Arts and Culture
What’s On Our Radar This Month: August 2025
From exciting new food joints to the latest must-have beauty and fashion launches, here are the 20 things on The Sybarite’s radar this August.
Ask anyone who lives in London, and they’ll surely tell you there is no shortage of exciting openings, launches and events taking place each month — the trouble is usually hearing about them. From a hot, new restaurant opening to a newly-launched wellness product to add to your wishlist, consider The Sybarite your luxury barometer when it comes to the noteworthy newcomers each and every...
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The Lowdown On The 2024 Brit Awards
28th February 2024
Held at the O2 Arena on Saturday March 2, the Brit Awards is Britain's biggest night in music, making it a must-watch event. Beginning at 8:30pm, home viewers will be able to tune in via ITV1 and ITVX to experience the glitz and glamour for themselves.
Inside Project Aikido At The Mandrake Hotel
28th February 2024
Throughout the evening, guests were treated to a variety of artistic talents, ranging from awe-inspiring sculptures by Joshua Donkor and Alvin Kofi, to vibrant sets by world-renowned DJs such as Salomé le Chat and Rockin Marroccin. Over dinner, guests were accompanied by the soulful voice of South Africa's artist of the year, Msaki, whose beautiful performance brought everybody to their feet. The founder of Project Aikido, Nana Sao, also took to the stage to deliver a poignant insight into the foundation's core mission: empowering artists to share their stories authentically while ensuring they receive the recognition they deserve.
Inside Guggenheim Bilbaos New Pop Art Exhibition
23rd February 2024
Now, Guggenheim Bilbao is taking a look back at some of the biggest works to emerge from this movement, reimagining them in a new context and reintroducing them to a new age. Signs and Objects. Pop Art from the Guggenheim Collection has been curated by Lauren Hinkson and Joan Young, both of whom are curators for the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. The Sybarite attended the exhibition’s opening in Spain, viewing the collective works ahead of time and hearing from the curators on Pop Art’s enduring relevance.
What's On In London's West End 2024
23rd February 2024
The pulsating heart of London's entertainment scene, the West End, is gearing up for a theatrical whirlwind in 2024. From soul-stirring folk operas to one-woman sensations and a musical trip back to the '80s, there's something for everyone. Let's take a closer look at the eclectic mix of performances lighting up the stages.
These Three Books Are Championing Saudi Arabian Wildlife
16th February 2024
Luxury book publisher Assouline has brought the beauty of Saudi Arabian wildlife to life within the pages of three new books. The Middle Eastern nation is known for having an abundance of breathtaking wildlife, with the rich landscape providing the perfect home for many to flourish. These books focus on the majestic nature of three iconic species of fauna — wild horses, camels and falcons. Below, learn more about the titles and the people behind them.
BAFTA Awards: What To Know Ahead Of The Dazzling Festivities
13th February 2024
Last year, Conclave emerged as the night's most awarded film, securing four BAFTAs, including Best Film and Best British Film. The Brutalist also garnered four awards, notably for Best Director and Best Actor. Emilia Pérez was recognized with awards for Best Film Not in the English Language and Best Supporting Actress.
What The Year Of The Dragon Means For You
13th February 2024
This auspicious year 2024 has implications for all signs of the Chinese zodiac, as the Dragon's influence is known to bring about transformative energy in our lives. Check out your Chinese zodiac sign according to your birth year! By astrologist and spiritual counselor, Letao Wang.
Where to Celebrate the Lunar New Year
9th February 2024
As the Lunar New Year approaches, millions around the globe gear up for a spectacular celebration, marking the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just fancy a festive getaway, here's a guide to some vibrant destinations where you can immerse yourself in the joyous Lunar New Year festivities.
Altered State: A Psychedelic Playground at 99 Projects
23rd February 2023
There aren’t that many galleries in London that owe their existence to a dog: the seed that flowered into Kensal Rise’s 99 Projects first took root whilst gallery director Frances Casey was walking her canine companion during lockdown. Whilst the dog in question is apparently more of a silent partner, 99 Projects has grown exponentially since its 2021 inception; with February 2nd seeing the opening of their first satellite pop-up on Golborne Road in Notting Hill. In a part of London that’s no stranger to the gallery scene, a first exhibition can be something of a trial by fire. As a result, Casey has come out guns blazing, with a seriously striking first effort. If Dan Pearce and Cody Burridge’s collaboration is representative of future exhibitions in the space, it wouldn't be too surprising to see this pop-up turn into something more permanent.
