Lady Sandberg: The Evolution of a Life' Work

Fine Art Promotions announces a new retrospective exhibition by Lady Carmel Sandberg.  The Evolution of a Life's Work will be on public view at The Air Gallery from 2 — 8 November.
 
Lady Carmel Sandberg was born in Dundalk, Co. Louth and raised in Dublin. The youngest sister to Charlie Donnelly, a well-known poet and left wing intellectual who fought and died aged just twenty-two during the Spanish Civil War. His poems continue to be studied today and have recently been republished; he was best known for his poem 'Even the Olives are Bleeding'.

From early childhood Carmel remembers being fascinated by colour mixes and fondly refers to a striking woollen scarf given to her as a gift. The emotion, comfort and pure energy that she felt seeing the scarf’s colour mix together, was instrumental in her future artistic pursuit. She studied at the National College of Art, Dublin and later studied at the Nan Yang Academy of Fine Art, Singapore and finally the Acadamie Julian, Paris.

She met and married Michael Sandberg, a banker with HSBC and shortly afterwards they moved to Singapore. It was here that Carmel was inspired to paint on a regular basis. They later moved to Hong Kong where they lived for the next 30 years.

Carmel spent a lot of time painting in her studio and designing the interiors and exterior of their official residences. Her early work was very much influenced by the Far East and her first solo exhibition in Hong Kong in 1974 won critical acclaim. Nevertheless, as time went on Lord Sandberg rose to become Chairman of both HSBC the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and Carmel’s precious creative time was all but taken over by the demands of their official duties and corporate entertaining.

The Sandberg's returned to England in the 1980's and began their new life at their Hampshire estate, 'Waterside'.  Newly retired, Lady Sandberg regained the inspiration from the nature and the wildlife surrounding her, especially by the peacocks that wandered daily into her studio; she soon returned to her brushes and easel.

Her works, mainly oils on canvas or gouache in the Kakemono style, share a parody from the Impressionists and Modern painters like Gauguin, Monet and Chagall. Together with nature inspired themes and motifs to which she returns again and again, Carmel's work has evolved into her unique and recognisable modus operandi.

The pure energy that emanates from each piece helps to transport the viewer, albeit temporarily, into her spiritual and unspoiled world. The retrospective exhibition, open daily from 11am - 6pm, includes key works created throughout her life. Together with detailed images of her design work, gives a close insight into her extraordinary vision.




The Air Gallery is at 32 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4NE. Telephone:  020 7409 1255.

Fine Art Promotions presents Souren Mousavi's second major solo exhibition 'Art as a unique Expression of Freedom II'  at the Flawless Gallery, New Bond Street, London from 21st - 31st October 2008.

 
This exhibition follows her April '08 launch into the London art scene; a successful first solo that attracted much attention from international Television (Reuters), Radio (BBC World Service) and the press media.
 
Souren Mousavi was born is Persia in 1969, linked to the Iranian Monarchy. Her privileged background enabled her to study fine art where she eventually graduated with a Fine Art Masters Degree from the University of Tehran.
 
Graduating, however, was not to be the start of the promising career her natural talent would allow but the start of what was to become her worst nightmare. Like many students growing up and learning to voice their opinions, Souren began to explore an interest in women's rights.
 
She was encouraged to use art to convey her thoughts and feelings and in doing so became an active campaigner. Her expression of freedom was nothing of the sort and led subsequently to her arrest and eventual imprisonment on the grounds her work was deemed offensive by the regime. Harshly sentenced to a long term in prison, Souren was to experience many years of darkness. With help she managed to escape and then began a  long journey to freedom and safety.
 
Souren, who now lives and works in Stratford-Upon-Avon, shares with you during her inspired experience of the struggle between mind, body and spirit. The human ability of strength against the odds and, a powerful will to survive are evident within her vivid and minutely detailed art
 
In this thoughtfully created exhibition, Souren portrays in her forty plus canvases, watercolours and sketches her ability as an artist in displaying some of the best, most colourful and emotional art around today. Each composition is thoughtfully and meticulously conceived. Every painting challenges the viewer with an ever-deepening narrative iconography on each return visit. Cutting edge and individually stylistic her contribution to fine art surpasses with subtlety that of all her contemporaries.
 
