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Signature - English - December 2010
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EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY
DECEMBER 2010
H A P P Y S P O R T C O L L E C T I O N
ACCESSORIES
insideExclusive
CHRISTOPHER CHONG ON AMOUAGE’S LATEST
OFFERING
28
INTERVIEWHH SAYYID TARIK BIN
SHABIB AL SAID ON ‘THE JOURNEY’ AND
PHOTOGRAPHY
KARA ROSS AND HER LOVE AFFAIR WITH GEMSTONES
18
24
BON APÉTITMICHAEL AND IEVA HORUP UNWIND AT
THE BEACH RESTAURANT, THE CHEDI MUSCAT FOR A LEISURELY BRUNCH
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Up Front
Event
Collectible
Feature
F1 Calendar
Art
Music
Retrospective
Cars
People
Beauty
Technology
Last Word
08
15
16
22
36
38
44
52
56
62
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FOCUSTHE NOBLE ARABIAN HORSE
GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH LYNNE M. GLEASON
EXPERIENCE THE LUXURY
DECEMBER 2010
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Oscar Wilde, in his 1889 essay The Decay of Lying, said that “Life imitates Art far more than Art
imitates Life.” According to Wilde, such anti-mimesis (a philosophical position that is the direct
opposite of mimesis) “results not merely from Life’s imitative instinct, but from the fact that the self-
conscious aim of Life is to find expression, and that Art offers it certain beautiful forms through which
it may realise that energy.”
Be it paintings, photographs or even the new-age digital fusions, they are all mirrors of life around us.
And, if you were to look at certain artworks you’d probably realise that they have been instrumental in
laying the foundation for many a life’s nuances. To quote, George Bernard Shaw, who in his preface
to Three Plays, writes, “I have noticed that when a certain type of feature appears in painting and is
admired as beautiful, presently becomes common in nature; so that the Beatrices and Francescas in
the picture galleries of one generation come to life as the parlor-maids and waitresses of the next.”
Whether art is a direct reflection of life as we know it or life takes its inspiration from art is debatable.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that both art and life are intertwined expressions of what we call
human existence.
In this issue, we cover four different artists who are experts in their art form. We have His Highness
Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said who expresses his individuality through his photographs. We also
have Lynne Gleason who finds her muse in the Arabian horse and captures its glory in her artworks
and we have David Willis who is probably best known for his movement and light form as he captures
people in markets, camel races and horse riding in their natural form. Finally, we have Antonio
Najarro, who uses the performing art platform, to bring forth the magic that is Flamenco.
They are master artists who are inspired by the life around them and translate those inspirations into
artistic compositions. And, their art is such that it has the power to influence lives.
Either ways, is it a visually and spiritually strong marriage, that of art and life.
See you next issue…
Art of The Matter
To view the e-magazine log on to www.oeronline.com or e-mail us at [email protected] to get your e-magazine
28
THROUGH THE
LOOKING GLASSHH Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said on ‘the journey’ of photography. As told to Deepa Rajan
Car Casse (Al Hail, Oman)
Desert in the sky (at 4,500m, Atacama, Chile)
INTERVIEW
Someone once said, “To
take photographs means to
recognise – simultaneously
and within a fraction of a
second – both the fact itself
and the rigorous organisation
of visually perceived forms
that give it meaning. It is
putting one’s head, one’s
eye and one’s heart on the
same axis.”
When one looks at the images
captured by His Highness
Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al
Said, one gets the impression
that here is a photographer
who cares enough to put
his head, eye and heart on
the same axis. Sayyid Tarik,
Director of Tawoos LLC and
Renaissance SAOG, has been
capturing the hues of life
for the last 30 years and this
is the first time that he has
chosen to share the results
of his passion with the rest
of the world in an exhibition
at Bait Muzna gallery. All the
proceeds of this exhibition
have been earmarked for the
Environment Society of Oman
(ESO).
Titled ‘The Journey’, this
exhibition is not just a
collection of images. In fact,
one would not hesitate to call
them moving pictures for each
image frames the movements
in nature and translates them
into moving compositions that
narrate a story.
Sayyid Tarik talks to
Signature on The Journey and
photography…
What is your exhibition, called
‘The Journey’, representative
of? To what are you referring
to in the title?
“The Journey is what we do
with our lives, the memories
we accumulate, which in turn
shape our view of the world.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson once
said that in photography, the
smallest thing can be a great
subject. The little, human
detail can become a Leitmotiv.
What would you say is your
leitmotiv in your photographs
and why?
“I must admit I had to look
up ‘Leitmotiv’. Using the
definition, ‘a leading motive’,
I would respond that over the
years my motives change, in
fact they sometimes change
during a single session. I may
be carrying my camera with
no preconceived idea of what I
might shoot, then as I interpret
the scene around me, possible
compositions flash through
my mind, I try to imagine
how things would look
through the lens rather than
actually limit my vision by
peering through a viewfinder.
By transforming the scene
from its 3D reality into a 2D
image you have to imagine
everything being flattened
and stacked. Using a lens
with powerful magnification
actually reduces the
distances perceived between
clearly visible objects in
the foreground middle and
background. You can create
a sort of collage and make
some aspects more prominent.
This deconstruction process
amongst other things
motivates me.
“As for subjects that motivate
me, I’d rather not become a
specialist, I would like to take
more people shots, but need
to work on the skills needed to
put people at ease and extract
from them a look that would
later inspire a story.”
Is there a difference in the
perception of a photograph if
it is taken in black and white,
as opposed to colour? Which
do you prefer, and why?
“Nowadays, I sometimes find
myself removing the colour
from an image If I feel that
the colour is a distraction. I
realize however that if you
are going to shoot in Black
and White, you should make
that commitment up front, so
that you think in black and
white. I have a preference for
colour, but I retain respect
for black and white and the
statements that can be made
in that medium. It can be
used to change the mood or
emphasise or de-emphasise
an aspect of the composition.
Has something been lost in
both professional and amateur
photography with the move
to fully digital cameras and
reproduction? Did it require a
different kind of person and
commitment to develop your
own photos using chemical
solutions and dark rooms?
“My own youthful dark
room tinkering was driven
by novelty, curiosity but
mainly the ability to take
CONCEPT & CREATIONMAYANK SINGHDEEPA RAJAN
CONTENTRANA ALAWNEH
GHALIB ABDULLAH AL FORIFATMA AL ARAIMI
MYSSAA AL HINAIAHSUSHMITAEXPERTS
Travel - BRUCE STEWART, ANNE COLBYFashion - NATASHA LUNN, NADIA FOUZI
Finance & Investments - K. L PRASAD ART
Sr. Art DirectorSANDESH S. RANGNEKAR
Art DirectorMINAAL G. PEDNEKAR
Designer MARYAM AL SARMI
Photographers RAJESH RAJAN
SATYADAS C NARAYANANMOTASIM AL BALUSHIPRODUCTION HEADGOVINDRAJ RAMESH
ADVERTISING & MARKETINGBusiness Head
MIMI DEBAdvertising Manager
CHANDNI MANIARAssistant Advt. Manager - FAREEDA S AL BALUSHI
CORPORATEChief Executive - SANDEEP SEHGAL
Executive Vice President - ALPANA ROYVice President - RAVI RAMAN
Senior Business Support ExecutiveRADHA KUMAR
Business Support ExecutiveZUWAINA SAID AL RASHDI
DISTRIBUTED WITH OER by
United Media Services LLCSignature is an OER presentation published monthly and released in the first week of every month. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of
the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining
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An
PresentationCopyright © 2010 United Press & Publishing LLC
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from an image If I ge If I feel that h tfeel that
the colour is a dis on Itraction. I
realize however that if you
are going to shoot in Black
and White, you should make
that commitment up front, so
that you think in black and
white. I have a preference for
colour, but I retain respect
for black and white and the
statements that can be made
in that medium. It can be
used to change the mood or
emphasise or de-emphasise
an aspect of the composition.
Has something been lost in
both professional and amateur
photography with the move
to fully digital cameras and
reproduction? Did it require a
different kind of person and
commitment to develop your
own photos using chemical
solutions and dark rooms?
“My own youthful dark
room tinkering was driven
by novelty, curiosity but
mainly the ability to take
62
Realistic Reflections REALIST ARTIST DAVID WILLIS’ PAINTINGS WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION AT THE BAIT AL BARANDA MUSEUM THIS MONTH. SUSHMITA SARKHEL CAUGHT UP WITH HIM...
It is popular belief that art imitates life. And in the case of David Willis’ works, nothing could be further from that truth. You need only view the images that Willis creates to understand the admiration and respect that he holds for the cultures and traditions of Oman and the
rest of the world. Resonating with realism, Willis’ paintings speak of life, movement and light. And although his prime
focus is on paintings, Willis also has a passion for wildlife photography and filmmaking. Willis has been living in Oman for a good 24 years and
has been greatly influenced by Omani traditions. He works with a variety of media including oils, watercolours and graphic art and is greatly
revered among the local community. This month, after 20 years Willis will be holding a Retrospective Exhibition
of some of this works till date. Curious to know more about the man behind the extraordinary paintings, we met up with him for a chat. Beginnings“I’m a self taught artist and I took up painting as a hobby around my home in Australia.
On a journey to Europe where I painted in several countries I found that people actually wanted to buy my work. So it
sort of carried on from there. My travels took me to India and Nepal and I did paintings on the way. When I returned to Australia and had a small exhibition in my home town and I managed to sell most of
the paintings. Then I decided to take a trip to Papua New Guinea. I went there for one month and stayed for two years. By that time, I had started to paint people as well
as landscapes and my works were popular amongst the
PEOPLE
expatriate community there who wanted to take something back with them when they left. From there I went to Spain, North and South America, and
Africa. It was in Kenya that my wife and I met someone travelling who mentioned Oman. I had never heard of Oman before and was keen on visiting. I made a visit here in the late 70s but it wasn‘t until 1986 that my family and I came to Oman to live. And we’ve been here ever since.”
An artist’s life“As an artist in Oman life is really good. Oman has a lot of variety. I don’t just specialise in one thing, I like to paint many different subjects and use various techniques like oil
and watercolour painting and graphic art. As I am a realistic painter and like to paint traditional and natural things
I have found that Oman has so many interesting things to paint. Oman and all the world is changing, but nonetheless there’s still enough subjects that interest me to paint here.”
Art is life “Since I haven’t gone to art school or studied under a teacher I’m not steeped in modern art and not influenced
by a teacher. I started painting because I like to see and capture the natural world, the light and the colours. So it
wasn’t the influence of going to art galleries or going to art school. Of course, I learnt a lot by looking at other people’s work and also learnt during my travels. I am still learning.
Actually I have done most of the paintings of my life in Oman. When I paint I try and capture the essence of the place and I think people buy my works because of this. Probably what I’m best known for is movement and light, like people in markets, camel races and horse riding.”“Lately, I have also been doing a lot of
videoing and films. My son and I were involved in making a film on Arabian leopards. We
have always been interested in wildlife and when I heard there were leopards in Oman,
we decided to go down south to Dhofar and try and photograph them.”
Getting retrospective“I have been thinking about having an exhibition for years but couldn’t gather enough paintings together. I decided to
have a retrospective exhibition instead. So we’ll be showcasing some of the paintings that I have done over the years before
I came to Oman, as well as a few recent paintings I’ve done here. Some of my patrons have also very generously offered to lend the paintings for the exhibition. Hence there won’t be
that many paintings for sale.”
ESSENCE OF LILIES
Here’s a fragrance just right for the Calvin Klein Beauty woman: Authentic,
accomplished and inspired! A new interpretation of a lily – a neo-lily – is the
heart and soul of Calvin Klein Beauty. A sophisticated flower that is the essence of femininity, the lily is also radiant and
powerful. Bringing the neo-lily to life, ambrette seeds enhance the spicy warmth,
timeless jasmine elevates the floral signature, and a trail of cedarwood brings
a vibrant and magnetic beauty to the dry down.
