This collection of photographs are fascinating insights into a rarely seen side of some of the world’s most famous artists. Pablo Picasso and a muse sit in his studio in 1954, surrounded by the ceramics he was working on at the time. He has painted two images of the lady in profile, one shows his clear skill at realistic rendering and the second shows his renowned cubist style – it is wonderful to see the transition and in effect, to witness the master at work.
In another photo, Joan Miro, a younger contemporary of Picasso, works in a starkly clean studio. His apparent appreciation of neatness and order is apparent, with even his paint brushes lined up in a neat row. The image is made all the more appealing by the woven sun ornament that hangs in the foreground and creates an artistic effect to the photo.
There are 25 images on show in this exhibition, titled Revealed that is showing in Dubai’s Sofitel Hotel on Jumeirah Beach Residence until the end of the year. It is a succinct exhibition hung in the hotel’s Plantation restaurant but I encourage you to take your time viewing it.
The photos are owned by Paris Match magazine and as well as Picasso and Miro, they also include Salvador Dali with his eccentric ways, Jeff Koons in his colourful surroundings and Rene Magritte in a surrealist pose.
Curated by Olivier Widmaier Picasso, grandson of the late master the exhibition opened this week and it is open around the clock so you have even more chance to view it whenever you please.
* Revealed runs until December 26. www.sofitel-dubai-jumeirahbeach.com
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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What is type-1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.
It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.
Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.
Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.
The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital