“She is too perfect, she is too talented, she is too beautiful, she is too sophisticated, she is too everything but what I want”, Jeff, a clever professional photographer, starring James Stewart, said about her charming girlfriend Lisa, starring Grace Kelly.
These words pronounced in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece thriller “Rear Window” perfectly suit that iconic figure whose natural elegance first fascinated Hollywood and then the whole Principality and the world, as Princess Grace since 1956. Every single corner of Monaco, not by chance, remember her vision of loveliness. Raphaël Enthoven, French anchorman and philosopher, pointed out that her face was able to attract the attention at first sight, touching the audience’s hearts as a source of romanticism.
The renowned artist from Nice, Stéphane Bolongaro, creator of the well-known pet dog Totor, on Thursday, the 18th April 2019, at the Car Collection of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco in Fontvieille, organized a special ceremony for the 90th Anniversary of the iconic Princess, under the auspices and in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The actress and top model Adriana Karembeu was the godmother of the event. An evening gala inspired by roaring 1950’s – 1960’s American Art and Cinema grounded in Hollywood.
A kaleidoscopic atmosphere full of fancy glamour plunged all illustrious guests and VIPs from the show business in the uniqueness style of this ever-lasting icon. The memorable scenes from her cult movies like “To Catch a Thief” by Hitchcock or “High Society” by Walters, reproduced in some multimedia installations, still prove a truly inspirational and immersive experience in the audience. Grace Kelly relived in any single detail of the soirée animated by a Red-Carpet Awarding Ceremony celebrating relevant artists like La Toya Jackson, the American actress Linda Evans and the Spanish actress & singer Victoria Avril. A warm atmosphere made even more intriguing by top musical performances interpreted live by Mélanie de Biasio, award-winning singer, and Precious Wilson and Opus Group, with their signature song ‘Live is Life’.
A selection of paintings, sculptures and surprising creations by fifty artists, specifically designed for this occasion, are being paying tribute to Grace as a talented actress, wonderful woman & mother and beloved Princess in “Grace Kelly, 90 years” exposition that will be open to the public from 19th until 30th April 2019. So, the pure beauty of Grace-actress starring at a mirror in a make-up room captures the imagination through the photorealistic oil on canvas by the artist Marta Penter. The breath-taking 3D sculpture by Ruben Orozco Loza strikes for its humanity as much as ‘Bibi on the Wall’ by Carole Feuerman.
A delightful sketch of a smiling Grace by the iconic pop singer Mickael Jackson reveals her sweetness. The fashionable Grace’s portraits by Anja Van Herle embellishes her face with glittering sunglasses, miniature mosaics of Swarovski. And when we turn our head, Grace Kelly and Cary Grant suddenly appears on a Renault R4 windscreen, skillfully painted from behind by the artist Guido Palmero. Only just to name a few. And then, what about playing with Alain Delon, Patrick Duffy or Linda Evans? That comes true through an innovative cinema theatre designed by Christophe de Revière and Claude Lelouch. And what about sitting on the well-known blue Sunbeam Alpine 1953 just besides Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief”?
But what really makes this event unmissable? In order to understand the spirit of this art show better, HelloMonaco interviewed Stéphane Bolongaro (S.B.).
HelloMonaco: Mr Bolongaro, where the idea to celebrate Grace Kelly through 50 artists’ eyes come from?
S.B.: Last year, while talking with the Sovereign Prince, He was wondering whether new generations could be attracted by 1950’s-1960’s golden age and movies of that time. We decided, then, to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Grace’s birth on that line. I personally adore all films starring Grace Kelly and, in particular, her performances in Hitchcock’s productions like “Rear Window”, one of my preferred. I thought to create a new-concept exposition able to gather paintings and sculptures from American artists combined with mini concerts and a thematic gourmet menu to create a closer relationship between artists and guests. A way to underline that Grace is considered also an American Princess.
HelloMonaco: what are your favourite souvenir of her? How does her figure influence your artistic expression and life?
S.B.: She is an icon who embodies beauty and kindness. It is not by chance that my grandfather had been playing as a conductor in the Opéra Garnier de Monaco from 1936 until 1963. I am particularly fond of Monaco and Grace Kelly inspires me.
HelloMonaco: Can you describe this exhibition in a few words?
S.B.: It is simply “amazing” as depicted by Linda Evans.
