Amanda Charchian
Courtesy of Amanda Charchian
HURS CURATORS
AMANDA CHARCIAN
The photographer and multidisciplinary artist shares her favorite places, art and books
No one captures the world quite like Amanda Charchian does. The Iranian-American fine artist – who spends her time between Los Angeles and Paris – has become known for work with a feminine sensuality that perfectly captures the modern woman. Through her lens, Charchian is one of the only photographers able to showcase women as they are, capturing the intimacy between photographer and subject. But Charcian is much more than a photographer. Her practice spans photography, collectible furniture design, perfume, and fine art consultancy, landing the artist numerous projects with some of today’s most renowned brands including Cartier, Porsche, Atlantic and Universal Records, and a fragrance of her own with French perfumer Ex Nihilo.
A MODERN ART LEGACY HOUSED IN A MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE VILLA
In pursuit of his belief in the cultural importance of art, entrepreneur, philanthropist and art collector Frederick R. Weisman, assembled an exceptional collection of 20th-century art. With a mission to advance our time's artistic and intellectual discourse, Weisman decided to make his personal collection of modern and contemporary art accessible to the public. In 1982, he purchased an estate in Los Angeles where the Art Foundation is still housed today, transforming it into a showcase of his extensive art holding. Together with his wife, an art conservator and curator, he created a distinct aesthetic within the Mediterranean-style villa that was designed by Gordon B. Kaufmann in the late 1920s. The space itself is a work of art too, featuring beautiful hand-painted ceilings, stucco details, and wood-inlaid floors. Today, the estate welcomes visitors by appointment to explore over 400 masterpieces, including works by luminaries like Cezanne, Miro, Magritte, and Picasso.
“A private art collection you can visit in Bel Air in the home of Frederick R. Weisman, an EXTRAORDINARY entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector. It’s a beautiful example of how you can live with art passionately and ungraciously – something I plan to do. It’s completely preserved in a Mediterranean villa with works by Picasso, Helen Frankenthaler, and Noguchi. My favorite part is a surrealist dining room with Ernst, Miro, and Magritte.”
“This is one of my FAVORITE pieces of non-fiction I have ever read. It’s the story of a Palazzo in Venezia that housed three incredibly hedonistic, unmarried, and revolutionary women in succession but at different times: Luisa Casati, Doris Castlerosse, and Peggy Guggenheim all lived there until it became the current home of her incredible art collection. I loved reading about the decadent parties with extraordinary artists, a time when people’s lives were truly works of art.”
THE WOMEN OF PALAZZO VENIER DEI LEONI
Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, known as “the Unfinished Palazzo,” played host to three extraordinary women—Luisa Casati, Doris Castlerosse, and Peggy Guggenheim—each leaving a distinct mark on its history. Once abandoned and unfinished, this Venetian landmark became a center of art and high society in the 20th century. Author Judith Mackrell dives into the history of the infamous Palazzo and the lives of the women who lived there. The wealthy Marchesa Luisa Casati turned the palazzo into a belle epoque fantasy, making herself a living work of art. British socialite Doris Castlerosse later hosted glamorous parties, drawing film stars and royalty. Finally, American heiress Peggy Guggenheim filled it with her world-renowned modern art collection. Despite their different backgrounds—an Italian, a Brit, and an American—these women shared a love for Venice and a passion for art. Their stories are intertwined with notable figures like D’Annunzio, Nijinsky, Noël Coward, Winston Churchill, and Yoko Ono, making the Palazzo a stage for their extraordinary lives and a symbol of 20th-century female creativity and independence.
IN EGYPT, A RETREAT CELEBRATING NATURE
Adrère Amellal, nestled in the heart of Siwa Oasis, Egypt, epitomizes true eco-luxury. This 40-room, electricity-free eco-lodge is a testament to sustainable living, utilizing water from one of the oasis's 200 springs and constructing its buildings from mud bricks and salt rock. The minimalist yet comfortable interiors feature hand-carved salt rock furniture and palm leaf chairs, creating an environment where you can truly disconnect. The rooms are cosy, lit by sun by day and beeswax candles at night, with colourful handblown glasses, crisp Egyptian cotton sheets and handwoven traditional carpets. Fruits and vegetables are sourced from Adrère Amellal’s pesticide-free gardens and meat and poultry is sourced from local farmers, ensuring every meal is fresh and organic. Guests can dine in numerous locations across the estate, from hidden caves to alfresco dining, enjoying exquisite traditional Egyptian cuisine with European twists.
“An OTHERWORLDLY hotel in the Siwa Oasis in Western Egypt. There is no electricity and the rooms are all hand-built with furniture made from the salt from the surrounding lake. Every night dinner is in a different place you get to on candle-lit pathways. You can have desert excursions and see the most incredibly infinite stars.”
“A totally UNIQUE sound and light experience on Church Street in Tribeca created in 1993 by married couple modern composer La Monte Young and visual artist Marian Zazeela. As you walk through, the experience continues to change. I love going here after dinner because it’s open until midnight.”
A HIDDEN 1960s ART INSTALLATION IN TRIBECA
THE DREAM HOUSE is a sound and light installation unlike any other. Created by minimalist composer and multimedia artist Marian Zazeela in the 1960s, the installation showcases Young's continuous sine wave drones and Zazeela's lighting and design. The magenta light installation gives a surrealist feel to it all, while the soundscape is precisely tuned to the harmonic series between 288 and 224 Hz, using factors of only 9. Since its inception, THE DREAM HOUSE has undergone over 40 iterations globally, but from 1993 onwards the installation has been housed above the couple’s Church Street loft in Tribeca, behind a black door marked by a white sign. MELA Foundation 275 Church Street, 3rd Floor, New York. Wednesday - Saturday, 2pm - Midnight.
THE MELANCHOLIC ARTISTRY OF VICTOR MAN
This intimate and melancholic painting by Victor Man named ‘Girl in Love with a Wound’ is one of the Romanian painter’s many captivating works. Born in Romania in 1974, Man’s timeless works have caught the attention of renowned galleries, with representation by Gladstone Gallery, Blum & Poe, Galeria Plan B, and Galerie Neu. Difficult to categorize, Man’s work features subtle influences of the pre-Renaissance paired with a melancholic sensibility. His small-scale portraits and still-lifes are characterised by a blend of old-masterly style with a contemporary colour palette and modern visual language. But we’ll let Amanda tell you what she loves about it.