2022 A YEAR OF MUSE

At one of Switzerland’s most prestigious museums, Fondation Beyeler, Muse unveiled the inaugural Dream Commission, celebrating moving image works created by emerging and mid-career artists worldwide. The winning artist, New Jersey-based Sondra Perry, debuted her Dream Commission artwork ‘Lineage for a Phantom Zone’, transporting audiences with her boundary-pushing approach to moving image. The immersive audio-visual installation conjured the idea of dreams and memories that Perry wishes her family could have had.  Fondation Beyeler welcomed over 30,000 visitors to experience the artwork.

Click here to download the catalogue, which includes the voices of the artist Sondra Perry, artist Sir Isaac Julien CBE and writer N.K Jemisin.

Dreams became reality when Sondra Perry’s work for the Dream Commission was selected for the Venice Biennale, one of the most anticipated international art events of the year. Described as the “Olympics of the Art World”, the Venice Biennale attracted crowds of over 800,000 to the city. It was serendipitous that the theme of the Biennale, chosen by curator Cecilia Alemani, was ‘dreams’. Sondra Perry’s work hung suspended from the ceiling at the heart of the group show. To celebrate this outstanding achievement, Muse hosted an intimate dinner for Rolls-Royce owners, collectors and art world directors, set in the grandeur of the former Palazzo Papadopoli.

Take a journey down the Grand Canal as Sondra Perry debuted at the Venice Biennale. Watch here.

How to start collecting with confidence? In the summer months, Muse continued its ongoing series of talks with collectors from across the globe. In the splendour of Lypiatt Park and her home in the English Countryside, Muse spoke to expert collector and art advisor, Jane Suitor, who, for 20 years, has helped her clients navigate the buying and selling of contemporary art. 

Watch the Art of Collecting with Jane Suitor here.

Awaiting the much-anticipated launch of Muse’s second initiative, the Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge, Muse spoke to Christine Franck, Head of Colour, Materials & Trim Design at Rolls-Royce, to explore the enormous potential of textiles. Over recent years, Rolls-Royce has brought beautiful, interesting fabrics back into cars, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in bespoke design. Each individual fabric is conceived and developed as though a work of art, and treated, in Franck’s words, “like a masterpiece”.

Explore the multi-faceted role of textiles at Rolls-Royce through Christine Franck’s interview here.

On the eve of Frieze Week, Muse presented the three winning artists of the inaugural Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge in London. The Challenge invited three emerging design visionaries to create unique works inspired by the Spirit of Ecstasy — the sculptural figurine that adorns the bonnet of every Rolls-Royce motor car. Among a cluster of notable guests from the design and art world, Shanghai-based Bi Rongrong, Marrakech-based Ghizlane Sahli and London-based Scarlett Yang debuted their work to the world. Centred around textiles and the power of materials, the exhibition was marked by a VIP opening, with speakers including Anders Warming, Director of Design at Rolls-Royce; Tim Marlow, Director of the Design Museum; Sumayya Vally, Principal of Counterpace; and Yoon Ahn, Creative Director of AMBUSH and Jewellery Director, Dior Men.

Follow the journey of our Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge winners, as they created three world-class artworks. Download the catalogue and watch here.

In 2023, Muse continues to celebrate creativity and innovation across moving image and design. The Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge artworks will travel on a global tour, where new regions will be explored. Muse will continue to support our partners, Serpentine, London, and Fondation Beyeler, Switzerland, on their upcoming programmes, and collaborate with some of the most exciting and inspiring artists of today.