Cairo Dwek left behind her life as a model in Los Angeles to pursue her aspiration of becoming a fine artist.
Queen Of The Night Casts Its Spell
March 03, 2014 2:10 PM
At Queen of the Night, inhibitions drown in sudden dalliances. Upon entering the Diamond Horseshoe, a spell is cast as you descend the staircase. As guests of the Queen, we are immediately immersed into a room full of people and into a trance all our own. The details are subtly mystic; door handles shake back, enchanted wallpaper changes before your eyes and doors are portals to untapped levels of imagination.
The chemists behind the steam punk bar spread out concoctions free for taking as the butler characters, sporting androgynous versions of Thom Browne’s signature shrunken suits, slyly work through the crowd. Their deviant antics come without warning; enigmatically charming looks lure peculiar conversations that bring on out-of-character actions, sometimes baffling and occasionally sensual.
An unsuspecting guest is pulled from the room, into isolation, and given three options for the night on hand written note: a) grope a peer b) give a lap dance c) make-out with a stranger. He chooses, makes a promise and is released from seclusion back into the madness.
The masked Queen presides over the room for the entirely of the cocktail hour building heavy anticipation for the insanity that is about to commence. Her face hidden by stunning jewels and her body draped with a regal aqua robe.
As the butler’s coats come off, the dining room becomes a stage, a dance floor and a circus ring all at once. The queen’s sirens morph her from a royal fixture into the belle of the ball, in a striking white gown adorned with sapphires and gold hands. The lighting and flaming music work in tandem, demanding attention to the center stage as we’re seated for dinner. We are thrown into the dramatic physical saga of Pamina and Tamino’s love, utilizing the venue, the characters dive through hoops suspending from the ceiling.
The boisterous performance surrounding the meal is amplified by the food itself, opening with a baguette celebrated by the table’s breadbasket connoisseurs. For the entrées entire baby pigs are cut as the birdcages of lobster are presented to mingle with the enticing sides of mushroom paella and kale salad. Guests are to barter for their preferred dish and eat as a community, passing and trading in the frenzy of the feast. Following the meal, a dramatic soundtrack plays while we clear our own tables, led by the butlers sporting racecar-inspired helmets, we throw utensils in a bucket and chuck plates into the dish graveyard.
Pamina and Monostatos share a moment where intense sexual energy pours from every movement. Tamino intervenes and enters a series of stunningly sexual acrobatics with Pamina. All is well, the queen is free and the butlers swirl around the floor, stealing guests for a spoon feeding of chocolate desert and a tender slow dance to the final song.
Creative Director Giovanna Battaglia is renowned for molding pages for several Condé Nast fashion publications, taking readers far away with the flip of a page. Much of the success of the nightly affair is also credited to industry visionaries like Fashion Designer Thom Browne. His circus couture is rich with alluring cuts and intricate details solidifying the deviant spirit of each character. The cast of contributing artists also includes Set Designer, Douglas Little. His dark and luxurious atmosphere romances the audience, plunging us deeper into the enchantment of the night. The stew of ingenious lighting, innovative music and provocative costumes bubbles over expectations, devising an extraordinary evening of mischievous bliss while collectively achieving a new realm of art in popular culture.
A mystery and true genius lies in the characters; the intensity of their gaze is puzzled by the gentleness of their touch and the ease of their whispers. Guests lose themselves in their act and feel inclined to play along with their obscure games, and one guest, who chose option C finds himself in the middle of the dance floor kissing a stranger in the name of the Queen.
By Molly Murray
related posts
Pointillism revived: Rising artist Cairo Dwek connects the dots
Christopher Russell Interview: Beneath the essence of clay
Christopher Russell spent his youth in a small town outside Boston, Massachusetts. According to his kindergarten report card, he had an “unusual talent for art”.
ALL WHITE Summer SOIRÉE Party
ALL WHITE Summer SOIRÉE Party was held on June 25, 2022 and the night started out with the beautifully dressed guests.
American Ballet Theater Summer Gala
Spring/Summer of 2022 has seen a rushing return of events, dressing up, and the social calendar.
Elizaveta Litovka ‘Flowierdy’ footwear sculptures Interview
Naïve Beauty: Flowierdy
Support people in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s said in a tweet on February 24 that “Now, more than ever, we need concrete support.”
SHIOTA CHIHARU EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
TWELV interviewed performance and installation artist Chiharu Shiota and discussed her personal and professional life, as well as her inspiration and what plans she has for the future. The COVID-...
OLAF BREUNING Interview
OLAF BREUNING Interview is now available!
QUERIES OF A QUIRKY MIND
...
RYAN MCGINLEY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Standing before the images created by Ryan McGinley, one becomes entranced by the irresistible visions of freedom and joyous irreverence.
YAYOI KUSAMA INTERVIEW "AN OUTSIDER TO INFINITY"
In Yayoi Kusama’s world, everything is a polka dot — the cosmos, the earth, the world, stars, the moon, and people.