Featuring How the V&A explores Africa's global impact on the...
17th February 2023
Iconic African designers, such as Kofi Ansah and Alpahdi, have given the public the opportunity to explore never seen before designs amongst the array of garments and objects on display for the exhibition. I was absolutely blown away by the artistry that was on display, solidifying how much I will be supporting African designers moving forward. You have to visit to understand the magnitude of greatness when it comes to design. When asked what pieces evoked raw emotion, it was difficult to choose. Numerous parts of the exhibition evoked multitudes of sentiments which, to me, is the true aim of fashion. From extreme joy and pride to see such dimension, craft and skill, and at other times, sadness and disappointment to know that African designers aren't given the recognition and platform they deserve to be able to thrive as significantly as the designers we love today.
Featuring The Anticipated Lubberland Exhibition by Harry Rüdham
18th February 2022
The exhibition opened on the 17th February and will run until the 2nd April 2022, compromising 16 paintings and two innovative paperworks. Lubberland takes the Swedish name for ‘Cockaigne,’ a land of plenty in medieval myth, and was first made famous in the broadside ballad "An Invitation to Lubberland," first printed in 1685. With ‘Lazy Land’ an approximate translation, the exhibition’s title sets out its themes – presenting a bold yearning for an idyllic world of ease, abundance and human connection. Taking combined inspiration from such masterpieces as Bruegel’s The Land of Cockaigne, Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and Matisse’s Bonheur de Vivre, Rüdham’s paintings are crowded with intersecting figures, stylised as floating or falling silhouettes repeated across each brightly textured scene. As in Dante’s Divine Comedy, in Lubberland Rüdham offers a sense of joyful optimism but also foreboding – set amid the context of a soul’s journey down to Hell and back to Heaven.
Basel - Switzerlands Perfect Romantic Getaway
14th February 2022
You might be thinking of cosy chalets with snow-capped mountains in the backdrop. However, I would recommend the hidden gem that is Basel instead. It is far away from the Swiss Alps, but in fact, it is the third-most populous city in Switzerland. With its proximity to France and Germany, it's always been more multicultural than other parts of the country. It is a city that effortlessly intertwines history with modernity. It is a fabulous city for lovers because you have so much to talk about whether it's their cultural, architectural, or gastronomical excellence. With around 40 museums, it is the museum capital of Switzerland. Despite opening around 25 years ago only and being privately funded, Foundation Beyeler is the most visited museum in the whole country. And it's hardly surprising considering the blockbuster exhibitions they keep securing like the recent Goya retrospective. In their anniversary year, this year, they've secured spectacular exclusives like their current Georgia O'Keeffe exhibition with her unique take on capturing the beauty of flowers. Her works rarely leave the United States, so it's a real coup for the local community.
Chopard’s Latest Unique Piece Perfect to Celebrate...
5th February 2021
February 12th 2021 marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox. An Earth sign, emblem of the twelfth lunar month, the ox represents a period conducive to both nature and agriculture. This generous animal ensures prosperity and is a symbol of strength of the coming year. To honor the occasion, each year since 2013, Chopard has created exceptional L.U.C Haute Horlogerie timepieces, with an artistic interpretation of the Chinese Zodiac. Faithful to the tradition, Chopard has consistently worked with the best Japanese lacquer artisans who craft dials using the historic Urushi lacquer technique. The result is an exquisite edition of 88 dials produced by the workshops of the century-old Yamada Heiando company and made by master lacquer artist Minori Koizumi. The unique craftsmanship of Maki-e technique is used and captured between the layers of lacquer drawn from the sap of the Toxicodendron vernicifluum tree, gold flakes illuminate a background that features a golden ox with straight horns and an abundant coat, harnessed to a wagon.
Featuring Expert astrologer Susan Levitt on your fortune – metal...
5th February 2021
2020 as we all know has been a rough ride and although 2021 seems like a continuation of all the chaos that's been going on, we're hopeful that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Different from Western astrology, Chinese astrology takes a look at the year in which you were born which is matched to a particular animal from the Chinese zodiac. It offers pieces of advice and sometimes words of caution or things to avoid and look out for in that given year. If you are new to this, we highly recommend having a read at your own Chinese zodiac and understanding your characteristics and qualities which can be very interesting. You might even be surprised at what you'll find out. Or better yet, have a more intuitive reading and forecast of your present and future through a private session with Susan who will also be able to answer your burning questions. For those interested in finding out what the Year of the Ox brings, have a look below and in case you're unsure of which animal you belong to simply scroll down below to see what year you were born in under that particular animal.