VANILLA MOMENTSGuerlain presents Shalimar Ode a la Vanille, a limited edition fragrance. It is the celebration of sensuality, emotion and forbidden pleasure. An Oriental tale created in 1925, Shalimar symbolises the longest olfactory celebration of love and desire. In this creation, Thierry Wasser showcases two vanillas that each illustrate two personalities like two characters who are very different yet wonderfully complementary and harmonious. A Mayotte tint like a light and transparent veil of vanilla. A Madagascar absolute for a powerful and enchanting base that is almost animal-like and truly carnal. The Guerlain range is available at Capital Store.
8
UPFRONT
THE LATEST AND OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY…
A TIME FOR CHEERAND JOY. FESTIVE SEASONAT THE PALACE.
This festive season, the Palace will welcome you and your family to a magical
experience.
The team of chefs is preparing all the traditional festive treats and celebratory
dishes to welcome in the New Year; and with some magic touches as the lobby
and restaurants will be decorated in seasonal style.
For more information, please [email protected] call 24 764 000.
Do you l i v e an In t e rCon t in en ta l l i f e ?
AL BUSTAN PALACE
MAGIC POTIONCHANEL gives us a new, essential key to unlock the magic of N°5 – the magic of wearing perfume – with two new creations: an Eau de Toilette spray and a set of three perfumed soaps. The fragrance’s striking top notes are dominated by Ylang-Ylang from the Comoros, Neroli and heightened by Aldehydes. The heart opens around scents of Rose and Jasmine, and then gives way to vibrating notes of Sandalwood, trailed by lingering waves of Vanilla and Bourbon Vetiver. The elegant set of three soft-pink soaps, delicately perfumed with the scent of N°5 produce a creamy, generous lather that gently cleanses the skin and leaves it soft, supple and deliciously fragrant.
10
UPFRONT
The 2010 version of the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar chronograph differs in subtle ways from its predecessors. It relies on the traditional columnwheel construction for controlling the start, stop, and reset commands, but instead of a lever for a horizontal wheel clutch, it actuates the clamp of a vertical disk clutch. Like the first 2006 model, this also has a round case in 950 platinum with an anti-reflection coated sapphire-crystal glass and a sapphire-crystal display back. With a case diameter of 40.5 millimeters, it definitely ranks among Patek Philippe’s larger timepieces. Its stately visual presence is amplified by the tangible weight of the platinum case.
STATELY LOOK
12
UPFRONT
CRAFTED EXCELLENCE
The Girard-Perregaux Manufacture has for long been one of the jewels in the crown of Swiss Haute Horlogerie. It has succeeded in preserving and developing its unique expertise over a period
of more than two centuries. Some of the most innovative designs and movements first created by Constant Girard-Perregaux in
the 19th century, like the Tourbillon with three gold Bridges, are still being made today. These authentic masterpieces, which are forged from noble materials by the hands of expert watchmakers,
and other Girard-Perragaux collections are now exclusively available at Khimji’s Watches, Shatti Al Qurum.
A LUXURIOUS RIDEThe new Audi A8 demonstrates the brand’s proverbial ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ with its light aluminum body, its powerful and highly efficient engines, the further improved MMI operating system, new driver assistance systems, the full LED headlights and an elegant interior with a craftsman’s level of workmanship. The A8 L quattro with a long wheelbase sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. It has been launched as a 372hp 4.2L V8 with eight-speed tiptronic and quattro four-wheel drive, but will be available with further engines in 2011. The comfort on board is first class – from new, emotionally charged ambient lighting to the luxurious, power adjustable seats in the rear. This work of art is available at Wattayah Motors in Oman.
THE GOLDEN TOUCHThe Dolce&Gabbana Gold Edition collection is a tribute to tradition, origins and style. Every single detail expresses luxury, elegance and refinement. The men’s model comes in three new shades: silver, light gold and yellow gold, all 18K gold plated. The lightest glass has been used for the lenses with two polarised versions and one in gold mirror effect. The women’s model comes in a modern upto-date version of the large cat-eye shape. The metal temple is plated with 18K gold, embellished with numerous details like the laser-engraved logo. In two colour options – black and Havana – it is further enhanced by a beautiful case and leather bag.
GRAND EXTRAVAGANZA Few events trigger as much excitement as a MINI celebration, and the recently held Beirut extravaganza was no exception. Putting its style, creativity, excitement and latest MINI models on display, the iconic brand hosted one of the hottest events of the year, with hundreds of MINI fans from across the Middle East coming together for an unforgettable experience in Beirut. As many as 87 MINI cars and Middle East competition winners took to the streets in convoy to test their driving skills on a tour which took them from Beirut to the historic city of Byblos. And, as the sun set, Fashion, Design, Art, Zen and Music fused together in what was a truly unforgettable evening.
ART ON WHEELSPowerful, hyper-light and more compact than any other motorcycle in existence, the MV Agusta F3 sets a new standard by which all other supersport motorcycles will be judged and compared. This new ‘middle weight’ by MV follows the philosophy of all the MV Agusta works of art while pushing the limits of the supersport category with a maniacal attention to detail. The exhaust system has a triple pipe side exit muffler and is the perfect example of how design and function coincide perfectly. There is no doubt, the new F3 is a true MV Agusta.
CELEBRATING A LEGENDPaying tribute to a legendary musician and enduring spirit of a great artist is the John Lennon Edition Montblanc, which
ensures that Lennon’s legend lives on in the beauty of a timeless writing instrument. Limited to 1940 pieces, marking the year of Lennon’s birth, the John Lennon Commemoration Edition 1940 boasts a blue tanzanite that crowns the guitar-inspired clip in allusion to Lennon’s famous blue glasses. The instrument features a number of symbolic engravings including the release date of the song “Imagine”: 02.10.1971, as well as his self-portrait signature. In addition, the rhodium-plated, 18K gold nib bears
the sign so often traced in flowers: the peace symbol.
UPFRONT
EVENT
TREND SETTERSPresenting the extravaganza that was Bahrain Fashion Week 2010
It was clearly the fashion
event of the year, with every
fashionista worth her Chanels
and Armanis attending the
event! Yes, we are talking
about the Bahrain Fashion
Week (BFW) held last month
at the Bahrain Exhibition
Centre. Well-known Bahrain
Designer N Couture by Noora
Abdulghani showcased a
stunning opening act, followed
by other amazing talent from
the region including Silky
Tips (Bahrain) by Raul Rojo
and Tony Arroyo, RK Designs
(Saudi Arabia) by Reem Al
Kahnal, Ruth Samaai (South
Africa), Atelier Jun (Bahrain) by
Jun Garcia, and Studio Kalid
(Saudi Arabia) by Kalid Swaid.
Furthermore, Fashionaires
London (represented by CEO
Oliver Morris), a UK fashion
and lifestyle brand showcased
a host of London’s best up and
coming designers such as
Ara Jo who have designed for
celebrities such as Lady Gaga.
The organisers also introduced
an ‘Emerging Talent’ show for
five young aspiring designers
who were chosen from dozens
of applications to showcase
their designs at the main
event.
Walking away with the award
for “Emerging Designer of
the Year 2010’ sponsored
by Charles & Keith were
Ali Salah and Haya Turki
who opened the doorway
for other young designers
to take action to make their
fashion dreams come true.
UK singer/songwriter Kazz
Kumar (singer of the Official
BFW track entitled “Fashion”)
wowed the audience with live
performances throughout the
event, and Amazing Thailand
promoted the culture of the
beautiful country.
was media partner of the event
16
COLLECTIBLE
FUNCTIONAL
ARTWe bring you two unique standout pieces from the house of London-based Katharine Pooley. These rare pieces not only add glamour to your interiors, but also serve you well outside...
The Picnic HamperIt’s that time of the year when the country is experiencing pleasantly cool climates and what better way to revel in
the magic of the season than to go out on a picnic. Now, no picnic is possible without a hamper, is it? This is where
Katherine Pooley has come up with the perfect solution and brought out a hamper like no other.
This luxurious briefcase style picnic hamper comes with an exquisite detailing, including leather corners, elegant
handles and fixings. The entire case is made in leather, which makes it both durable and gives its design a classy
edge. Everything slots into the leather strap holders in to this very functional objet d’art. The four-person hamper is
available in black or tan leather and makes for the perfect companion for the outdoor.
The Camel Standing just under a metre long and half a metre high, ‘The Camel’ makes a
spectacular and eye-catching addition to your interiors. It was painstakingly crafted
in Asia over a period of three months and is made from solid sterling silver and
teak root wood with the eyes made from exquisite tiger eye stones, known for their
mystical and healing properties. As well as being an impressive piece of sculptural
art, the Camel has a variety of uses and could be used as a fruit bowl or table
centrepiece. The piece is available exclusively through Katherine Pooley.
For more details log on to http://www.katharinepooley.com/
MESSAGE IN THE
18
EXCLUSIVE
BOTTLE
19
From the House of Amouage comes a fragrance that not only fills up your senses, but also gives you a sense of purpose. Christopher Chong talks to Signature on Opus IV
The Library Collection already has three editions, why the decision to add a fourth one?“The Library Collection is
designed to be a growing
collection. There will be
many releases in the coming
years because this collection
is all about exploring new
ingredients and accords
without any trends or
cultural restrictions. It is all
about placing freedom of
thoughts and creativity above
everything else.”
Opus IV has been specially crafted to increase global awareness on HIV / AIDS. What is Amouage’s rationale behind adopting this cause?“It is still a growing problem
that affects a lot of people
around the world. We
believe that the best way to
support this cause is through
education and empowering
others to spread a positive
message. Therefore, with the
dissemination of knowledge
and creating awareness,
we hope these small steps
will help to eradicate
misunderstanding and
discrimination.”
The legendary scientist Albert Einstein once
said, “Nothing that I can do will change
the structure of the universe. But maybe, by
raising my voice I can help the greatest of all
causes - goodwill among men and peace on
earth.” But then quoting someone is always
easy, following what they say is not. It takes
the courage of conviction to stand up for a
cause; especially, when one decides not to
tread the beaten path and create something
different such as a fragrance. The House of
Amouage has done exactly that.
This December, Amouage is uniting the
world against AIDS with the global release
of Opus IV from its Library Collection.
Creative Director and Amouage’s guiding
light Christopher Chong, laboured with
renowned perfumers in Grasse to give the
world their latest inspiring creation, which
is a special tribute to the cause of HIV / AIDS
awareness. And that’s not all. Amouage is
also donation 50 per cent of the worldwide
profits from Opus IV to the National HIV / AIDS
Prevention and Control Programme (NAP) in
Oman, an initiative supported by the Ministry
of Health, World Health Organisation, United
Nations Children’s Fund and United Nations
Population Fund.
Christopher Chong gives us an exclusive peek
into the birth and journey of Opus IV
20
SPORTSEXCLUSIVE
Can you take us through the making process of Opus IV, right from the formation of the concept, to choosing the ingredients?“Everything I do begins with a
feeling and I enjoy dreaming
big. This thought came
upon me one sleepless night
when my mind overworked.
I have always wanted to
use my skills and position
to give something back to a
charitable cause. I thought
The Library Collection theme
would be perfect because
it is all about sharing and
spreading knowledge.
“Choosing ingredients has
always been a very mind-
boggling task. I needed this
fragrance to epitomise and
to represent a future with
hope so I decided to select
a citrus accord with an
eternal brightness to open
the fragrance. In the heart,
I felt it should symbolise the
red colour of AIDS caused by
infusing a spicy overtone to
the citrus shine. The base
represents the long struggle
that we have had and still to
endure, so I immortalise this
hardship with a sweaty woody
accord.”
In a world of constantly changing trends, what makes an Amouage creation like Opus IV any different? Why would one would want to own a bottle?“What makes Amouage so
different is that it’s a brand not
defined by trend. Opus IV does
not make any claim to be a
directional or edgy fragrance.
Opus IV is above all those
conventional claims.
It is a fragrance with a purpose
and a direction to help others
inflicted with this fatal
virus. By buying Opus IV, the
customers will be helping to
take a step closer to finding a
cure one day.”
What’s your favourite memory during the making of Opus IV?“It has to be the first feeling
and to be able to give
something back to society.
It is an extremely powerful
sensation to be able to do
this. By using one’s skills
and knowledge in order to
help a greater cause is very
satisfying.”
If you were asked to create an ad concept for Opus IV for us in three words. What would they be and why?“Belief - Everything begins
with a belief.
