The Artful Life: 6 Things Galerie Editors Love This Week

1. Architect Ma Yansong Debuts Colorful Waterfront Installation in China

Eschewing the boxy symmetry often associated with modern buildings, visionary architect Ma Yansong of MAD Architects turns to nature when conceiving his futuristic projects, which he likens to mountain ranges, clouds, and even volcanoes. His latest installation, Timeless Beacon, is as ethereal as a rainbow—comprising cascades of diaphanous fabric (repurposed fishing nets) that seem to float above an abandoned waterfront market in the Chinese village of Taiping Xu, acting as a lighthouse of sorts. On view through the summer of 2024, the three-story installation also features exterior walls wrapped in reflective film as a way of making the historic building blend in with its surroundings. “We hope to create a sense of vitality and rebirth from the ruins so that people can feel new energy and perception from the old structure, as well as a new understanding of time to this whole area,” said Yansong. —Geoffrey Montes

2. Bergdorf Goodman Reimagines Its Personal Shopping Suite

Guests arriving to shop Bergdorf Goodman’s curated selection of high-fashion clothing, accessories, and home goods are enveloped in glamorous surroundings from the moment they go through the Fifth Avenue doors. Now, the store’s creative visionaries Linda Fargo and Susan Homan have transformed the private shopping suite, installing high-design pieces from contemporary brands alongside vintage goods to create a sophisticated experience. After accessing the private entrance, visitors traverse a chic marble mosaic floor to arrive in the sumptuous lounge, which is enveloped in creamy plaster walls and outfitted with Holly Hunt furnishings, Scalamandre textiles, and graphic floor coverings from The Rug Company, not to mention Serge Mouille light fixtures and striking photography by Ukrainian artists Olha Stepanian and Yevgeniy Repiashenko. —Jill Sieracki

3. A Paris Landmark Comes to Life with Sculptures by Alexandre Benjamin Navet

The creations of French multi-disciplinary artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet have a knack for spreading joy. His bold color combinations pull the viewer into his enchanting world, where scale and pattern are constantly at play. From April 4 through June 2, five of his sculptures will be installed in the Cour d’Honneur at the French National Assembly. Each work depicts stacks of vases—a reoccurring theme for him—in his trademark vibrant colors and kicky patterns, which stand out against the backdrop of the Palais Bourbon in Paris. No stranger to public installations that create major buzz, Navet, who is represented by Galerie Derouillon, has already taken over Fifth Avenue in New York with a series of oversized floral constructions for Van Cleef & Arpels as well as playful façades for Voyage à Nantes and the Hôtel des Arts de Toulon. —Jacqueline Terrebonne

4. Queen Miami Beach Blends Striking Design with Sumptuous Japanese Fare

As if visitors needed yet another reason to book a ticket to Miami, Queen Miami Beach is not only the latest see-and-be-seen hot spot to debut, but it holds an impressive design pedigree, having originally been built by famed Art Deco architect Henry Hohauser in 1945. Now, interior designer Carlos Rodriguez of ModPlay Studio has transformed the onetime Paris Theatre space into a luxurious dining experience for tourists and locals alike. Staying true to the extravagance of the building’s original ’40s architecture, a curved Art Deco passageway made of brass slats leads to The Salon Lounge, where Lobmeyr chandeliers (initially used at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1966) join a striking Calacatta Viola marble bar.

For the menu, an impressive cocktail program enhances Japanese-French fare led by Michelin-starred chef Julien Jouhannaud. Highlights include the exclusive eight-seat Omakase Counter on the second floor, top-quality seafood, and American classics with a Japanese twist. —Shelby Black

5. Discover the Fascinating History of Indian Dress and Textiles in a New Exhibition and Book

From whimsical chintzes to the varied draperies of the sari and dhoti, India’s vibrant traditional clothing and textiles are a true delight for the senses. For centuries, they have provided inspiration to royal courts, European couture, and the biggest contemporary fashion designers today. In a dazzling exhibition curated by fashion historian Hamish Bowles at the new Nika Mumbesh Ambani Cultural Center in Mumbai, which opens on April 1, visitors are invited to trace the origins of this sartorial history and discover its impact on the world. On display are traditional Indian embroidery techniques; design motifs; and dress forms reimagined by renowned designers Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Oscar de la Renta, Gianni Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Alexander McQueen, alongside pieces by contemporary Indian designers. A new book published by Rizzoli that accompanies the show adds further context, with texts by experts from India, Europe, and North America. The pages are filled with hues of royal blue, marigold, and fuchsia; intricate ikat and calico patterns; as well as a slew of archival imagery by the likes of Henry Clarke and Arthur Elgort providing further insight to this fascinating story. —Lucy Rees

6. Samuel Ross Creates a Limited-Edition Bottle for Acqua di Parma

Acqua di Parma‘s signature citrus scent just got a revamp. The Italian brand has launched a new Colonia Limited Edition fragrance with a chic bottle designed by SR_A’s Samuel Ross. Ross put a contemporary spin on the classic perfume bottle—which has been around for over 100 years—with 300 numbered special-edition collectors bottles spanning three colors. The cut-out label pays homage to industrial design and frames the fragrance’s golden glow. This is the first iteration of Acqua di Parma’s three-year collaboration with the London-based design studio, so more exciting collaborations are in store. —Stefanie Li