Featuring Ada \ Contemporary art gallery presents inaugural...
3rd February 2021
February 2, 2021 (Accra, Ghana) - ADA \ contemporary art gallery, specialized in the work of emerging artists across Africa and its diaspora, unveils Enter Paradise, an exhibition of new paintings by South African emerging female artist Zandile Tshabalala (b. 1999, Soweto). Marking the artist’s debut solo career, and the gallery’s third consecutive debut solo show since opening in October 2020, the new paintings include a selection of figurative self-portraits in which Tshabalala revisits the representation of the Black female figure. Presented at ADA’s Accra- based gallery space and online, the exhibition will be on view from February 25 to April 18, 2021. Currently completing her (BA) FINA from the University of the Witwatersrand, SA, Tshabalala creates a distinct visual narrative and artistic expression by challenging and deconstructing art historical canons of representation – recurrent motives which often marginalize and obliterate the Black female figure.
Featuring Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N - The perfect day out for Marvel fans
5th February 2019
Last weekend we took our very excited little boy to London Excel, where Marvel have unveiled their latest interactive exhibition. After a brief video introduction and a security scan from Maria Hill, we were invited to enter the S.T.A.T.I.O.N, an advanced training facility for S.H.I.E.L.D’s ace team of agents. Zachary was rather overwhelmed when we first entered and he found himself face to face with the Hulkbuster! So when he got to don Iron Man’s Hulkbuster armour in a very cool and active VR experience he was super excited. As we moved through the rooms he enjoyed the great activities on offer, including various touchscreen games. Highlights for the family also included the massive moving image of Hulk and Captain America’s motorbike from the opening scene of Avengers: Age of Ultron which you could hop on and pretend to ride.
Andreas Gursky’s exhibition at Hayward Gallery
27th February 2018
In fact, when I realised that after visiting Modigliani’s exhibition I’d have to wait till April to see a new exhibition at the Tate Modern, I was starting to feel a longing to return to the South Bank. But, the sky answered my prayers and so it happened: the re-birth of the gloriously brutalist Hayward Gallery tucked between The National and The Royal Festival Hall. And what better way to show-off this spectacular architecture than to hold the first major UK retrospective of the work of acclaimed German photographer Andreas Gursky. Around 60 photographs, many renowned for their scale that can often exceed three metres in height, stand beautifully in the gallery’s immense rooms. Gursky’s illusory and boundless landscapes, created by clever digital manipulation, appear like tapestries, creating abstract worlds from gigantic ‘99 Cent’ shops (my dream), to frantic Formula 1 tracks (my nightmare) and artificially abstracted landscapes such as Rhine II (which, just in case you started picturing it in your living room, fetched over £3 million at Christie’s New York in 2011, so becoming the most expensive photograph ever sold).
Featuring The best of the BAFTAs 2018
19th February 2018
Welcoming some of the biggest names in film, the absolutely fabulous Joanna Lumley introduced this year's BAFTAs with some incredible acrobatics from the company of Cirque du Soleil. “Power to the people.” - Frances McDonagh A glamorous ceremony and a night for celebrating cinema, with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri cleaning up five awards, including Best Film, Best British Film, Original Screenplay, Leading Actress (for Frances McDormand) and Supporting Actor (for Sam Rockwell). Meanwhile, stars showed their support for the Time's Up campaign by wearing black on the carpet, with Sam Rockwell, McDormand and Lee Unkrich using their winner's speeches to highlight issues of diversity and equality in the industry. Frances McDormand accepted her award for best leading actress in a dress, not totally in black, admitting to having a “little trouble with compliance”. Nevertheless, she said she stood in full solidarity with her sisters, “What I’m most proud of,” McDonagh told the audience, “especially in this Time’s Up year, is it is a film about a woman who refuses to take any more shit”.
Featuring A tool case you can travel with for generations to come –...
5th February 2018
This is perhaps the only tool case needed for those that appreciate fine craftsmanship and beauty.
