Davidoff Expands its Art Initiative

Davidoff tobacco fields and rancho on the outskirts of Santiago 

Davidoff Expands its Art Initiative with a Residency in the Dominican Republic

By PAUL LASTER, APR. 2015

Supporting contemporary art in the Caribbean, the Davidoff Art Initiative recently inaugurated it newly constructed artist residency in the Dominican Republic, where it produces most of its best cigars.  

An associate partner of Art Basel at its global locations, the Swiss luxury tobacco company has been aiding artists at residencies in New York, Berlin and Beijing; producing art dialogues on the creative landscape of the Caribbean and Latin America; and providing grants to cultural organizations in the region since 2013.

Over the course of six days, Davidoff introduced visitors to its production process (from plantation to factory) and the art centers in Santiago, Casa de Campos and Santo Domingo, along with a first look at the artists in their studios.

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic architect Adolfo Despradel 

Designed by Dominican architect Adolfo Despradel, who had worked with the acclaimed David Chipperfield Architects prior to starting his own practice, the residency is beautifully situated in the campus of Altos de Chavón School of Design in La Romana, where it provides comfortable, well-lit studios for five international artists over three-month periods.

“We built the residency in the art production quadrant of the Altos de Chavón, in a garden that wasn’t being utilized,” Despradel, told us. “We rendered the outside of the building in brick and artisanal plaster and kept the modern elements on the inside. Light and space were our primary concerns. The studios are designed so that artists can work with all types of materials and their rooms open up to create an exhibition space, which curators can use to organize shows.”

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic artist Mathilde Rosier with work in her studio

The first round of lucky artists featured Alia Farid (b. 1985, Kuwait/Puerto Rico), Nuria Montiel (b. 1982, Mexico City), Cathleen Mooses (b. 1982, Chicago), Mathilde Rosier (b. 1973, Paris) and Soledad Salamé (b. 1954, Santiago, Chile). They were selected by an international committee of contemporary art experts, including Aaron Cezar, director of London’s Delfina Foundation, and Philip Tinari, director of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.  

Connecting to the culture of the island, the artists made work that utilized local materials or explored Caribbean customs and beliefs. Farid researched the history of carnival for costume designs that she’s making for a play in Kuwait. Montiel and her partner Diego Espinosa made indigenous percussion instruments (known as the güira) from found materials and collected posters from the local bands that use these sound devices.

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic international nominator and Delfina Foundation director
Aaron Cezar and Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic artist Alia Farid with work in her studio

Mooses made stencils from fences in the community, which she then printed on glass in the colors of local buildings. Rosier, meanwhile, continued her research into altered states of consciousness found in Caribbean voodoo and Santeria thru symbolic ground drawings and works on paper that figurate the trance state. And, finally, Salamé made prints based on a media antenna that she found in a junkyard and communicated with locals via a CB radio.

An excellent endeavor, the Davidoff Art Initiative has already assisted a dozen artists in realizing their dreams and started a dialogue between the creative community of the Dominican Republic and the international art world that will undoubtedly continue to flourish. WM

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic artist Cathleen Mooses with work in her studio

Artist Diego Espinosa and Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic artist Nuria Montiel with work in their shared studio

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic artist Soledad Salamé with work in her studio

Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic

Davidoff Art Initiative chief consultant András Szántó and CEO and president of Davidoff Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard

Davidoff Art Initiative advisor Sara Hermann

Davidoff Brands Ambassador Vincent Krembel at the Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic

Ribbon cutting for the Davidoff Residency in the Dominican Republic

Altos de Chavon rector Stephen Kaplan with work from the alumni show

ARC Magazine editor-in-chief Holly Bynoe at Quinta Dominica in Santo Domingo

Artist and curator Raúl Miyar with a painting by Mencia Zagarella at Casa Quien in Santo Domingo

Artist and Casa Quien director Amy Hussein with her painting

El Museo del Barrio curator Rocio Aranda-Alvarado with a mural by Joiri Minaya at Casa Quien

Former Davidoff Art Initiative artist-in-residence Mónica Ferreras de la Maza with her work at ASR Gallery in Santo Domingo

Centro Leon managing director María Luisa Asilisoutside the art center in Santiago

Centro Leon curator Blanca Mejia with a work by Query Dicent

Davidoff master blender Henke Kelner and Davidoff director of quality Eladio Diaz at the rancho on the outskirts of Santiago