Knowledge - Knowledge
comes from experience.
Collective knowledge helps
society to be progressive
and eradicate any
ignorance.
Empowerment – There’s only
so much one can do. It is
important to empower others
to take the journey further.”
THE LIBRARY COLLECTION Opus IV opens with luminous and invigorating notes of Lemon, Mandarin and Grapefruit with a warm spicy mantle of Coriander Oil that awakens the senses. The heart is characterised by the sharp and exotic Elemi Oil, Cardamon and Cumin that pervades to a sweet blend of Rose Berries, Rose and vibrant Violet Leaves. This inventive fragrance finishes with woody and smoky undertones of Labdanum, Frankincense and Musk.
The Library Collection which now includes Opus I, II, III and IV, is a celebration of integrity, creativity and virtuosity. Inspired by the knowledge and experience drawn from the art of living, the Collection unfolds a contemporary face to Amouage while preserving the elegance and effortless classicism synonymous with the brand
The Library Collection is designed to be a growing collection. There will be many releases in the coming years
22
YACHT LOVERS AHOY!SAYYID NASR BIN BADR BIN HAMAD AL BUSAIDI, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF VISIONARY OFFICER, GO MARINE, TALKS TO SUSHMITA SARKHEL ON ART MARINE LLC THAT PROMISES TO TAKE LUXURY YACHTING TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
FEATURE
Oman has been abuzz
with enthusiasm
ever since ART
Marine, one of the
largest luxury yacht
dealers in the region,
launched operations
in conjunction with Go
Marine last month.
ART Marine is
renowned all over
the Middle East for
offering world-class marine services including the sale and
charter of luxury motor yachts and marina management. It is
an exclusive distributor of Azimut-Benetti yachts in the region,
one of largest builders of motor yachts in Europe and has been
awarded the Best Azimut Yachts Dealer Worldwide twice in a
row. It also won ‘Marina Operator of the Year’ at the prestigious
‘Arabian Gulf Yachting Awards 2010’. Today yachting enthusiasts
in Oman can enjoy the best of leisure yachts. Enjoy a cruise
along Oman’s striking coastline in an uber-chic Numarine 55ft
motor yacht and indulge in some snorkelling and diving, a quiet
candlelight dinner aboard the luxury yacht ‘Karya’ or even a
special excursion only for the ladies complete with female spa
therapists and exquisite cuisine in a private bay away from the
hustle bustle of the city.
Sayyid Nasr bin Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi,
President and Chief Visionary Officer, Go
Marine firmly believes that this move will also
have a great impact on promoting tourism in
Oman. “The reason why ART Marine stands
out is because they have expertise in marina
management. So they will be promoting the
development of marinas in and around Oman
and will also be encouraging a lot of the yacht
owners to come and vacation in Oman at the
marinas that they manage in the country.”
A prime example of this is the boutique marina in Zighy Bay
at Musandam, which is being successfully managed by ART
Marine.
ART Marine has a vast experience on a global level when it
comes to marina management and Go Marine will be providing
the local know-how. This combination according to Busaidi will
be pivotal in promoting the marine industry in Oman. “We are
aiming to promote the industry through ART Marine’s network.
23
We will be pulling in yacht
owners and vacationers alike.
It is a strategic partnership
and we are happy to have
found a fitting partner.” There
will also be a strong focus
on training the youth and
furthering capacities. “Many
Omani yacht owners want to
find an Omani skipper who
is capable of captaining a
50m yacht. Although we have
people, there is a need to
develop this area more,”
adds Busaidi.
We take a step back to
where it all started. Busaidi
has always been a diving
enthusiast. “It was back in
1995 when I was vacationing
in Saudi Arabia that my uncle,
Sultan who was a passionate
diver, introduced me to
diving. And ever since, I’ve
been hooked,” says Busaidi.
From diving came the love
for boating, and love for the
sea and adventure. From the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia
to the Maldives, Busaidi has
managed to log more than
2000 dives since he started in
1995. The Daymaniyat Islands,
just off the Batinah Coast,
however, is his favourite spot.
The idea of starting a diving
company developed in New
Zealand where Busaidi was
pursuing his undergraduate
studies. It was there where
he met Daryle Hardie, (now
CEO of Go Marine). Go Dive,
the brainchild of Busaidi and
Hardie was then established
in 2008. “After establishing
Go Dive Oman we pooled
our ideas together and
took the decision to make
ourselves more competent
within the industry. And thus
we established a successful
relationship with Go Marine
(which is our mother company)
and now ART Marine.” Go
Marine also has a non-profit
arm that focuses on protecting
the environment. Says
Busaidi, “What we basically
do is involve our divers in
assisting environmental
research and provide
training to NGOs and certain
Government sectors. We also
OVERNIGHT AND LIVE-ABOARD PackagesHideaway Tour - 1 day/1 nightHemingway Tour - 2 days/1 nightAqua & Terra - 6 days/5 nights
Day ExcursionsDolphin Watching and SnorkellingCoastal TourCandle Light DinnerPrivacy Guaranteed!
For detailed information about these packages and for reservations you can email [email protected]
Sayyid Nasr bin Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi aboard the Numarine
encourage people with special
needs to try out diving.”
Busaidi is extremely
enthusiastic about the future
of yachting in Oman and he
believes that ART Marine will
play a vital role in creating
and promoting this lifestyle.
With Oman’s beautiful
seascapes and diverse marine
flora and fauna, we are sure
that the yachting lifestyle is
here to stay!
24
ACCESSORIES
25
GEMSTONE AESTHETICSO N J E W E L L E R Y A N D E X P L A I N S H E R L O V E F O R A L L T H I N G S S P A R K L I N G …
N E W - Y O R K B A S E D D E S I G N E R K A R A R O S S A N S W E R S D E E P A R A J A N ’ S Q U E S T I O N S
26
ACCESSORIES
She began designing jewellery at the age of 13, today Kara Ross
is much more than a name. A Gemological Institute of America-
certified gemologist, Kara has spent five years designing
elegant pieces with character and imagination. She has won
over style mavens across the world with her minimalist and
elegant designs. In her own words, “Her pieces are not only
strong enough to stand up to any scrutiny and an incredible
level of fashion, but they are also designed with every day wear
in mind. The Gemstone aesthetic is constant across a range of
differently sized pieces and different stones, so it can really be
tailored to personal style.”
Kara Ross talks to Signature on jewellery, her latest collection
and much more…
How and when did you begin designing jewellery? “For me, everything begins with gemstones, more so than just
jewellery - the first piece I ever designed was around one that
I chose on a family safari to Africa. That experience guided my
design interests and led me to appreciate working with natural
materials. Jewellery was the obvious direction to go in, although
I specifically chose to expand later with exotic skin handbags
because they require the same level of expertise and thought.”
Who would you say were your inspirations and how have they influenced you? Who inspired your Gemstone collection.“I derive great inspiration from my travels. The architecture I
have encountered through them, especially that of Sir Norman
Foster, particularly influenced the new line. I also looked at
stained glass and the way light refracts through the panes, and
wanted to include elements that would pick up on that light and
movement.”
How do you begin your design process? Do you have a particular muse for say your Gemstone collection?“My design process begins with a spark of an idea – seeing light
play on a pane of glass, or visiting a bazaar in Turkey and being
amazed by the intricacy of needlework on a vintage coat. As
such the Gemstone Collection doesn’t have a muse per se, but I
think you can really trace certain origins through it.”
How did the collection come about? What are the features of the range that will make women covet a piece? How does it differ from other collections?
“My origins are in fine jewellery design, and it felt like the
right time to move back to that. I wanted to approach it slightly
differently, though, and make fine jewellery for daily life. It’s
more tactile and visually arresting than anything on the market,
but has the same level of quality through the sterling silver, 18k
gold, and gemstones.”
What aspect of your job do you enjoy most?“Oh, it’s definitely wearing samples of each new collection long
before they reach stores! Such a guilty pleasure.”
What is the design philosophy that makes Kara Ross the brand? And, where do you see the brand placed, say five years from now?“Kara Ross the brand is about being elegant but unexpected,
strong, and always luxurious. Five years from now I really just
see strong growth in all lines. Maybe even my own boutique in
New York!
Do you have a favourite jewellery era? From your experience in this field, what do you remember as being a truly stand-out piece of jewellery?“Less an era than a person – I would say that Suzanne
Belperron’s work, especially from the 1950s, has been extremely
influential. Like me, she didn’t believe in logos and let the gems
make the statement.”
What is your favourite stone to work with and why? “I really can’t play favourites with the stones…it’s a joy to think
of ways to accommodate each stone’s natural properties.”
We have heard that you have a pretty amazing collection of vintage clothing. Any favourites, among both your clothes and designers?“I respond to Geoffrey Beene, really, every time. It’s genius.
Vintage shopping in general is a favourite of mine – my mother
introduced me to it when I was young and it’s really shaped my
expectations of quality.”
Five years from now, what kind of jewellery do you think people will be wearing? “Possibly one of the most intriguing things about jewellery is
that it is largely impossible to predict, much like other aspects
of fashion. Is it all cyclical, still? Of course - but it’s not literally
interpreted. Yes, in five years we will probably still enjoy the
MUST HAVES IN A WARDROBE
Clothes – Whatever makes you feel best
Shoes –As long as you can walk in them, go for it!
Jewellery – Kara RossHandbags – Kara RossCosmetics – Jo Malone
FACETINGBrilliant and scintillating – words used to describe a beautifully faceted gemstone. The Faceted collection features prominently displayed faceted gemstones surrounded by vivid sapphires that enhance the stone’s natural colour, or are set in sterling silver or 18K gold for a more simple appearance
STAINED GLASSUsed by architects as early as the 4th century, stained glass was created in order to emulate the appearance of gemstones in the windows of churches and monasteries. Mimicking the panelled appearance of a stained glass window, rings, earrings, necklaces and cuffs are embellished with ornate patterns of colorful gemstones and sapphires set in sterling silver and 18k gold
You can buy a Kara Ross design at Eye Candy, Muscat.
same classics, but every year new techniques and technologies
will have changed the way I think about even my own classic
designs. We shall see!”
What are the aspects that one should keep in mind while buying jewellery?
“Well, if you’re truly buying a heritage piece, there are certain
things you do want to look at. That being said, I think the
biggest is whether you respond to the piece emotionally.
Jewellery is art, and should incite the same passion.”
28
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASSHH Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said on ‘the journey’ of photography. As told to Deepa Rajan
INTERVIEW
Someone once said, “To
take photographs means to
recognise – simultaneously
and within a fraction of a
second – both the fact itself
and the rigorous organisation
of visually perceived forms
that give it meaning. It is
putting one’s head, one’s
eye and one’s heart on the
same axis.”
When one looks at the images
captured by His Highness
Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al
Said, one gets the impression
that here is a photographer
who cares enough to put
his head, eye and heart on
the same axis. Sayyid Tarik,
Director of Tawoos LLC and
Renaissance SAOG, has been
capturing the hues of life
for the last 30 years and this
is the first time that he has
chosen to share the results
of his passion with the rest
of the world in an exhibition
at Bait Muzna gallery. All the
proceeds of this exhibition
have been earmarked for the
Environment Society of Oman
(ESO).
Titled ‘The Journey’, this
exhibition is not just a
collection of images. In fact,
one would not hesitate to call
them moving pictures for each
image frames the movements
in nature and translates them
into moving compositions that
narrate a story.
Sayyid Tarik talks to
Signature on The Journey and
photography…
What is your exhibition, called
‘The Journey’, representative
of? To what are you referring
to in the title?
“The Journey is what we do
with our lives, the memories
we accumulate, which in turn
shape our view of the world.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson once
said that in photography, the
smallest thing can be a great
subject. The little, human
detail can become a Leitmotiv.
What would you say is your
leitmotiv in your photographs
and why?
“I must admit I had to look
up ‘Leitmotiv’. Using the
definition, ‘a leading motive’,
I would respond that over the
years my motives change, in
fact they sometimes change
during a single session. I may
be carrying my camera with
no preconceived idea of what I
might shoot, then as I interpret
the scene around me, possible
compositions flash through
my mind, I try to imagine
how things would look
through the lens rather than
actually limit my vision by
peering through a viewfinder.
