decent $42 million on its $35 million to $45 million estimate (with an in-house guarantee), and the room applauded when the gavel finally hit. Details on Art Newspaper.

Attack on Gustav Klimt painting

?️EILT: Klimt\’s \”Tod und Leben\” im Leopold Museum mit Öl überschüttet?️

Menschen der Letzten Generation haben heute im Leopold Museum das Klimt-Gemälde \”Tod und Leben\” mit Öl überschüttet. Neue Öl- und Gasbohrungen sind ein Todesurteil für die Menschheit. pic.twitter.com/4QKAklB9Af

— Letzte Generation Österreich (@letztegenAT) November 15, 2022

Two climate activists poured oil over a Gustav Klimt painting in Vienna today. The petroleum-like substance was emptied on to Death and Life (1908) at the Leopold Museum from what appears to be a hot water bottle; the protesters then attempted to glue themselves to the wall. In a video posted on Twitter, a security guard can be seen dragging one of the activists away before they can attach themselves. The activists are part of the group Letzte Generation, who last month in Germany targeted the world’s most expensive Monet: Haystacks (1890), at the Museum Barberini, in Potsdam. Their actions are part of a growing climate protest movement in Europe involving demonstrations staged at museums and involving prized works of art. Demands from similar groups such as Just Stop Oil in the United Kingdom and the Italian group Ultima Generazione have included an end to new oil and gas projects. Likewise, the demonstrators at the Leopold could be heard calling for a stop to fossil fuel projects. “New oil and gas wells are a death sentence for humanity,” they wrote on Twitter. On the Austrian oil, gas and petrochemical company OMV\’s website it says: \”OMV has been a proud partner of the Leopold Museum for many years.\” Read more on Art Newspaper.