Featuring Oscars 2017: The 89th Academy Awards highlights
27th February 2017
Here are the Sybarite’s highlights of The Oscars 2017… A number of Oscar-nominees threw their support behind the organisation who first challenged President Donald Trump's travel ban by wearing blue ribbons to the ceremony. Irish-Ethiopian star Ruth Negga, who is up for best actress for her role in Loving, was first on the red carpet and sported the political accessory on her red Valentino dress. As did Karlie Kloss on her white asymmetrical Stella McCartney gown. The blue bow represents the American Civil Liberties Union and is part of their new initiative titled Stand With ACLU. The ACLU was among the first to launch a legal challenge following President Trump's travel ban, which bars people from seven Muslim-majority countries entering America.
Featuring Sotheby’s Erotic: Passion & Desire Auction
14th February 2017
Where the boundaries between the sensual and the obscene are gloriously blurred. “The erotic is a realm where desire and imagination meet. When you look at a great work of erotic art, you sense a world outside its obvious parameters: a complicit triangulation between the creator, the subject (perhaps more than one) who inspired such intimate expression, and the viewer turned voyeur. There’s a disruptive quality to the best erotica, which filters into your dreams and waking fantasies. It doesn’t just seduce its audience – it transports them without permission,” says Rowan Pelling, a Daily Telegraph columnist known for her eight-year editorship of The Erotic Review and her sex column for GQ, who has written the catalogue introduction for the Sotheby’s Erotic sale.
Where to celebrate Chinese New Year in London
11th February 2016
In short, it is two weeks of constant eating, merriment and customary rituals. 2016 is said to be the ‘Year of the Monkey’, specifically the 'Fire Monkey'. Zodiac observers will expect “an element of vitality, a little bit more power and energy” in the year ahead. For those born under the Monkey sign, the upcoming year is expected bring more “focus” and a lot more “attention to detail” in all that they do. Although Asian in origin, the festive period has become universally acknowledged and celebrated, meaning you won’t miss out, no matter where you are in the world. Here's our top ‘picks’ of the best ways in which to celebrate in London:
Featuring Sneak Peak: The Oscars ‘Swag Bag’ is here
10th February 2016
The fabulous people, couture outfits, high-profile events and celebrity gossip are already making it into the media. Next on our radar is possibly the most famous awards ceremony in the world. The 88th Academy Awards is set to take place on the 28th of this month and will be hosted by comedian and actor Chris Rock. Arguably the souvenir every guest would like to get their hands on is the highly renowned golden statue. However, seeing as our acting skills aren’t quite up to scratch, we've decided to turn our attention to the next best thing - the Oscar-worthy goodie bag. No A-List celebrity will go home empty handed as each will receive one of these ‘swag bags’, the ultimate metaphor for the surreal nature of the Hollywood lifestyle - this year rumoured to be worth a staggering $200,000. So what could possibly be in such a goodie bag to result in such an amount you wonder? It’s a far cry from a balloon and a slice of cake, but then again this is Hollywood, and here’s a sneak peak…
Letitia Casta, Parisienne Par excellence for Cointreau
20th February 2015
Through history Cointreau has been close to women as they explore their creativity, embodying in many ways the free spirit of La Parisienne, the Parisian woman. As Creative Director of the House of Cointreau, Casta’s very first goal is to inspire women and dare them to be themselves, celebrating Cointreau’s signature art de vivre. For her first project Casta has chosen to celebrate Louisa Cointreau, due to her pivotal role for the House and her encouragement toward women to explore their creative side. “It’s the fragility of a women that touches me. Today we want to be too strong, today we want to be too perfect, and I think it’s completely wrong. We have to be in love with our femininity and this is the message I want to get across.” said Casta, whose project also involves selecting female artists from all over the world to share their own twist on life. This will happen both through a series of ‘webisodes’, each an opportunity to freely exchange ideas, but also creative evenings inspired by the Cointreau Cafe’ Society.
Featuring David Adjaye At Haus Der Kunst
11th February 2015
“Form, Heft, Material,” displays miniature replicas of his biggest designs, alongside other contemporary objects. Taking a modernised and graphical approach, some might see his works as a reflection of the future. What appears to be simple has the power to make us question what architecture will become. Another form of art? Using an array of materials and complex ideas, he introduces us to new shapes and forms, while avoiding the use of barriers, allowing everyone an insight into his carefully constructed engineering. The exhibition runs until 31st May 2015 and hosts around 50 of Adjaye’s built projects.
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