Body Beautiful Exhibit Opening November 21st
“BODY BEAUTIFUL”
A Group Show Curated by Indira Cesarine
OPENING RECEPTION: November 21, 2019
INTERVIEW: GRACIE ELLISON PORTLAND BASED ARTIST
Gracie Ellison is a self-taught Portland based artist who focuses on canvassing portraits of grumpy and solemn faced women with use of patterns, textures and colour. She was drawn towards canvas...
MAURIZIO CATTELAN INTERVIEW "MAD SCIENTIST"
MAD SCIENTIST by MIGUEL FIGUEROA
WOLFORD LEADS THE SUSTAINABLE FASHION REVOLUTION WITH DUAL CRADLE TO CRADLE CERTIFICATION
Making History With The Aurora Collection
"GREETINGS FROM SWEDEN" BY RUVAN
Ruvan Wijesooriya is a self-taught American Photographer, who began by starting a skateboard brand before moving to working with clients such as Vogue, Samsung and many in the nightlife...
INTERVIEW: Adriana Wynne French-American multidisciplinary artist
French-American multi-disciplinary artist studying a BFA degree at Parsons school of Design in Fine Arts and acquiring a minor in Museum and Curatorial Studies.
ZIP III Opening March 9th
Like it or hate it, we live in a fully connected digital world these days.
INTERVIEW: FAHREN FEINGOLD CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN ART
The name of contemporary American artist Fahren Feingold has become synonymous with fluid, feminine watercolours in her...
Interview: Lisa Ann Markuson on Modernizing Haiku
The minimalism of Haiku poetry– it’s English form dictated simply by the syllabic pattern 5-7-5– allows this traditional Japanese verse to span languages, cultures and ages.
Interview: Rebecca Leveille's Solo Exhibit "The End of Love"
Certain artists have captured the zeitgeist of a particular time and place in such a powerful way that history will forever be represented through their images.
Oussamah Ghandour’s Journey from Ad-Man to Painter
Do you remember that episode of Mad Men when Don Draper decides to quit the ad business and follow his true calling as a painter?
Jörgen Axelvall's "KÄR / LEK" Photo Exhibit in Tokyo
For Jörgen Axelvall, photography is a language.
Interview: Illustrator Roby Dwi Antono on his Startling Surrealist Imagery
In a single painting, Indonesian artist Roby Dwi Antono combines a breastfeeding lamb, a kiwi bird, power ranger, crocodile, and a child.
Interview: Bettina Werner's Pioneering Use of Salt in Art
Being an artist isn’t just a matter of creating paintings or sculptures in a particular medium, it’s about making your mark on history.
"One Year of Resistance" Recalls an Unsettling Year Under President Trump
During President Trump’s inauguration week, curator Indira Cesarine hosted a group art exhibition entitled Uprise / Angry Women in response to the election.
Artist-Activist Francesca Galliani Brings Her Messages of Empowerment to Fashion
Modern day social activism can be found and utilized everywhere from social media to organized protests.
ARTIST MISHA KAHN'S ANTI-RIGHT-ANGLE EXHIBITION "MIDDEN HEAP" ON DISPLAY AT FRIEDMAN BENDA
Artist Misha Kahn lives in a world free of right angles.
Interview: Lin Dai, CEO of Hooch, the Game-changer Drinking App
Hooch is here just in time for the holidays! The Hooch app is the first-of-its-kind, subscription-based drinking app, offering customers 30 free drinks a month for just 10 dollars.
Chrome Hearts Miami Transformed into Candy Shop and Gallery for Art Basel
Chrome Hearts is celebrating Art Basel at their Miami retail space with a pop-up confectionary and café, alongside the launch of group exhibition in their second floor gallery. The...
Indira Cesarine's "Only You" Art Series Visualizes Emotions after Betrayal
New-York based artist Indira Cesarine premiered the video format of her art series “Only You” at Art Basel Miami in 2010...
Chappy's "Dress the D" Halloween Campaign Promoting Safe Sex
The new-on-the-scene dating app Chappy has gained recognition for its mission and success in producing more meaningful...
Ashley Judd & Gloria Steinem Address Human Trafficking at Apne Aap Benefit
The award-winning actress Ashley Judd, luminous in a bisque maxi-dress, was feted at a Manhattan soiree on Thursday night.
Yayoi Kusama to Open Namesake Museum in Tokyo
On your mark, get set, go! Yayoi Kusama enthusiasts will be delighted to know that tickets to the venerated Japanese artist’s namesake museum go on sale August 28.
Just Cavalli Restaurant & Club Opening in Porto Cervo
From the brand that fully embraces the bold and vibrant Dolce Vita lifestyle, now comes the ultimate nightlife experience. On July 14th, the...
The witty pop art of Alessio Franceschetto
Minimal, quirky and straight to the point, all uniquely describe the work of artist Alessio Franceschetto, a superhero of graphic art.