The exhibition is by no means melancholy or sad but wholeheartedly expresses the strengths and hopes of not just Souren Mousavi, but of everyone.  Sometimes reminiscent of the old Persian miniatures of her ancestry; her works pull you in whilst her strength and her bright spirit spill out.
 
A piece of the beauty that is the artist herself leaves with everyone who views or owns her work; whether in support of international women's rights or purely for aesthetic or decorative pleasures.
 
This emotionally charged exhibition also launches her unseen work from her latest series; all of which will promise to impress.
 
The exhibition runs for ten days and is being held at the Flawless Gallery, 105 New Bond Street (opposite Sotheby's).
Open daily from 10.00am - 6.00pm - free admission
 
Reception & private view - Tuesday 21st October 6.00-9.00pm (followed by an exclusive after launch celebration at the Private Members Club-The Burlington Club, 12 New Burlington Street; complimentary welcome cocktails await).
 
For further information on the exhibition, corporate or private viewings please contact Julie Badrick, Fine Art Promotions
E: julie@fineartpromotions.com, M:07941271244
www.sourenmousavi.co.uk
     
Francesco Simoes - established Portuguese artist will also be exhibiting a selection of works, in celebration of Souren's exhibition. Francesco has a lifetime of experience as an artist and is renowned and respected throughout the world for his many commissions, both public and private.

"It is with great pleasure that I accept the invitation of showing my work along with Souren Mousavi's, a live witness to the immoral brtality of todays disrespect for Human Rights. Mousavi's work mirrors the intensity of captivity, of the cruelty that in some parts of the world still persists today.
Although still young, Mousavi's work is already full of intensity, emotion and bravery which as a teacher I always encouraged my students to follow. Mousavi's determination is to take her far, but mostly represents hope. It is a strong message, one that brings colour to darkness.
As Mousavi's, my work highlights the Human Condition of Women. Their beauty, their fragility and their enourmous strength. I acknowledge her efforts in highlighting the defense of Human Rights, and as a man who also paid with jail the fight for Freedom I couldn't but support this initiative."

Francesco Simoes

   Marble sculptures by Francesco Simoes

Peter Quintana

or

Souren Mousavi was born in Persia in 1969 to an Iranian mother and Bahraini father with ancestry linked to the Iranian monarchy.  Graduating with a Fine Art Masters degree from the University of Tehran, Souren began to explore an interest in women's rights.  She was inspired to use her art to convey her thoughts and feelings; becoming an active campaigner.

Souren's primary subject; the female form, examples of which are included in her currant exhibition; were deemed pornographic and offensive by the regime.  This contributed to her arrest and eventual imprisonment. There began a painful and traumatic period over several years; ending in safety in the UK.

Her exhibition encaptures her extraordinary struggle for freedom. Her collection of paintings, drawings and limited edition prints provides the viewer an astonishing and powerful statement of her strength and hope.

The exhibition is focused her two series-
The Passion Pain - Luminous use of colour and natural imagery symbolise the artist's need for tenderness in a place of brutality and exploitation.  Movement and flow express the spirit dissolving through time and space, searching for escape and rejuvenation.  Fragmented and disjointed depictions of eyes, nose, hands, feet, mouth imply deprevation, denial and the desecration of humanity. Souren incorporates traditional Persian art forms reflecting her sadness at the loss of her heritage.  The Passion Pain Series delineates an honest and emotive journey from internment to freedom.
Women Exposed - Oil paintings reveal the plight of a woman in her twenties denied the freedom of love, intimacy and self expression. Self portraits explore the complexities of sexuality, desire, life and death. Souren's figures allude to the features of womankind. She touches on creation and motherhood. Frequent use of the body bound by nature, portrays a deep need to return to the base elements of life. Partially covered features contrast beauty and ugliness, raising questions of internal conflict that are deliberately confusing.

Souren lives and works in Strafford upon Avon.

Contact us for a copy of her exhibition catelogue.
To visit Souren's website click www.sourenmousavi.co.uk

Our marketing and PR campaign resulted in media attention from the BBC and Rueters TV.

Garnier Art presented a contemporary Indian art exhibition during London's Asian Art week 4th November - 10th November 2007. Garnier Arts was the only official Indian contemporary participant and leading member of Art Asian London. The exhibition showcased 5 important emerging artists; all well known in India- they exhibited cutting edge works of art in both paintings and sculpture.

