The Frieze Art Fair, London, Oct 2011

By Durva Gandhi

The Frieze Art Fair is the ultimate art fair for the art fraternity the world over. The VIP invite at the fair allows you access to the most important museums and private views at important institutions and exhibits. from several opening parties prior to the fair opening and unveiling of several important works and exhibits of artists from around the world, this makes for one of the most coveted art events on the art enthusiasts calendar.  The VIP diary includes exciting
programme of events organised by Londons museums and galleries during the fair. Other privileges include exclusive professional entry to the fair everyday, use of dedicated concierge service, private club membership and a London guide with recommended restaurants and local travel information.

From private breakfast views and champagne brunches - Grayson Perry @ the British Museum, to Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist @ Hayward Gallery, to the Post Modernism @ V&A to Mexican artist Anri Sala @ the Serpentine Gallery pavilion to the talk on collecting with Turkish collectors as well as The Shape of Things to be @ the Saatchi Gallery London, the art scenen London this week had a buzz!

Dinner at Bambau one night and a French film at the film festival are worth a mention. A trip up the London Eye one evening to get a view of the lit city from the top was worth a mention. The locational advantage of my hotel The Marble Thistle Arch on Oxford Street for the week, was central enough for shopping and other activities. And shop i did, untill i dropped!!!

Mexico, Mexico!!!

By Durva Gandhi

After a long art week at the Frieze in London, I land in Mexico city for a much deserved holiday. I am driven to the Sheraton Maria Isabelle, my hotel on Reforma with a view of the Independence Monument Angel from my room. Next morning i get on a Turibus: a hop on hop off version to get a sense of the city. The city very well planned and
large has some Prehispanic, hispanic and modern influences on architecture and art. A visit to Casa Azul is worth a mention, the blue house, home to legendary artist Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Riviera, now a museum, has its character from the film on the artist. Some 300 works from the artists personal collection are housed here. A lunch at La Bonatierre on high street Planco, a posh residential area is worth a mention. Mariachi singers at the hotel entertain us every evening. Also worth a mention is Carlos Slim's personal collection of 16000 art works housed in the Soumaya museum in Polanco. One morning we drive with our driver to Sonora market to explore the magical charms of the Aztec culture. A tarot reading with spanish cards with Andres interpreting the reader is insightful of the mythical Aztec world. Here are available charms for cleansing your aura,  protecting your aura, opening your doors to love, luck, happiness in lotion, perfumes, soaps, animal forms all available for you to experiment with. Four kinds of magic, white, green, red and black is what i learnt.

A trip to the worlds third largest pyramids in Teotihuacan is on the cards on one morning. Sun and Moon pyramids amongst the avenue of the dead have a definite energy impact on the four cardinal points. A visit to the cactus plantation of Mage from where Tequila is derived, we sample some Pulte and some Tequila shots and learn how the drink is processed. Cactus shaped sweet bread 'Churros' with chocolate sauce are a must have street delight.

A pre halloween night street art display of large mythical characters from Aztec culture adorn the Reforma Avenue with street food all around, this turns out to be just the bright colored culture day as one would imagine Mexico to be.  

Los Angeles, the city of Angels!

By Durva Gandhi

On our way from sunny Los Cabos in Mexico we flew to LA to attend a four day seminar at the Westin. Los Angeles or the city of angels as it is rightly called is also home to Hollywood and many of its celebrities given its warm californian weather. The highlights are the Universal Studios, Disney World with the Disney Parade and some thrilling rides, a drive around BEVERRLY HILLS, Rodeo Drive famous for Pretty Woman song, driving past the avenue of the Stars and homes of Jack Nicolson, Will Smith, Bruce Willis, Rehana amongst many others in a private Lincon.

A visit to the Cheesecake factory at the Grove was particularly fun. We got to watch Cirque Du Soleil's latest show in Hollywood: IRIS, a tribute to cinema, which was as awesome as all of Cirque's shows we've seen in Vegas.

San Jose Del Cabo

By Durva Gandhi

No holiday in Mexico is complete without going to Cancun or Los Cabos. Since our next destination was on the west coast in LA we decided to head to the Baja California region in Los Cabos.Cabos is to Mexico what Krabi is to Thailand. The obvious place to stay in Los Cabos would be The One and Only, but we decided spontaneously in favour of an alternate experience of an adult only resort called   'Temptations'. With a sensual edge to everything, from pool activities, to aquaerobics, to the sensual signature massage at the spa, to the beach cabanas on the ocean, the pool games and evening activities at the jacuzzi and unlimited alcohol at all hours, this was the place to be.
A fine dining Japanese experience with the open Sushi Bar at the hotel and a dinner with friends at Tropicana which is a local cuisine restaurant in down town Cabos were worth a mention.
The midnight bar at the jacuzzi and the live entertainment at the Melange until the vie hours is worth a mention. Needless to say we left Cabo for LA four shades darker!

Hola Buenos Aires

Hola Buenos Aires

by Durva Gandhi

Buenos Aires, the city of 'good air' in Spanish, definitely lives up to its name with a warm, temperate climate during the day and pleasantly cools in the evenings.

Avenida 9 de Julio

Buenos Aires offers a variety of experiences from milonga (dance halls) where you can learn to tango to some very fine musuems. La Virutais one such milonga where we took a couple of tango classes one night. 

Recoleta and Palermo aresome of the Bueno Aires’ most upscale neighbourhoods and are full of green parks and beautifulcafes. Recoloeta houses MALBA, the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires).  The private collection of art patron Constantin Eduardoand a stunning self-portrait of Mexican legendary artist Frida Cahlo are amongst the highlights of the museum’scontemporary art works.

MALTA

One of the highlights of the five days spent in Buenos Aires, was visit to the cultural neighbourhood La Bocca. La Bocca is a colourful, cultural experience with Spanish-style architecture and gaucho couples dancing tango on both sides of thestreets. Another wonderful neighbourhood is San Telmo. Every Sunday, this neighbourhood turn into a giant flea market with antique dealers selling silver ware and cutlery, lamps and jeweller.

La Bocca

Durva Gandhi isthe promoter of Breathe Arts, a gallerist, curator, collector and designer