DOLCE VITA & ART
The BELMOND Group (LVMH) and the art of SUSANNE HERBOLD were a perfect match at yesterday’s “Dolce Vita & Art” for the members of the exclusive private wine club wineBANK Cologne!
The world of luxury trains and exclusive hotel destinations was presented by Stephan Jablonski, Senior Account Director (DACH) of Belmond (LVMH), which emerged as a luxury goods group in its current form in 1987 from a merger of Moët Hennessy and Louis Vuitton. Since then, the group has acquired dozens of other big names in the industry.
Over 70 members celebrated this special evening by immersing themselves in the unique and exclusive destinations while enjoying great food, fantastic wines (such as Cloudy Bay and Whispering Angel) and having a completely new gallery experience. On display were 19 large-format, abstract works by the Cologne-based artist. A particular highlight of the exhibition is certainly the painting “Moment” (“Blue Series” from the year 2000). This work belongs to the private collection.
Looking back over the last few years, I can say that I have exhibited in many beautiful galleries and venues, but nothing has been as exciting as curating my work in a charismatic place like the wineBANK. It was a bit of a challenge to stage the exhibits perfectly without changing the extraordinary lighting concept of the wineBANK – “clamp spots on wine crates” became the preferred solution.
(Susanne Herbold)
Luxury Destinations & Art
As art is very important in the Belmond world and can be found in all our properties worldwide, such as La Residencia or Mount Nelson, both Belmond Hotels, we were happy that the evening was framed by the art of Susanne Herbold – the perfect match!
(Stephan Jablonski, Senior Account Director Belmond DACH)
About the founder
In 2008, Christian Ress, co-owner and managing director of the VDP winery Balthasar Ress, founded the first wineBANK in the German wine region Rheingau near Frankfurt. Since then, it has been the meeting place for wine lovers in Central Europe. Over the years, the unique Private Members’ Club concept has developed into a successful international network with locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
A few years ago, the Frey brothers extensively restored the historic vaulted cellar of the former Otto Engels winery and opened the wineBANK Cologne in it. The wineBANK occupies a special position among the brothers’ various construction projects and the historic wine cellar immediately impresses all visitors – it’s hard to believe that something like this exists on Ebertplatz in the heart of Cologne’s city center!
The host
The wineBANK Köln is managed by Gunnar Oswald. He studied business administration in Cologne and works in the financial sector and start-up scene. As a foundation manager, art and culture, but especially equal opportunities for children, are close to his heart. He is driven and motivated by the joy of social commitment. He also actively promotes the cultivation of international friendships. As a native of Cologne, Gunnar was immediately impressed by the historic wine cellar of the former Otto Engels winery and is looking forward to further developing this unique location as a meeting place for wine lovers in Cologne.
Visibility of Art
My heartfelt thanks to Gunnar Oswald from wineBANK Cologne and Stephan Jablonski for this unique cooperation! In times like these, art is more important than ever. It has the ability to make people pause – to take them out of their tunnel of fast-paced life for a moment – to inspire them, perhaps even to give them something to take with them: New inspirations, a feeling of joy, an aspect of “vastness” in the context of one’s own limiting rationality…
Photocredit: Wolfgang Hüffer (@Living your Moment)
