Cultureshock Connects
Issue 10
Welcome to the October issue of Cultureshock Connects: we are thrilled to share a selection of the innovative, engaging content we’ve created in partnership with some of the world’s leading cultural brands. Featured in this issue: the Bayeux Tapestry, Gerhard Richter, Bulgari, Qatar Museums, Hauser & Wirth, Sotheby’s International Realty and more.
After more than 900 years, the Bayeux Tapestry still thrills
The hottest ticket in London this season is an 11th-century embroidered masterpiece. The British Museum is hosting the return of the 224ft-long Bayeux Tapestry, a remarkable visual narrative of the Norman conquest, and Cultureshock was lucky enough to be at the opening, which we dutifully chronicled on Instagram. It also inspired this story we produced for Sotheby’s International Realty about the enduring appeal of textiles and how contemporary designers are integrating antique tapestries and embroideries into their interiors.
A celebration of Bulgari in Ursula magazine
Art and jewels have a long history of dialogue and intersection, which Bulgari has made the subject of its sumptuous new exhibition in Shanghai. Titled Bulgari Kaleidos: Colors, Cultures and Crafts, it brings together 300 jewels from its astonishing Heritage Collection and selected private collections to tell the story of the legendary maison’s ongoing relationship with colour. Working with Cultureshock, Ursula – Hauser & Wirth’s magazine – built an editorial and media partnership around this special exhibition, including a fascinating story by Rachel Garrahan.
The Genesis Facade Commission: Liu Wei, Speculation premieres at The Met
This September, the much-anticipated annual commission series presented by The Met features four remarkable new works by the Beijing-based artist Liu Wei. Titled Speculation, the sculptures transform The Met’s historic facade, stitching together architectural fragments and bodily forms while exploring ideas of fragmentation, transformation and renewal. As part of our ongoing collaboration with global automotive brand Genesis, Cultureshock is excited to shine a light on Liu Wei’s revelatory work through a series of social media communications over the coming months.
A permanent pavilion for Gerhard Richter in Doha
Gerhard Richter is considered by many to be the world’s greatest living painter and this November the 94-year-old artist will be honoured, with a permanent pavilion in Doha, housing extraordinary examples of his work in the permanent collection of Qatar Museums. Designed by Richter in collaboration with architect Annabelle Selldorf, the pavilion was previewed at Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie during Berlin Art Week, and Cultureshock was on hand for the event (find our coverage here). The Richter Pavilion opens as part of Rubaiya, the new quadrennial arts festival running from 21 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 in Doha. Keep an eye out for more information on this major art world event in Q+A, the magazine we produce in partnership with Qatar Museums.
The Art Business Conference examines the relationship between museums and sponsors
The London edition of the Art Business Conference took place earlier this month with keynote speakers including Igor Tulchinsky, the billionaire hedge fund manager who has supported the display of the Bayeaux Tapestry with a £5m donation. Jane Morris, Cultureshock’s editorial director, was there and moderated a panel on cultural belonging and how it is shaping collecting, corporate sponsorship and high level patronage of museums. Her panelists included collector, philanthropist and Prix Pictet-founder Isabelle von Ribbentrop, Charlotte Appleyard, director of development at the British Museum who secured Tulchinsky’s donation, and Jennifer Schipf, global head of fine art at Axa XL, which is a major corporate sponsor. The takeaway was that museums have to work hard to understand the motivations of patrons and companies who now want more than just “the logo and some tickets” that characterised the traditional sponsorship deal.
Icons aplenty at the FT Weekend Festival
Early September also saw Cultureshock's managing director Charlotte Regan and client director Sarah Strickland participate in the annual FT Weekend Festival. The stimulating programme brought together speakers including Sotheby’s chairman Helena Newman in conversation with the artist and designer Es Devlin and the writer and broadcaster Ekow Eshun for the What Makes an Image an Icon? panel. We were thrilled to see the latest Sotheby’s Magazine there with the iconic Devlin on the cover.