By transforming the scene
from its 3D reality into a 2D
image you have to imagine
everything being flattened
and stacked. Using a lens
with powerful magnification
actually reduces the
distances perceived between
clearly visible objects in
the foreground middle and
background. You can create
a sort of collage and make
some aspects more prominent.
This deconstruction process
amongst other things
motivates me.
29
Car Casse (Al Hail, Oman)
Desert in the sky (at 4,500m, Atacama, Chile)
“As for subjects that motivate
me, I’d rather not become a
specialist, I would like to take
more people shots, but need
to work on the skills needed to
put people at ease and extract
from them a look that would
later inspire a story.”
Is there a difference in the
perception of a photograph if
it is taken in black and white,
as opposed to colour? Which
do you prefer, and why?
“Nowadays, I sometimes find
myself removing the colour
from an image If I feel that
the colour is a distraction. I
realize however that if you
are going to shoot in Black
and White, you should make
that commitment up front, so
that you think in black and
white. I have a preference for
colour, but I retain respect
for black and white and the
statements that can be made
in that medium. It can be
used to change the mood or
emphasise or de-emphasise
an aspect of the composition.
Has something been lost in
both professional and amateur
photography with the move
to fully digital cameras and
reproduction? Did it require a
different kind of person and
commitment to develop your
own photos using chemical
solutions and dark rooms?
“My own youthful dark
room tinkering was driven
by novelty, curiosity but
mainly the ability to take
control of a vital part of the
process. In the days of analog
manipulation you needed to
be inventive and sometimes
physically construct devices
to achieve whatever your
desired effect was. Today
the digital dark room allows
similar control over the end
product, but the possibilities
seem almost infinite. In the
digital darkroom all the
30
constructs are in your mind
and expressed through
mastery of the software, and
how you utilise it in new and
original ways. I prefer to have
my digital images developed
using an analog process
because I don’t think printers
and inks are as yet up to the
task.”
“I was an early adopter of
digital cameras back in 2000
perhaps a little premature,
but it totally changed the
way I shoot, simply because
there was no incremental
cost to each picture, and you
had the instant gratification
of seeing your composition,
which until then only
Polaroids could offer. As hard
disk space and processing
speed increase exponentially
the photographer’s problem
becomes the sheer quantity of
images that he or she has to
sort through.”
In the digital age, it is all too
easy to erase imperfections
in a photograph, be they in a
person’s skin or otherwise. Do
you think that this has made
photographers lazy in terms
of taking the right picture,
and is it a reflection of a facile
trait within society in seeking
perfection where there is none
to be found? Do you encourage
‘touching up’ of digital images
with software such as Adobe
Photoshop?
“As mentioned in the response
to the previous question, there
are many similarities between
today’s digital darkroom with
its algorithms and pixel by
pixel manipulation, versus
the analog darkroom with
its interplay between light
and chemicals. I don’t think
that there is a right or wrong
answer to the question,
“How much Photoshop?”.
However there is common
Hard Corner (Glacier Des Diablerets, Switzerland)
2 Pee or not 2 Pee (highway between Sinaw and Khaluf, Oman)
INTERVIEW
31
ground among observers as
to whether an image looks
right after its been altered.
Some photographers may get
lazy and use Photoshop as a
crutch, but that just allows
others to sprint ahead of them
by leveraging the technology
to attain new heights of
artistic originality. One thing
that I am grateful for, is the
ability to salvage images
(thanks to Photoshop) which
you may never be able to go
back and take again.
“Society’s narcissism is an
entirely different subject
which is the subject of many
books. It is inherent in us, and
is exploited by advertisers
who wish to associate their
products with dream like
perfection, and unattainable
lifestyles. The creation of
fantasy landscapes is fun I am
sure, and we are all at some
point or other seduced by such
synthesized images, which is
fine as long as we remember
to enjoy our journey and not
obsess about our destination.”
Of all of the locations,
situations, circumstances and
people you have captured
in your photographs, which
stands out as most memorable
to you, and why?
“Most recent in my memory
are the images taken in Chile
this summer, the national
parks devoid of human
encroachment were a marvel
to behold. It reminded me
of the importance of these
institutions and the enormous
power they have to attract
tourists as well as preserve
biodiversity. There is no
reason why Oman cannot
continue to contribute to, and
manage its beautiful natural
heritage for generations to
behold and benefit from.”
Pebbles the Size of Houses (Majlis Al Jinn, Selma Plateau, Oman)
Prepositional Plants (Dhofar, Oman)
32
The History MakerCONTINUING OUR EQUESTRIAN SERIES, IN THIS ARTICLE WE FOCUS ON THE ARABIAN HORSE.
LARA HANSEN DELVES INTO THE LINEAGE OF THIS ALLURINGLY ENIGMATIC BREED…
FOCUS
All i
mag
es: L
ynne
M. G
leas
on
33
The Mystery The Arabian horse emerged
from the ancient deserts of
Arabia. Over the centuries,
this horse would change the
equine world, and human
history forever. The impact
this horse has had on the
development of art and culture,
warfare, and ultimately, on the
structure and organisation of
Eastern and Western societies,
is hard to overestimate.
However, unlike virtually
every other breed of horse, the
precise origin of the Arabian
horse remains unknown.
Although it is understood
that this breed is completely
original and unique (i.e. not
developed as a result of cross-
breeding), its history remains
veiled, leaving us with few
clues of exactly where it came
from. Some experts claim
that the origins lie in Iraq’s
Fertile Crescent while others
have argued that it most likely
came from southwestern
Arabia. Due, however, to the
antiquity of this horse and the
complexity of tracing such
beginnings, it is unlikely that
the precise area of origin will
ever be known.
A Sacred BlessingThe Prophet Mohammed
(p.b.u.h.) clarified the mystery
to his followers with his
declaration that the Arabian
horse is a holy gift bestowed
by Allah to the people of
the desert. The Prophet
Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) further
explained that, as Allah had
gifted them the Arabian horse,
those people who treated it
well would be rewarded in
the afterlife. The Prophet’s
instruction is supported with
the Holy Quran’s warning
that “no evil spirit will dare to
enter a tent where there is a
purebred horse”. The Arabian
horse has been accordingly
revered through the centuries
and carefully protected to
preserve its distinct features.
Unique CharacteristicsAfter studying the bones of
Arabian horses over 3,500
years old, experts have
determined that the purebred
Arabian is, today, virtually
the same as that existing
in ancient Arabia. Over the
centuries, the Arabian tribes
safeguarded the natural
characteristics of their horses
and so maintained the
distinctive dished nose with
large, efficient nostrils, wide-
set beautiful eyes on a broad
forehead; small, curved ears
and powerful, but compact,
body. The Arabian horse is
also defined by its robustness,
its renowned endurance, and
intelligence. Because of the
mutual interdependence of
horse and Bedouin living
in harsh desert conditions,
the Arabian adapted to his
relationship with man and
is particularly gentle and
affectionate.
Paving the wayIndeed, over time, the
Arabian horse had become
necessary for the Bedouin
people’s survival in the
desert. Not only did this horse
provide an efficient mode of
transportation, and for sending
communications across
distances, he also stepped
into the battlefield when
necessary and so became the
original war horse. With his
help, societies of such distant
lands as the Indus Valley
civilizations were united
with Mesopotamian cultures.
The empires of the Hurrians,
Hittites, Kassites, Assyrians,
Babylonians, Persians and
others rose and fell under the
hooves of the Arabian horse.
The use of his strength and
courage made possible a
cooperative organised society,
such as the Roman Empire. It
is fair to say that the Eastern
world was largely structured
and, to an extent, united by the
work of the Arab horse. But he
did not stop there.
As Arabian horses were
eventually transported
westward, they were bred
with the large European
heavy horses to create lighter
horse breeds. Accordingly,
the concept of a light, efficient
cavalry took hold across
Europe changing the way in
which wars were fought and
won. In this way, the Arabian
horse had a significant impact
on the structure of Europe
up to the 20th century. Over
the centuries, the Arabian
horse became essential to
the development of important
European breeds. Between
1683 and 1730 a revolution
in horse breeding occurred
when three Arabian stallions
were imported to England.
Through the breeding of these
three horses, known as the
Godolphin Arabian, the Darley
Arabian, and the Byerly Turk,
the Thoroughbred breed was
established. Today, every
modern Thoroughbred can be
traced to these three Arabian
sires. Since then, by direct
breeding, and through the
blood of the Thoroughbred, the
Arabian has influenced every
light breed of horse.
His role todayThe modern Arabian horse
is still as active as ever,
influencing the world of horse
racing, dressage, jumping, the
military sport of tent-pegging,
and, particularly, endurance
riding. He remains valued for
his beauty and remains, as he
has been over the centuries,
the subject of art, literature
and, now, cinema with major
motion pictures such as King
of the Wind, and The Black
Stallion depicting his mystique
and capturing the romance
of this amazing horse breed.
Even as so much time has
passed, the fascination with
the majestic, beautiful Arabian
horse never seems to wane
To be continued...
34
Etched in nobility BAIT AL BARANDA IS HOSTING A SPECIAL EXHIBITION ON ARABIAN HORSES BY ARTIST LYNNE M. GLEASON. DEEPA RAJAN QUIZZES HER ON HORSES AND MORE…
Lynne Murray Gleason has
had a lifelong passion for
horses, but her epiphany with
them came while she and her
husband Howard were living
in a London flat overlooking
the Royal Household Cavalry.
She began painting the
Queen’s horses and Royal
Guards which she could
observe from her balcony. Her
works caught the eye of the
Commanding Officer of the
cavalry, who then provided her
with a studio in the barracks
with unprecedented access to
the stables, training sessions
and royal performances. In
due time, a magnificent book
illustrating Lynne’s drawings,
watercolours, and paintings
of the British Ceremonial
Horses was published, and
in the following years, she
was invited to work with
the military and ceremonial
horses of France, Holland, and
Austria.
A series of happy coincidences
and the possibility of a
significant commission work
in Oman led Lynne to work
on paintings of Arabian
horses and even though
the commission did not
materialise at that time it
did result in an invitation to
visit Oman in late 2009. Her
paintings were purchased and
installed in a grand building
in Oman.
Now, One year later, Lynne’s
works of art have been
exhibited at the Bait Al
Baranda as part of the 40th
National Day celebrations.
Lynne says: “I am very excited
about exhibiting in Oman. I
had the distinct pleasure of
spending two weeks in Oman
the last few days in December
2009 and the early part of 2010.
I was honoured to be able to
experience Race Day and to
get to know the City and a
number of Omanis associated
with horses and with the arts.”
Titled, ‘The Noble Horse’, the
exhibition also coincided with
FOCUS
35
the royal visit of Her Royal
Highness Queen Elizabeth II to
the Sultanate of Oman.
In a short interview with
Signature, Lynne talks about
her passion for horses and
art…
How and why did you choose the Arabian horse as your subject?“I shifted my focus from the
ceremonial horse of Europe
to the Arabian Horse, when I
was offered the possibility of a
commission to paint the horses
of Oman. But what really
turned it around for me was
my beautiful white Arabian
horse named Whisper, which I
boarded at a friend’s Arabian
breeding stable. Whisper
taught me great many lessons.
She captured my heart with
her sensitivity, intelligence
and agility. The elegance of
the Arabian horse has always
attracted my eye. It was
exciting to focus intensely on
the attributes of this amazing
breed.
How does one capture the free spirit of the horse in a painting?“With love and respect, it
is possible for my spirit to
connect with the spirit of the
horse – the essence – the soul.
During my work experience
with Riding for the Disabled,
I was witness to the healing
quality, intelligence and
intuition of the horse. These
are integral parts of a trusting
relationship. While painting it
is important for me to establish
the eye of the horse – the
window to its soul. I attempt to
always paint from the horses’
point of view, whose nature is
an expression of freedom; a
spirit of complicity with man,
but never servitude.”
Apart from horses, are there any other subjects that you like to paint?“The creative path has taken
me in various directions
leading to a great variety of
subject matters – from abstract
explorations of the universe
to realistic and symbolic
renditions of the human form,
landscapes and other subjects
have captured my attention for
periods of time. Each different
journey has led me to study
and appreciate the works of
other artists of each genre.