See exhibition press release at:
www.artknowledgenews.com/

Alok Bal, B Manjunath Kamath, Pratul Dash, Sachin Karne and Vinod A Patel

The McGrath Foundation was founded by the Australian Cricketer Glenn McGrath and his wife Jane. British born Jane was diagnosed  with breast cancer and through her ordeal found a lack of trained breast cancer care nurses in her new home contry; Australia.  The McGrath Foundation funds specialist breast care nurses (the McGrath Nurses) and promotes awareness of breast cancer.  The McGrath nurses give valuable support to patients, the families and friends.
The McGrath Foundation, together with Altrincham Football Club and Fine Art Promotions have assisted in the organisation of an event to be held in Manchester on 30th September 2007. The first event will be a celebrity football match at the Altrincham FC. Players include Glenn McGrath, Michael Bevan, Bryan Robson, Peter Reid, Tim Bresden Blair McDonough ('Stewart Parker' Neighbours) Jonathon Dutton (also ex Neighbours), Brad Drew, and others 'v' the 'The Celebrity All Stars' , captained by Micheal Le Ville (Kevin Webster) and other actors from Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.

The evening GalIa together with proceeds from the match raised over £40,000 for the charity and Altrincham FC.

Update 22nd June 2008- 'It is with deep sadness that the family and friends of Jane McGrath, beloved wife of former Australian Cricketer Glenn and loving mother of James & Holly, announce she passed away at her home this morning. With Glenn and her 2 children by her side, Jane's wonderful life ended peacefully after a sudden decline in her health over the past week. Jane, 42 had surgury earlier this year and was recovering before complications set in. Jane  has left a lasting legacy through the McGrath Foundation, an organisation that is providing thousands of men & women hope - and support - in their fight against breast cancer." McGrath Foundation


right to left: Julie Badrick, Glenn McGrath, Jeff Goodwin, Jane McGrath, Suzanne Goodwin

Wildlife and cultural photographer Rebecca Woods, donated her limited edition signed and framed 'Mother's Day'  to raise funds for the Born Free Foundation.  Rebecca was keen to support the foundation which has been inspirational for her wildlife work for many years. She has been a life long supporting member of Born Free and was extremely honoured to have been able to take such an active part in raising funds. 

Her photograph, a limited edition was one of the star lots in their Silent Auction, the rules however state that the final highest price achieved at midnight will be the winner. However, a higher bid was placed after the time curfew but Mother's Day , rightly belonged to the bidder who placed their bid within the auction rule times.  Nevertheless, after brief discussions and with the main aim of the evening a top priority, it was decided by  Born Free and, in absolute agreement with Rebecca that she released a second limited edition, unframed but signed to satisfy the recipient of the time expired bid.  This meant that for 2 of Rebecca's wonderful limited edition images of Mother's Day raised  over £700, a 100% donation for Born Free. 

Having exposed her wildlife images at this event, Rebecca has been approached by various collectors. Born Free have also shown an interest in promoting her work in their next calendar.

Garnier Contemporary Art
presented
'Silence'
An exhibition of recent works for the Buddha Series
by
MSC Satya Sai

also featured select works by Sajal Sasanka Sarkar and Jagannath Mohapatra

The VIP reception was a popular event, with MSC Satya Sai on hand to answer direct questions regarding his impressive series.  The Indian Woman's Institute took over the following evening, proving yet another successful event.  The exhibition closed Saturday 9th June we can look forward with excitement at the next planned exhibition on Indian Contemporary Art presented by Garnier Art this November, during London's Asian Art Week.


   

Garnier Contemporary Art presented Shifting Focus at the Air Gallery in Dover Street, London.  It involved the works of an impressive selection by severn  of India's top emerging Artists.  The majority of these artist have gone from strength to strength, not only back home in India but all over the world. Further fueling the demand for Indian Contemporary works.

The artists included: Alok Bal, George Martin, MSC Satya Sai, Sharika Mehta, Pratel Dash,  a selection of these works can be seen in our gallery.  

Christopher Garnier, Director of Garnier Contemporary Art, is holding another exhibition starting this month at the Air Gallery, London. The star of the show is MSC Satya Sai, who will be exhibiting his most recent works in his Buddha series.