Pit-Stops-Around-The-World in 21 days
Tips to brighten your business trips
NB: This is a long letter with lots of images and links; please, open it in your browser or on a desktop if your email provider truncates it.
Since TJD was launched I’ve been trying to find the right format for my texts. This Wednesday’s “Goings-On” digest is going to be a bit different - instead of a general overview, I’ve dedicated it to events that I personally plan to visit on my upcoming Pit-Stops-Around-The-World trip (the name is tongue-in-cheek). By sharing this in detail I want to showcase how you can use the “Goings-On” digest for other purposes, like planning business trips.
A heartfelt welcome to my new subscribers! I hope you’ll enjoy seeing this newsletter in your inbox. If you don’t know what to expect from it, here is everything you need to get started. If you want to know more about me, check this page. Usually Wednesdays are dedicated to “Goings-On” digest - an overview of European art and culture events. February’s digest has been already published, divided into three parts covering Berlin, Geneva, Zurich, Milan, Copenhagen, Paris, Hamburg, Amsterdam, The Hague and London.
You might be wondering, is it even possible to stick to that kind of itinerary. Well, ever since COVID and my immigration, I prefer to spend 4-6 weeks of quality time at home without traveling, and then go on a tightly planned 2-3 weeks trip, combining business goals with personal affairs (in this case it is Berlin). I meet new clients (an art advisor is like a doctor - you should always meet in person first), finish some purchases for the clients I’m already running, and, most importantly, conduct field research.
Can’t miss the Holland Dance Festival this year. My friend Lisa Rozov is now a part of its team, and I know she needs a kind hug in the middle of this kind of storm. Being a huge fan of Crystal Pite, I’m going to check the From Here Now Far program, mentioned in Goings-On Feb. Part II.
Meeting a new client (fingers crossed!)
Pop up to the Arket store, since they don’t deliver to my home address. Hopefully I will pick up this bag and this phone case. I have been really into suede recently.
Pay a visit to the Frozen Fountain gallery - I might want to contract them for my upcoming project in Tel Aviv.
If I have enough time left, which seems unlikely, I’ll visit the Cosmism exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum.
Berlin is not the most exciting travel destination in February, but I have some major personal stuff to resolve that has been keeping me up at night for three months. I would travel anywhere for that…
In the evening I will definitely attend Katie Mitchell’s Written on Skin (mentioned in Goings-On Feb. Part I), which is just 90 minutes long and will allow me to dine at my favorite old spot, Dudu.
I hope to fit in a visit to the Spruth Magers gallery, into my schedule, so I can catch-up with colleagues on new acquisitions. God, if they take me to the storage room I’ll miss everything else planned…
Paris is a city where my fomo is at its worst. I have no clue how much time one should spend in this art sanctum to truly see everything. This time I’ll cheat on my regular choice of residence, Marais, and the morning walks in Jardin des Tuileries with a recently discovered left-bank Hotel Des Academies Et Des Arts, which also provides me with another great backdrop for my morning routine in Jardin des Luxembourg.
Three nights are going to be taken up by Simon Stone’s La Traviata, Ohad Naharin’s Sadeh21 and Dmitri Tcheniakov's Cosi fan Tutte (all three have been covered in Goings-On Feb. Part II). It’s been a challenge to book seats for performances in Grand Opera, but there is a life-hack - check the Bourse or Theater in Paris box office. I’ve spent only three days trying to find the right date.
As for exhibitions, my plans include Fashion on the Move at Palais Galleria, Anthony Gormley at Musee Rodin (from Goings-On Feb. Part II), Modern Paris, 1905-1925 at Petite Palais and Richard Avedon at Gagosian Gallery. Mark Rothko’s retrospective, which I’ve already seen, is still on and I’ll do my best to try and see it again.
Gallery-hopping definitely includes: Kamel Mennour, Dvir and Hauser & Wirth.
Paris is also one of the most seductive shopping destinations. Surely, I don’t want to carry tons of purchases throughout the rest of my trip, but there are some things I have to go for: another bottle of Dries van Noten’s parfum - this is time it is Voodoo Chili with major notes of rosemary and patchouli, a silk shirt and orange loose pants from Men’s SS24 collection, and this pouch which should fit all my essentials (phone, headphones, keys and cigarettes); two catalogs of past MAD’s expositions - Des Cheveux et des Poils and Annees 80 - Mode, Design et Graphisme en France; two pairs of sunglasses - one from a nice French brand Jimmy Fairly and another one, a perfect match of form and price, by the Scandinavian Chimi; I might not resist resist buying some candles and room sprays from Lola James Harper and I never know how the visit to the Merci store might end up…
I’ve never been to Brazil. I’ve tried visiting it a few times, but the world-changing events always got in my way. It first happened in the middle of April 2020, right in the midst of the entire globe being paralyzed with Covid-19. The second attempt was very recent, my arrival being scheduled for December 2023, but the consequences of October 7th prevented me from traveling or working. I'm gonna make it this time! Otherwise my dearest friend and very talented architect Olga Treivas will either kill me or never speak to me again – which is even worse.
She promised to carefully plan a tour through the many arts and crafts studios, galleries and collections. The list is in her hands, and I trust her enough to not check it (although I might do this soon…). And yet, I am very much looking forward to seeing Estúdio Campana, Casa de Vidro Lina Bo Bardi, São Paulo Museum of Modern Art, visiting the adorable ceramist Paula Juchem (and buying some of her cuties!), and meeting the people behind MADE (Mercado de Arte and Design). The list is huge, and I’ll have at least 10 full days to discover many treasures I can incorporate into the upcoming monster project I’m currently working on.
Frankly, I’m sure that by the time I reach this destination, my desire to return back home is going to be so strong that I would consider any possible excuse to cancel it or do whatever maneuver possible to escape. But most likely there would be no choice if my new client confirms their attendance of Frieze Los Angeles. This scenario would force me to find a way to reinvigorate myself and push through 3 days of the fair (~100 galleries). First of all, I’m very curious about this edition (as London’s one is getting weaker and weaker every year, and competitive Paris+Art Basel doesn’t give them many chances to recover easily). LA’s scene is mostly unknown for me and I plan to stick to the fair by watching out for these galleries 303 Gallery, Massimo De Carlo, Karma, Kasmin, Kaufman Repetto, Victoria Miro, Maureen Paley, Petzel and David Zwirner; I’ll also try visiting The Broad. The only way I’m going to get food is at the hotel, as there is no chance I’ll pull myself together for anything except art and negotiations.
Thanks to this newsletter, I’ve actually clarified a lot of the planning for myself! In other news, this week I switched from Storytel to Audible (never expected this to happen), watched the newly released Cristóbal Balenciaga (I think he’s rolling in the grave watching what Demna is doing to his brand), and added two memoirs to my reading list, both of which cover similar topics relationships and gender in very different ways: More. A Memoir of Open Marriage by Molly Roden Winter and Subculture Vulture. A Memoir in Six Scenes by Moshe Kasher.
My mind is already busy with packing (which I promise not to share in the next letter). I’ll talk to you soon - and don’t hesitate to share this with your friends if you like what you have just read.
Yours,
Miri
P.S. For full reports from trips and urgent entertainment advice, please, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram. Ciao!