When I was immersed in
abstract expressionism, I was
attracted to the mysticism
of Rothko and Motherwell. I
was able to study their works
in museums as well as read
their written expressions.
While I have moved on to other
creative expressions, abstract
considerations are always an
integral part of my paintings
and sculpture. At this time I
feel the horse has led me on
the most interesting paths. I
plan to continue interpreting
and expressing this subject
until I feel the need to move
on.”
How would you define your art?“Visual art has always
been my primary means of
expression. When creating,
one becomes aligned with the
Creator. This enlivens and
energises me and infuses my
work with the power which is
transcendent. I feel that my
best work shines through when
I have stepped aside and the
work has a life and power of
its own”
36
In
the
f
as
t l
an
e
F1 CALENDAR
Round Race Title Grand Prix1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain GP2 Qantas Australian Grand Prix Australian GP
3 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Malaysian GP
4 UBS Chinese Grand Prix Chinese GP5 Turkish Grand Prix Turkish GP6 Gran Premio de España Spanish GP7 Grand Prix de Monaco Monaco GP8 Grand Prix du Canada Canadian GP9 European Grand Prix European GP10 Santander British Grand Prix British GP11 Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland German GP12 Eni Magyar Nagydij Hungarian GP13 Belgian Grand Prix Belgian GP14 Gran Premio Santander d’Italia Italian GP15 Singapore Grand Prix Singapore GP16 Japanese Grand Prix Japanese GP17 Korean Grand Prix Korean GP18 Indian Grand Prix Indian GP19 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Abu Dhabi GP20 Grande Prêmio do Brasil Brazilian GP
2011 RACE CALENDAR
3737
Circuit Date Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir 13 March Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne 27 March
Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur 10 April
Shanghai International Circuit 17 April Istanbul Park 8 May Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 22 May Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo 29 May Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal 12 June Valencia Street Circuit 26 June Silverstone Circuit 10 July Nürburgring 24 July Hungaroring, Budapest 31 July Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Spa 28 August Autodromo Nazionale Monza 11 September Marina Bay Street Circuit 25 September Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka 9 October Korean International Circuit, Yeongam 16 October Jaypee Group Circuit, Greater Noida 30 October Yas Marina Circuit 13 NovemberAutódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo 27 November
38
MAKING HIS MARK
BONHAMS RECENTLY AUCTIONED A RARE IMPERIAL JADE SEAL FROM THE QIANLONG COURT. FRANCES WOOD DESCRIBES HOW THE EMPEROR USED IT
TO STAMP HIS AUTHORITY ON HIS SPRAWLING DOMAINS
ART
Apart from
high officials
and those at
court, no one
ever saw the
Qianlong
Emperor. When he left the
Forbidden City, whether to
travel to the south of China
on a ‘tour of inspection’ or
to one of the many garden-
palaces and hunting parks in
the vicinity of the capital, he
travelled inside a yellow-silk
sedan chair. Ordinary citizens
were ordered off the streets.
The Jesuit painters at court
such as Giuseppe Castiglione
and Giuseppe Panzi saw
him briefly when he sat for
portraits, and some of the
only physical descriptions
of his appearance are those
made by members of the first
British Embassy to China.
Lord Macartney, who led the
Embassy, described him as
“a very fine old gentleman,
still healthy and vigorous,
not having the appearance
of a man of more than sixty…
His manner is dignified but
affable.”
When he conversed through
a Jesuit interpreter, he asked
Lord Macartney “the age of my
king and, being informed of it,
said he hoped he might live as
many years as himself, which
are eighty-three”. Macartney’s
valet, Aeneas Anderson,
expanded upon the Emperor’s
appearance and dress when he
came to see the display of gifts
from George III laid out at the
Yuanmingyuan. “The Emperor
is about five feet ten inches in
height, and of a slender but
elegant form; his complexion
is comparatively fair, though
his eyes are dark; his nose is
rather aquiline, and the whole
of his countenance presents a
perfect regularity of features,
39
which by no means announce
the great age he is said to
have attained: his person is
attracting and his deportment
accompanied by an affability,
which, without lessening the
dignity of the prince, evinces
the amiable character of the
man.”
However, it is clear that his
affability was combined with
a shrewd intelligence. When
Panzi was painting his portrait,
the Emperor asked Panzi if he
was a painter first or a Jesuit
first, which suggests that he
understood the Jesuits’ method
of ingratiating themselves at
court – by sending the sort of
craftsmen they thought would
appeal to the Emperor.
The reign of the Qianlong
Emperor, which lasted from
1736 to1796, is viewed in China
as the high point of the Qing
dynasty, which lasted from
1644 to 1911. Internationally,
the Emperor’s name is
synonymous with luxury and
elegance, with fine porcelain
and paintings and enamels. He
was unquestionably a brilliant
man and an interesting one,
demonstrating considerable
skill in Chinese and traditional
Chinese culture, modelling his
calligraphy on that of the late
Ming master Dong Qichang.
He may not personally have
written the 42,000 poems
attributed to him, but his choice
of inscriptions for his many
seals shows that he had an
understanding of classical
Chinese thought. One of his
imperial jade seals – which
will be offered at Bonhams
New Bond Street in November
– bears the inscription Zi
Qiang Bu Xi, which in rough
translation means “self-
strengthening never ceases”.
The Qing emperors were
Manchus, not Chinese, and
40
ART
Qianlong was perhaps the last
of them to enjoy mastery of
both cultures, for his successors
were increasingly weak. The
Manchus valued the skills of
riding and archery, and from a
young age the Qianlong
Emperor practised both.
When out hunting at the age
of 12 with his grandfather,
the Kangxi Emperor, he was
greatly admired for his courage
when his pony was attacked
by a bear. His bravery in battle
was real, although his self-
proclaimed “ten great victories”
owed something to his gift for
self-publicity.
His conquests in Central
Asia brought Xinjiang into
the empire, but the cost of the
campaigns was huge.
Even at the end of his life, the
Emperor remained intensely
busy and active, even hunting
until he was 86 years old. He
was described as rising at
six in the morning and taking
breakfast at eight before
spending the morning with
his officials and ministers on
state business, responding
to reports and promulgating
decrees with his official seal,
which obviated the need for
an imperial signature. After
another light meal at two, he
spent his afternoons painting,
writing and inspecting artefacts
from the imperial collections.
These activities often involved
the use of seals, which were of
crucial importance in keeping
the bureaucracy running
smoothly. The Emperor affixed
seals inscribed with the phrase
“suitable for posterity” on
items he valued highly in the
imperial collection. Other seals
41
were also used to indicate
the hall in which they were
stored – indeed, the objects
often inspired the name of the
hall. His studio, for example,
in which he spent much time,
was entitled ‘The Studio of the
Three Rarities’ in a complex
series of references to moral
virtue (three-fold striving)
and the immensely venerable
works by the fourth-century
calligraphers, Wang Xizhi,
Wang Xianzhi and Wang Xun,
that were stored there. The seal
with the name of the studio
was stamped fairly centrally
on Wang Xun’s handscroll
letter, with the “suitable for
posterity seal” at the top near
the end. Apart from seals
indicating location or aesthetic
assessment, the Emperor could
also employ seals celebrating
his longevity to cover any bare
spaces on an imperial painting.
He reached the ages of 60 and
80, both of which are especially
celebrated in China. To honour
these landmark birthdays, he
ordered special seals to be cut
in commemoration.
But then the Qianlong Emperor
had a ruthless political side
to him. He projected an image
of himself as a successful
warrior and an aesthete who
appreciated the finest art. But
he also used these attributes as
a cover for other less laudable
motives. In 1772, he ordered
titles within the imperial
collection and other unique
or rare editions collected
throughout the empire to be
copied as the Siku quanshu
‘The Complete Library in
Four Branches of Literature’.
More than 10,000 works were
reviewed for inclusion and
in the end nearly 3,500 were
copied (in 36,000 slim volumes).
Behind this admirable project
lay a more sinister literary
inquisition, for the Emperor
was hunting for anti-Manchu
sentiments, which were strong
when the Qing first conquered
China. Thousands of books
were destroyed or banned as
anti-Manchu and dozens of
authors were executed. The
scale of the enterprise and
its results, both positive and
negative, were characteristic of
the era.
Knowing nothing of the motives
behind this literary inquisition,
Lord Macartney described the
Qianlong Emperor as “Solomon
in all his glory”. He was clearly
awestruck by the architecture
and landscaping of palaces
and temples, their spacious
courts and magnificent bridges.
Peking was “justly to be
admired for its walls and gates,
the distribution of its quarters,
the width and allineation of
its streets, the grandeur of
its triumphal arches and the
number and magnificence of
its palaces”. He was similarly
impressed with Chinese
fireworks and the “diversity of
colours…which the Chinese
have the secret of clothing fire
with”.
For all the grandeur of the
empire, for all the intelligence
of its elderly ruler, Lord
Macartney was uncannily
prescient in predicting that
this glorious age would not
long survive the death of the
Qianlong Emperor. “Who is
the Atlas destined by him to
bear this load of empire when
he dies is yet unknown but
on whatever shoulders it may
fall, another transmigration of
[Buddha] into the next Emperor
will be necessary to enable
him to sustain it on its present
balance; for though with the
serene atmosphere of the court,
everything wears the face
of happiness… it cannot be
concealed that the nation in
general is far from being easy
or contented…The Empire of
China is an old, crazy, first-rate
man-of-war, which a fortunate
succession of able and vigilant
officers has contrived to keep
afloat for these one hundred
and fifty years past, and to
overawe her neighbours merely
by her bulk and appearance,
but whenever an insufficient
man happens to have command
upon deck, adieu to the
discipline and safety of the
ship. She may perhaps not sink
outright, she may drift some
42
ART
SEAL OF APPROVAL
Guo Fuxiang from The Palace Museum, Department of Palace History, Beijing, describes the importance of this rare imperial seal
The Qianlong Emperor (1711-1799) was the fourth emperor of the Qing dynasty and his reign (1736-1796) is considered to be one of the most glorious periods in Chinese history. Over the course of his lifetime, the Emperor celebrated a number of significant anniversaries, of which various mementoes survive. Among these artefacts, the most iconic of the survivals are the Emperor’s personal seals.
The white jade seal, which bears the inscription ‘Zi Qiang Bu Xi’ (Self-Strengthening Never Ceases), is intimately intertwined with the celebrations that marked the Emperor’s 80th birthday. This particular seal is a Yajiao zhang – used specifically to mark the corners of the Emperor’s calligraphy.
Traditionally, the commissioning of imperial seals was an essential component in commemorating the event. According to the records of the Neiwufu Zaobanchu Huajidang (Archives Concerning the Administration of Arts and Crafts of the Imperial Household Workshops), it was reported, “On the 25th day of the 12th month in the 57th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign [1793], the eunuch Mei Jinbao reported that the Chief-Administrator Zhang Jixi has happily presented a set of three pieces of white jade along with three sheets of paper each containing a yinshou type seal impression facsimile…the last one bore the inscription Zi Qiang Bu Xi.”The Qianlong Emperor’s choice of inscription was intended to express his determination not to slow down – to be always mindful and diligent, and to do his best to govern his subjects before relinquishing power. Despite his old age, he believed himself still healthy with no signs of frailty or mental weakness. He declared that he “would not rest until he has served his subjects to the best of his abilities”. Although he was profoundly excited about approaching his 80th birthday, the Emperor’s writings give us an insight into his intimate thoughts. The pledge ‘Self-Strengthening Never Ceases’ served as a constant reminder for the Emperor, urging him on.
time as a wreck and will be
dashed to pieces on the shore;
but she can never be rebuilt on
the old bottom.”
And so it proved. China had
over-stretched its resources
and the over-reaching imperial
ambition to extend the borders
of the empire proved its
undoing. During the next 100
years, China fell into a steady
decline, culminating in its
humiliation at the hands of the
western powers
The author is Curator of
Chinese Collections at the
British Library. As published in
Bonhams Magazine
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44
MUSIC
45
Sibling RevelryNEW-GENERATION SAROD PLAYERS AMAAN AND AYAAN ALI KHAN LEAD THE WAY… A SIGNATURE REPORT
They come
from a family
where music
is not just a
tradition, but
a way of life.
Amaan and
Ayaan Ali Khan may be the
sons of renowned sarod artiste
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, but the
brothers are today not only
known as sons of an illustrious
father, but as torch-bearers of
Indian classical music.
The duo was in Oman recently
for a concert organised by
Soorya, a non-profitable
organisation dedicated to the
cause of popularising Indian
art forms worldwide. ُThe event
was organised in association
with Oman UAE Exchange.
The siblings are
conventionally good-looking
and could easily pass off as
young Bollywood stars. They
are also charm personified.
At a press conference, they
fielded questions with ease,
and wowed the media with
‘smart and intelligent’ answers
and some lively banter.
And it was Bollywood that
broke the ice and took the
conversation to interesting
levels. When asked whether
the glamour of films could
be used to popularise Indian
classical music, Amaan
explained, “Cinema is indeed
a popular medium and
musicians like Pandit Shiv
Kumar Sharma (legendary
Indian santoor player) and
Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia
(popular Indian flautist) have
teamed up to give great film
hits, unfortunately, it does not
work that way every time. It
is an industry where ‘good’ is
decided by a hit and ‘bad’ is
decided by a flop. And this is
something we do not believe
in. Indian classical music is
about achieving excellence
first and being popular later.”
The dialogue continued in
the same vein as Amaan and
Ayaan were asked whether
they ever considered a career
in acting. “We are not against
it. If we have a script that
we believe in, we will surely
take it. But then, I recollect
an amusing incident that
happened when I was at the
gym recently. A person came
up to me and said that why
did Amaan and I not consider
acting as were quite good
looking. I could only say that in
a country like India where 500
million people want to become
actors and maybe, just 10
aspire to become musicians, I’d
like to remain where I am. But
jokes apart, I would consider
a good film if it were to be
offered to me.”
The duo speaks of Indian
classical music with a lot of
passion and fervour. Amaan
elaborates: “When I say Indian
classical music, I wouldn’t
like to differentiate between
various forms like bhajan, geet,
etc. But the core is classical. It
has its own place in a world
that is dominated by ‘popular’
music. He goes on to add that
it is an acquired taste. He says,
“It is like butter chicken and
sushi, everyone can appreciate
a butter chicken but few can
develop a palate for sushi.”
We couldn’t agree more. For,
we believe that music is not
just mere notes strung together.
It is a feeling that lifts us from
the ordinary to the sublime and
touches both heart and soul.
Ayaan and Amaan Ali Khan
best exemplify this emotion
and through their dedication
and passion, enrich a music
that will continue to enthrall
generations to come
46
BON APÉTIT
ALL IN A DAY’S BRUNCH THERE’S NO BETTER WAY TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY AFTERNOON THAN UNWINDING AT THE BEACH RESTAURANT, THE CHEDI MUSCAT, SAYS BREGJE VAN BAAREN AS SHE TAKES MICHAEL AND IEVA HORUP ON A DELECTABLE JOURNEY OF FRESH FOOD, SEA, AND REFRESHING CONVERSATION
In many ways, expatriates
are modern nomads, who
travel across the world
for work along fixed
routes. Michael Horup
could easily be one of
them. Given his work in
the telecommunications
industry, Horup’s life has
been all about ‘mobile and
fixed’ in more than one way;
business has taken the
Danish Horup from Eastern
Europe to Kuwait. At present,
his destination is Oman.
Horup is the GM – Strategic
Marketing & Branding,
Oman Telecommunications
Company.
When Signature meets
Horup and his wife Ieva at
the comfort zone called The
Chedi Muscat for the famed
Friday Brunch at the Beach
Restaurant, Horup tells us about his first visit to the luxurious
hotel. In Oman, on an official visit some five years ago, he got
a chance to taste the foie gras at The Restaurant. Upon return
to what was then his ‘home’ in Kuwait, he even gave his wife a
brochure of this romantic getaway of a hotel, hoping one
day they would have a chance to visit this ultimate destination
for couples.
Well, his wish did come partly true. We met Horup and his
charming Lithuanian wife at the lovely lobby of The Chedi
and headed towards one of the hotel’s many pieces de
resistance; the Beach Restaurant. The restaurant offers a
magnificent view over the sea and is one step away from a
private, secluded beach. The wooden interiors of the petite
charming ‘open air’ restaurant, soft breeze ruffling the
curtains, the soothing music and a ‘typical’ mixture of Arabian
47
MIC
HAEL
AND
IEVA
HOR
UP W
ITH
ANDY
KUN
Z
48
and Asian architecture,
make a calming haven, far
away from the traffic and
sometimes hectic daily city-
life. Andy Kunz, Executive
Assistant Manager at The
Chedi, who has kindly agreed
to host us for this brunch as
well, tells us the story of one
client who came to stay at
the hotel following doctors’
orders to take a much-needed
rest. Horup and his wife
love the warm weather here
in Oman and the fact that
there is a nice breeze today,
enables us to sit outside
and enjoy the panoramic
view of the sea. According to
Horup, the atmosphere and
friendly service make dining
at The Chedi a remarkable
experience. Being in the
service-industry himself, he
knows what it takes to keep
a customer happy. Kunz, for
whom tasting and trying new
types of food is part of his
job, agrees with Horup that:
“fine dining (in a restaurant)
is based on the overall
experience”.
The Beach Restaurant is
famed for its wide selection of
local and international fresh
fish dishes. Being Danish in
origin, Horup has experienced
a multicultural fusion in food,
“though the Danish do tend
to eat heavy food,” he tells
us. Horup also enjoys seafood
and especially sushi, the raw
Japanese delicacy.
BON APÉTIT
50
The Chedi Friday brunch,
a beautiful buffet, offers
guests Fine de Claire
oysters from France, salads,
shrimps and Omani Crab
and Lobsters that are
even sold in the trendiest
restaurants as far as in
New York. One cannot help
thinking it is a luxury that
many of these dishes are
the day’s catch by one of
the many local fishermen.
The menu also features the
finger-licking grilled lamb
cutlets served with truffle
potatoes; seared salmon in
olive salsa and the delicious
sauté garlic prawns with a
flavor of sweet chili sauce;
amongst other delicacies. This
palette is enriched by the free
flow of sparkling beverages
and fruit juices that is served
throughout the dining
experience.
As per our guest’s wishes, we
also order sushi à la carte
with tuna from both Oman
and Japan. During the brunch
one can try out different fish
(and meat) dishes – if someone
likes anything in particular
they can make a special,
customised order.
While eating the exclusive
Omani crab, Horup happily
claims “This is the best crab
I have ever eaten… the taste
is a bit sweet, but so rich and
very delicious.” Fish is not all
there is on the menu though,
the lamb from New Zealand
is also considered to be ‘very
tender and nice’ by our guests.
The tuna sushi appears to
be one of Horup’s favourites
though, so the restaurant
keeps them coming. After
two hours of tasting and
pampering our taste buds with
different dishes, it is a miracle
that we still have space in the
stomach time for a selection
of the sweetest chocolate and
fruity desserts, halwa, and
coffee. The couple tells us how
impressed they are by the
various exotic fruits available
in the country as we tuck in to
the scrumptious desserts.
Frederick W. Hackwood once
said that a good meal soothes
the soul as it regenerates the
body. From the abundance of
it flows a benign benevolence.
The brunch in its rich
abundance does exactly
that. Of course, what adds
to the food is the fact that
atmosphere is as serene
and heart-warming. It is no
wonder then, that even as we
left the Beach Restaurant, the
well-sated couple lingered
behind. We last saw them
headed for a romantic stroll on
the beach…
The Chedi Friday brunch is served from 1pm to 4:30pm and is priced at Riyals 45++ per person. A 50 per cent discount applies for children. Prior reservations required: Call on 24524343 or mail [email protected]
BON APÉTIT
52
DANCE WITH
ME
FOR SOME PEOPLE DANCE IS A WAY OF ENJOYMENT. FOR SOME, IT’S A WAY OF LIFE. SPANISH DANCER ANTONIO NAJARRO BELONGS TO THE LATTER, DISCOVERS SIGNATURE
RETROSPECTIVE
When asked to describe the
essence of flamenco in three
words, this Spanish performer
uses the words passion, life
and charisma. But then these
words also describe the artistic
ingenuity that is Antonio
Najarro. Signature met Najarro
before his recent performance
for the Royal Opera House’s
Asdaa’ Musiqiyah…
The ProdigyAntonio Najarro, lead dancer,
choreographer and Artistic
Director of the Antonio Najarro
Company began his career at
a tender age of seven at the
Real Conservatorio Profesional
de Danza in Madrid. Being
born in a family of dancers
and performers, dancing
came naturally to Najarro.
At the academy he studied
diverse dance forms such as
classical ballet, Escuela Bolera
Spanish ballet, contemporary
dance and much more. He
graduated cum laude and
began his professional career
at 15 with the Rafael Aguilar
Dance Company (Ballet Teatro
Español de Rafael Aguilar).
The PerformerSoon after joining the dance
company, Najarro gained solo
roles like that of Lucas, the
handsome torero, Carmen
54
falls in love with. As word
spread of his immense talent
famous choreographers such
as the likes of Mariemma, and
Alberto Lorca began pursuing
Najarro. He soon found himself
performing in productions
like Goyescas, Homenaje a
Madrid and for prestigious
dance companies like Ballet
Antología, Teatro Lírico
Nacional de la Zarzuela and
Compañía Antonio Márquez
choreographed by the revered
José Granero. Then in 1997
Najarro, joined the National
Spanish Ballet (Ballet Nacional
de España) and within a very
short span of time, Najarro was
appointed ‘First Dancer’ and
performed in ballets such as
Ritmos, La Vida Breve, Poeta, y
Bolero. In Carmen, Jose Antonio
Ruiz specially choreographed
the role of Don Jose for him.
Najarro believes that dancing
is a way of life. However, he
adds that being a performer
isn’t cakewalk. “To become a
dancer, first and foremost, you
have to love dance because
it is hard work. You have to
practise for six to seven hours
each day and because of
that you don’t get to spend as
much time with your friends
and family.” Dancing, Najarro
believes is a fine balance of
physical agility and theatrical
finesse. “But if you love it, it’s
a beautiful way of life,” adds
Najarro with a radiant smile.
The ChoreographerAs much as Najarro enjoyed
being first dancer, in his
heart of hearts he wanted to
open his own dance company
and choreograph his own
productions. “I’ve had the
chance to work with the best
choreographers in Spain and
since I was 15 and started
dancing professionally, I
enjoyed the whole concept of
choreography and wanted to
do some of my own. Through
choreography I wanted to
portray my feelings, my life
and my ideas.” His major
break came when he was 24
and was asked to choreograph
for the Spanish National
Ballet. Although he’d been
doing small choreographies
by that time, this was big and
Najarro was the youngest
choreographer in the Spanish
National Ballet.
In 2002, he teamed up with
Pascal Gaona and founded
Talent Danza. Their first
production was Tango
Flamenco in December of
the same year at the Scene
Nationale du Sud Aquitaine
festival. Reminiscing about
his first show, Najarro admits
it was the most memorable
moment of his life, “I finally
saw my dream on stage that
night.”
Najarro took over the company
in 2004 and named it Compañía
Antonio Najarro and in 2006
he introduced his second
production: Flamenco Oriental.
Since then Najarro and his
troupe have successfully toured
across the globe bringing the
enticing flavour of flamenco far
and wide.
So how does he manage being
both the dancer as well as
choreographer, we wonder.
Says Najarro, “I now realise
that if you want to create new
shows you have to decide
whether you want to be the
dancer or the choreographer.
On one hand I love
choreography and creating
shows and on the other I love
dancing. It’s extremely hard to
do both, but I try my best.”
As a choreographer Najarro
doesn’t want to create new
styles of dance. “I have worked
with a lot of dancers and
choreographers alike and
think that in the dance world, a
unique style is already created
with the personality of each
RETROSPECTIVE
choreographer. When I work
with my dancers I don’t only
show them the steps, I love
to take elements from their
personalities and their artistic
elements and fuse them with
the dance. It is a hard process
but that’s what I love about
choreography.”
And it’s not only the dancers,
Najarro creates his shows
keeping in mind his audience
and the cultures of the country
in which the production
is being performed in. “I
create my shows with a lot of
elegance and respect and try
to get the audience captivated
from the beginning till the end
of the show. That’s the mark of
a good choreographer.”
Najarro’s style and flair as
a choreographer is clearly
reflected in his shows. He
combines elements of classic
ballet, flamenco as well as
some contemporary dance
moves. His dance moves have
a lot of energy as well as a
good dose of theatricality. “I
want to show love, passion and
all other different emotions.
I think a good choreographer
combines all these techniques
in perfect synchrony with
emotions and music.”
Choreography On IceNajarro’s fame as a
choreographer soon spread
world over and in 2006 the
producers of Champions on
Ice asked him to choreograph
the figure skaters’ routine.
Although he’d never done
anything like it before,
Najarro heartily accepted the
challenge. Next thing he knew,
Najarro was choreographing
a routine at the Olympics in
Salt Lake City in 2002 - which
won gold. “On ice flamenco
is completely different. It was
something completely new for
me but I love trying out new
things and so I said yes. At
the end of the day, we have to
remember, be it on ice or on
stage, they are still artists. And
the most important thing is to
know how to bring out the artist
in each skater.”
And the result? The
introduction of a whole new
language in the skating world.
But, that does not come as a
surprise. Najarro’s genius is
such that it transcends all
mediums and platforms and
brings to the mesmerised
audience a whole new world of
dance. It’s almost as if through
his performances, Najarro
seems to be serenading us with
a soulful rendition of ‘Dance
with me’
Dec 21, TuesdayOman Auditorium, Al Bustan Palace
InterContinental Muscat
Warsaw Chamber Opera’s ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera K.196’ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s La finta
giardiniera (The Pretend Gardener),
K196 is a Dramma per musica in
three acts. This opera is said to be
the first mature comic opera (opera
buffa) of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791). He was 18 years old, an
astounding achievement for that age.
56
DRIVEN BY PASSION
There are cars and then there are niche cars, but the Wiesmann is certainly one-of-a-kind. Deepa Rajan speaks to Friedhelm Wiesmann on why his car is
‘individuality’ in its purest form
CARS
M
57
Martin and Friedhelm Wiesmann grew up around
cars. Says Friedhelm, who was here in Oman
for the launch of the first Wiesmann dealership
in Oman, “My parents had a car dealership, so
we were always around cars. But my brother
became an engineer and worked for a company
developing and designing industrial pumps
- nothing to do with cars. And I worked in a
company producing children’s clothes, which
was something completely different.”
But, the fates intervened. A visit to the 1985
Essen Motor Show provided the kick-start for
an ambitious goal: the realisation of a sports
car with a fascinating old-fashioned shape,
but with state-of-the-art modern technology.
Friedhelm says, “They had great designs,
but very bad quality engines in the cars. The
cars exhibited in Essen did not arouse the
feeling that one expected of a sports car of
this class: passion. And, we thought that there
must be space for a German company in the
niche market that produced sports cars. So we
decided to build our own car.”
“We began in 1985 in the cellar of Martin’s
house. It was a long journey and eight years
58
CARS
later, in 1993, our first car
was ready to roll out (with all
papers and everything). The
first car, Roadster MF 3, a 6
cylinder version (v6 cylinder)
was sold to a Minister.”
It has not been an easy
journey and there was a lot of
risk involved. “It was a risk for
sure and therefore we needed
something else to earn money.
We knew we needed a long
time to develop and sell a
car. So we began producing
hardtops for convertibles
(which they still do). It was a
good business and I still had
my clothes manufacturing
company.
“It has been a rocky road.
But then, if it were easy then
many other companies would
also be doing it. Today we
are unique; the only such
company in Germany that
60
THE LOGO“The Gecko was my idea. When we
founded the company in 1988 we
had to find a logo, we checked the
patents worldwide and looked over
various designs, bearing in mind
that it had to be something unique.
We went through books looking
at different animals. We found the
gecko to be a very dynamic creature.
Moreover in Europe it is considered
a lucky sign. The car is on the road
like the Gecko on the wall.
When you see it on the wheels even
as they turn the Gecko is always a
Gecko, other symbols and logos
may appear upside down, but the
Gecko is always the right way up
in any position and the logo looks
good on everything from the car to
the merchandise.”
His favourite 5
1) BMW Alpina B5
2) Ferrari 599
3) BMW X5-M SUV
4) Mini Cooper S
5) Wiesmann Roadster
makes handmade purist
sports cars.”
But what makes a Wiesmann
different? You can hear the
distinct pride, in Friedhelm’s
voice as he explains, “Our
cars are a combination of
classic design and modern
technique. Our designs are
ageless. Handmade every
inch of the way, each car is
individualistic (specialists
spend about 350 hours to
make each Wiesmann one
of a kind); exotic, yet modern
and accessible technology
that makes it easier for the
customer when the car needs
servicing.
“Of course, as individualists
we believe exclusivity is very
important. There is only one
way to survive. You have to be
different otherwise you have
no chance in the market. We
now have about 1,350 cars and
we make about 200 a year. Our
target is to sell 500 per year in
the next 10 years.”
So how many cars do they
hope to sell in Oman? Says
Friedhelm, “Our normal sales
strategy is to show our cars at
exhibitions. But, in Oman we
sent out invitations to around
300 people to show our cars.”
According to Friedhelm, “Once
the car is on the road, that’s
the best marketing tool that
you can have.” We could not
agree more.
Someone once said that, “No
other man-made device since
the shields and lances of the
ancient knights fulfills a man’s
ego like an automobile.” This
is all the more true when it is
a purist sports car such as a
Wiesmann
CARS
Wiesmann cars are available at Fair Trade Auto LLC
It’s time again…It’s time to return to your hard-driving style. The stage is set for the 7th edition of OER CEO Golf – Corporate Oman’s most intense encounter outside a boardroom.
See you on the greens on 3 February 2011.
Contact Kush on 99253729 or 24700896 ext. 261 or email [email protected]
PUBLICITY PARTNERS MEDIA SPONSORS CATEGORY PARTNER
OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER
www.applauseeventsme.com Participation by invitation only3 FEB I MUSCAT HILLS
NAWRAS BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
62
Realistic REALIST ARTIST DAVID WILLIS’ PAINTINGS WILL BE ON DISPLAY IN A RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION AT THE BAIT AL BARANDA MUSEUM THIS MONTH. SUSHMITA SARKHEL CAUGHT UP WITH HIM...
It is popular belief that
art imitates life. And
in the case of David
Willis’ works, nothing
could be further from
that truth. You need
only view the images that
Willis creates to understand
the admiration and respect
that he holds for the cultures
and traditions of Oman and the
rest of the world. Resonating
with realism, Willis’ paintings
speak of life, movement and
light. And although his prime
focus is on paintings, Willis
also has a passion for wildlife
photography and filmmaking.
Willis has been living in
Oman for a good 24 years and
has been greatly influenced
by Omani traditions. He
works with a variety of media
including oils, watercolours
and graphic art and is greatly
revered among the local
community. This month, after
20 years Willis will be holding
a Retrospective Exhibition
of some of this works till
date. Curious to know more
about the man behind the
extraordinary paintings, we
met up with him for a chat.
Beginnings“I’m a self-taught artist and I
took up painting as a hobby
around my home in Australia.
On a journey to Europe where
I painted in several countries
I found that people actually
wanted to buy my work. So it
sort of carried on from there.
My travels took me to India
and Nepal and I did paintings
on the way. When I returned
to Australia and had a small
exhibition in my home town
and I managed to sell most of
the paintings. Then I decided
to take a trip to Papua New
Guinea. I went there for one
month and stayed for two
years. By that time, I had
started to paint people as well
as landscapes and my works
were popular amongst the
PEOPLE
t Reflections expatriate community there
who wanted to take something
back with them when they left.
From there I went to Spain,
North and South America, and
Africa. It was in Kenya that
my wife and I met someone
travelling who mentioned
Oman. I had never heard of
Oman before and was keen on
visiting. I made a visit here in
the late 70s but it wasn‘t until
1986 that my family and I came
to Oman to live. And we’ve been
here ever since.”
An artist’s life“As an artist in Oman life is
really good. Oman has a lot of
variety. I don’t just specialise
in one thing, I like to paint
many different subjects and
use various techniques like oil
and watercolour painting and
graphic art. As I am a realistic
painter and like to paint
traditional and natural things
I have found that Oman has
so many interesting things to
paint. Oman and all the world
is changing, but nonetheless
there’s still enough subjects that
interest me to paint here.”
Art is life “Since I haven’t gone to art
school or studied under a
teacher I’m not steeped in
modern art and not influenced
by a teacher. I started painting
because I like to see and
capture the natural world,
the light and the colours. So it
wasn’t the influence of going
to art galleries or going to art
school. Of course, I learnt a lot
by looking at other people’s
work and also learnt during
my travels. I am still learning.
Actually I have done most
of the paintings of my life
in Oman. When I paint I try
and capture the essence of
the place and I think people
buy my works because of this.
Probably what I’m best known
for is movement and light, like
people in markets, camel races
and horse riding.”“Lately, I
have also been doing a lot of
videoing and films. My son and
I were involved in making a
film on Arabian leopards. We
have always been interested
in wildlife and when I heard
there were leopards in Oman,
we decided to go down south to
Dhofar and try and photograph
them.”
Getting retrospective“I have been thinking about
having an exhibition for years
but couldn’t gather enough
paintings together. I decided to
have a retrospective exhibition
instead. So we’ll be showcasing
some of the paintings that I
have done over the years before
I came to Oman, as well as a
few recent paintings I’ve done
here. Some of my patrons have
also very generously offered
to lend the paintings for the
exhibition. Hence there won’t be
that many paintings for sale.”
64
IT’S A BEAUTIFUL
LIFECHRISTIAN DOOSE OF P&G’S COLOR
COSMETICS DIVISION SPEAKS TO
REKHA BAALA ON WHY HE IS EXCITED
TO BE PART OF THE CONSTANTLY
EVOLVING BEAUTY BUSINESS…
BEAUTY
65
Being a man in the beauty
business is not easy. Christian
Doose, managing director of
Color Cosmetics (with brands
like CoverGirl and Max
Factor), a division of P&G will
tell you that. But he will also
tell you that it is exciting, fun
and a wonderful industry to
work in. Christian admits that
in the beginning, he did not
even know what a kohl pencil
was. Eight years down the
line, he has taken the beauty
business to great heights with
top brands like CoverGirl and
Max Factor becoming the most
sought-after worldwide.
In a recent visit to Oman,
he spoke to Signature on
the ‘fun’ element of his job,
the challenges and how he
perceives the Middle East
market.
How long have you been in the beauty business?“I have been working with
Proctor & Gamble for the
past 16 years. P&G is all
about brands attempting
to improve consumer lives.
Many are chore-oriented, like
dishwashing, dry cleaning,
household care or baby care
and I have worked with most of
them. I moved into the beauty
division, Color Cosmetics
around eight years ago and
find it a whole lot of fun.”
start smiling. It certainly gives
you a level of radiance and
confidence you have never
experienced before.”
In a world where everyone is churning out new beauty products, what do you think is your toughest challenge? “The toughest challenge is
finding new and meaningful
products for the consumer. For
instance, many women would
love to have longer-lasting
lipsticks. Though we have
them, they would still like
them to last longer, almost like
a lip tattoo, but removable, of
course! We would like to look
into the skincare aspect of our
products and also work more
closely with fashion designs
and trends.”
Do you think Jane Austen pre-empted a surge in the men’s cosmetics industry, when she called men ‘beautiful’?“I think the concept of
‘beautiful men’ has been
prompted more by David
Beckham and the whole idea
of metrosexuality. And that’s
what has made cosmetics and
fragrances for men popular.”
As managing director for Color Cosmetics, what is your vision for the company?“My aim is to be able
to continuously satisfy
consumer needs thereby
enabling the company to
grow. That would in turn
mean reaching out to new
consumers in new markets
and also reach out to more
people in the markets we
operate in. I want to make
CoverGirl and Max Factor
more attractive to consumers
so that they choose us instead
of our competitors.”
How is the Middle East different from other markets?“The Middle East is a ‘different’
market in every sense. Here,
everything from desires,
habits to colour choices are
dramatically varied. What
is good though is that we
have products that appeal
to consumers. Here, we find
that women look forward to
products that can make them
look ‘fair’. Sometimes, even
the lightest shade is not light
enough. We will continue
to look at products that are
specifically favoured by
women in this region.”
What would you say to women and men who want to look and feel beautiful?“The ultimate feeling of beauty
is confidence, so find out what
can trigger that. It could be
anything from clothing, a new
grooming style, a change in
hairstyle and a lot of other
things that could make you
look and feel confident.”
What are your favourite brands?“I am a big fan of sports and
car brands. Porsche has always
created a certain desire in
men of my age. Apple is a
phenomenal brand. When it
comes to beauty, I would say
brands like Yves Saint Laurent,
Dior and Chanel because they
are all personality-driven. I
think that is what distinguishes
Max Factor as a top brand.
Max Factor made make-up for
Hollywood when he realised
that women looked pale under
camera light. He created a mix
that would make them look
better. And the result? Women
not only look more beautiful
but the confidence makes them
radiate a strong inner beauty
as well.”
So, according to you, beauty is a ‘fun’ business?“For me, moving to Color
Cosmetics and big brands
like Max Factor and CoverGirl
has been fun because it offers
a completely new learning
experience. I am a non-expert
here and have women telling
me what to do and how to work
better and that’s a fascinating
aspect to the job. Each day is
a learning experience and I
am humbled by the fact that
I don’t know everything in
this business. Each market
teaches me something new,
in fact, every store has a story
to tell. It is a vast, dynamic
and flexible territory and the
beauty business has a lot more
scope for innovation. We have
fashion associated with it and
that means constantly evolving
trends and designs. We also
work with celebrities like
Rihanna and Ellen DeGeneres.
“Our brands itself are varied
and cater to a specific
consumer niche. CoverGirl is
for the ‘magazine cover girl’,
for those women who want to
make a statement; while Max
Factor brings every woman
make-up artists’ expertise to
help them achieve confidence
in being beautiful.”
How would you sell the concept of beauty?“I think beauty is an
experience and should be
available for everybody. You
can look at it from different
angles. It’s true that inner
beauty matters a lot, but
how you look on the outside
is also equally important.
For me, looking and feeling
beautiful would be a mix of
inner and outer beauty, each
influencing the other. Look at
it this way. You can be given
an outstanding new look by a
top make-up artist. You look
at yourself in the mirror and
66
TRAVEL
WHY WAIT TO TAKE THAT WELL-EARNED BREAK?
FOR THOSE OF YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING EXTRAVAGANT, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS PERFECT FOR A RELAXING LUXURIOUS HOLIDAY TO LAS VEGAS,
EUROPE, OR EVEN MEXICO. SIGNATURE
PICKS FIVE TOP PLACES TO VISIT.
Winter Wonderlands
67
mexicoThe best time to visit Mexico is before December 23 and after January 15, when it’s considered off-peak season;
rates are at their lowest. Premium, all-inclusive resorts are opening up in the Riviera Maya area - this means
you can get your food, drinks, entertainment, activities, and even ocean-view upgrades included in your
rate. Cancún was just a small sand barrier some 35 years ago when the plan began to develop it into the
vacation haven of the 21st century. Today, Cancún consists of a medium-sized coastal city and a long thin
island connected to the mainland through bridges. Featuring excellent resorts, hotels, clubs, and malls it has
something for everyone, from an all-day fun party beach to an isolated, tranquil island.
68
europe Big-city vacations are on not a ‘break the bank’ occasion any more. All over the world, you can find competitive rates
including in Europe. It is a great place to visit any time of the year, and winter is ideal if you want low prices on luxury
hotels and fewer crowds to deal with. Most cities are comfortably enjoyable during the slower season, including Paris and
Madrid, since the weather isn’t extreme, and there’s plenty to do indoors and out. Think Paris, think fashion, Paris has more
shops than you can imagine and will tempt you with the opportunity to splash out on the best clothes, shoes, accessories
and much more. Or think Madrid and experience museums, monuments, accommodation, and gastronomy. If you’re looking
for a city break, beach holiday or long haul adventure, Europe will have everything you’re looking for!
TRAVEL
70
California, USATry going west all the way to California this winter. If you do, you’ll find huge discounts on top luxury hotels up and down
the coast. You can save as much as 50 per cent on an upscale hotel experience, especially over the holidays when business
travel is light and hotels need to lower rates to fill rooms. Spend the holidays stress-free in a relaxing, fancy hotel for much
less, than you’d expect. Look for migrating whales along the coast, or schuss down Sierra slopes. All this, in addition to the
must-sees like cable cars clanging up San Francisco’s hills, celebrities strolling on Malibu beaches, amazing shopping,
unforgettable restaurants, world-class museums and, of course, magical lands of make-believe and films. Explore the
Golden State and you’re sure to find a sweet treat indeed.
TRAVEL
FFFrrreeeeeeeeeellllaaaaaaaannnnnnnccccceeeerrrr
AuAutotomamatic c chchc roronon graphPoPoPP wer r rereservve: 4 46h6 WWateter resisiststanancece: : 10100m0m / 330ft Sapphire crystal with antitiglglararee treatmentFolding clasp with double push-security system
www.raymond-weil.com
7272
las vegas, USAThe luxury hotel scene in Las Vegas has been booming since the 90s, and the last few years are no exception. Five star
hotels continue to open despite the economic downturn and it is you, the traveller who benefits - the larger number of
empty rooms, the bigger the competition to drop rates to secure bookings. Hotels like the Venetian and Aria continue to
offer unbelievable deals, and with the 3,000-room Cosmopolitan Hotel opening its doors on New Year’s Day 2011, it will
only get better. Las Vegas, an ever-changing fantasyland city, has seen unbelievable expansion since it emerged from the
desert just over 100 years ago. Millions of visitors every year enjoy the sights and sounds of Las Vegas who stay in some
of the most glamorous, unique hotels in the world. Vegas will dazzle you, but the sheer number of things to see and do can
seem overwhelming. A little advance planning will help you to enjoy your true Vegas trip.
TRAVEL
dominican republicThis may be news to you, but the Dominican Republic is actually a
high-end resort hotspot in the Caribbean. This Latin island offers an
extremely good value on four and five star resorts. Before the word
gets out, take advantage of amazing luxury stays that are still at a low
price. Go all out with an all-inclusive stay, which includes all your
meals, drinks, and activities. There is no place quite like the Dominican
Republic just because its history is the result of an unlikely mixture of
influences; nowhere else will you find a blending of European, African,
and native Taíno Indian cultures. These distinct cultures still drive the
social identity of the people today. Every aspect of their food, music,
art, sports and religion provides a unique insight into the development
of their country. In a single day, you can experience both ancient and
modern cultures from around the globe.
Signature gets geeky and checks out which phone can either help you or make you…
Signature gets geeky and checksout which phone can either help
GET SMART
74
TECHNOLOGY
A CUT ABOVE THE REST! (IPHONE 4)Rarely do smartphones create such uproar as the Apple’s iPhone 4 did
when it entered the smartphones market. The retina display, video calling features, access to thousands of applications and the ease
of multitasking were a few of the features that made this phone stand out among the others. The display on Apple’s iPhone 4 is easily the sharpest and most clear display Signature Bahrain has seen amongst smartphones. It features a 960 x 640 pixel resolution, which holds no
comparison to the 480 x 320 resolution that is found on its predecessor, the 3GS. With such a high resolution, your eyes
are unable to see each pixel on the iPhone 4, which results in a much clearer, crisper and more enjoyable display. It’s easily one of
the best smartphones available on the market and is several steps ahead of its competition. But it’s easy to get caught up in the vast selection of high-end features offered on this phone; the basic features do provide the highest quality. This is really what a smartphone should be. We bet it will be quite some time before anyone can truly match it.
1
As a busy person, you know the importance of staying a step ahead of your clients. You also probably
know the feeling of being tied to your desk just so you don’t miss that important email or phone call
and to maintain convenient access to essential data - proposals, schedules, contact information,
business news or even the stock market. To take a little bit of the stress away, we believe that owning
a smartphone is a clever way forward.
Many of these devices allow you to sync with your desktop computer meaning you can store, view,
and work on documents directly on your handheld you can also receive and respond to emails as they
arrive in your inbox on your home computer with real-time push email. These products can also serve
as multimedia devices, so your entertainment goes with you...
75
A CORPORATE GEM (BB TORCH OPEN FRONT)BlackBerry has single-handily lead the smartphones market when it comes to multitasking and accomplishing business-oriented tasks. And the BlackBerry Torch 9800 keeps BlackBerry lovers happy with a few improved business and organisational features, but that’s about it. The BlackBerry Torch features a touch-screen and QWERTY keyboard, an improved operating system and an average multimedia system. When it comes down to the design of the BlackBerry Torch 9800, it is impressive, compared to other smartphones – the real eye candy! Featuring a 3.2-inch touch-screen and a slide-out keyboard, this device was designed to make navigation simple and quick. Below the touch-screen there is a track-pad. Track-pads are popular amongst other BlackBerry devices but the touch-screen on this model is large enough to enable easy navigation without the need for one. The Torch has a few new features, such as the BlackBerry OS 6, but it still doesn’t feel quite up to par with other smartphones. Users who just want to perform business tasks will appreciate this phone, but if you want a few more smarts on your smartphones, this model isn’t the best choice for you.
A GEEK’S CHOICE (NOKIA N900_20 & N900_38)
Nokia’s N900 is an interesting kettle of fish. Part mobile phone, part singing and dancing mobile computer, it is the logical successor to the N810
Internet Tablet. But it is so much more than the N810 ever was, largely because it sports a new operating system which is designed to cater for developers’ flights of fancy. We think you’ll need to be a bit of a geek to
get the most out of the N900, but if you are prepared for that, it could end up being a really useful little device. The tech specs are very
impressive, and there are a few surprises among them. Overall we found the N900 a mostly satisfying device, due to the fact it’s fast
and responsive - the processor seems well up to the task. Switching applications is easy, we love the web browser and visually the user interface is a treat. Let’s hope the range of apps available are plentiful and varied, otherwise the likes of the already app-rich Android handsets and
the iPhone might knock the N900 to the sidelines.
THE CREEPER (HTC-DESIRE-HD)The 4G network is about to become fully fledged, and it’s bringing America’s first 4G phone, the HTC EVO 4G with it. The EVO is just another Android out
on the market at the moment, and doesn’t scream Signature! However, it isn’t just a phone to be set aside and ignored. This HTC phone has many advanced
features, such as the 8MP (mega-pixel) camera, ability to connect to an HDTV and the latest version of the HTC Sense User Interface making it a strong
player on the Android team. The EVO not only has increased speed and power compared to other Droids, but also increased size. This HTC is a big and
thick phone. With the generous screen-size of 4.3-inches, this phone needs to be bulky and firm to deal with the demand media it likes. Sharp colours
and vibrancy are also important with such a grand display, and the EVO will not disappoint with a screen resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, which is the same
sharp resolution you will find on both the Nexus One and Droid Incredible. Even though the 4G network is getting all the hype, until it expands to a
broader area, it is hard to get too excited.
multitaskTorch 9800organisatscreen anmultimedit is impre3.2-inch tonavigatio
2
3
sapponot disp resosharven thEv4
76
“I can’t spend all my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead.”
Barack Obama (on rumours he was not born in US)
If geek means you’re willing to study things, and if you think science and engineering matter, I plead guilty. If your culture
doesn’t like geeks, you are in real trouble.”Bill Gates
“I’m an optimist. I think I will return to Tibet with a Chinese passport.”
The Dalai Lama (on China’s letting him return to Tibet)
“I think the outcome would be much as when Christopher Columbus first landed in America, which
didn’t turn out very well for the Native Americans.” Stephen Hawking (on consequences of
aliens visiting Earth)
We are now, I fear, in the early stages of a third depression. The cost to the world economy and,
above all, to the millions of lives blilghted by the absence of jobs, will be immense.
Paul Krugman
As the year draws to a close, Signature walks down the memory lane of the most quotable quotes….
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