Cate Underwood
HURS CURATORS
CATE UNDERWOOD
The photographer, model and art director shares her favorite brands, products and places
Cate Underwood is a woman of many talents and creative pursuits. Starting her career as a fashion photographer in her hometown of Kyiv, Underwood quickly advanced from local photography contests to contributing to major lifestyle publications before adding DJing to her repertoire. Underwood then embarked on a modeling career, moving to London and then New York to pursue her new professional ambitions while adapting to her life as a young mom. Through juggling three creative passions, Underwood has built a strong personal brand and distinctive point of view. Her trajectory isn’t just a convergence of talent and ambition, it’s a testament to the boundless possibilities she created through daring to chart her own course. Now based in Paris, she’s the art director for Sugaar, a buzzy spot co-owned by her French boyfriend that's become go-to for the creative scene.
IN THE PROVENCE, WINE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE MEET.
At Château La Coste the finest things in life seamlessly intertwine. The 500-acres vineyard – situated in the midst of Provence between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon National Park – brings together wine, art and architecture. While it opened to the public in 2011, Château La Coste has remained somewhat of a hidden gem compared to other art foundations in France. At the domain visitors have the opportunity to discover 40 renowned works of contemporary art, five gallery spaces and a newly built auditorium by Oscar Niemeyer. As well as five restaurants, each focused on a different cuisine. From Provencal brasserie Francis Mallmann to Argentinian Restaurant Hélène Darroze. When it comes to wine, Château La Coste prioritizes organic farming drawing inspiration from the rules of biodynamics and above all preserving the nature on which the domain is built.
“I visited this absolutely mind blowing estate called Château La Coste in August, during my very first real road trip through France after being mostly on a wine hunt in Burgundy. Imagine my surprise that something like a massive art foundation can be lost in the heart of Provence. As you walk 4 kilometers through woods, olive groves and vineyards you can witness the MASTERPIECES of artists and architects who were invited by Château La Coste to create their installations to revel in the natural surroundings of the Domain. Richard Serra’s enormous metal sheets, a blend of steel, iron, copper and zinc, sticking out of the hill, Crouching Spider of Louise Bourgeois reflecting in the waters which surround the Art Center by Tadao Ando and his unique concrete walls, Renzo Piano’s 160 sq. meter Pavillon d’Exposition, built to both display art and preserve wine. Due to the natural topography of the soil, Piano decided to dig 6 meters deep in the earth so as to fully integrate the building into the vineyard. I can talk about it endlessly, just as much as I was impressed by being there.”
"Chef Josh Niland, known for his INNOVATIVE approach to fish and seafood, is the driving force behind the establishment. Niland gained acclaim for his emphasis on utilizing the whole fish, minimizing waste, and maximizing flavor. His culinary philosophy focuses on sustainability and showcasing the diversity of flavors from various fish species. Saint Peter has earned accolades for its commitment to quality seafood and Niland's inventive and respectful approach to culinary craftsmanship. He has also published three books which I find groundbreaking. The latest is called ‘Fish Butchery: Mastering The Catch, Cut And Craft’ dedicated to his butchery in Sydney, which is home to fish production for Saint Peter and his other restaurant Charcoal Fish, where Mr. Niland cures and ages the fish to reach its full potential and taste properties. Note that their fish never touches any water or ice and is handled dry – the last time it touched water was when it left the water it was swimming in.”
SAINT PETER ISN’T JUST ANOTHER FISH RESTAURANT
Fish takes center stage at the simple, paired-back dining room of Saint Peter in Sydney. Founded by chef Josh Niland and his wife Julie Niland, the restaurant showcases the best of Australian seafood and with it has become one of the pioneers in fine dining. But Saint Peter is more than just another restaurant. Through their sustainable philosophy, the Niland’s are creating a new blueprint for restaurants; rethinking how ingredients are used in the most respectful and ethical way, and how to apply these same values to staff and collaborators too. Intentionality is at the heart of everything that Chef Josh Niland does. From his passion for nose-to-tail cooking – that goes further than most – where he uses every part of the fish (from shell and bones to eyeballs and cheeks), to the tableware that’s carefully selected for each dish and also uses fish bones in the pottery.
THE DARK, REBELLIOUS SPIRIT OF FRANCIS BACON
Recognized as one of the most important painters of the twentieth century, Francis Bacon is known for his raw, unsettling imagery. Bacon left his home in rural Ireland at sixteen, drifting through London, Berlin and Paris. In London, he worked in interior design and furniture, switching to painting after seeing an exhibition of Picasso at a gallery in Paris in the late 1920s. While part of the art scene, the Irish-born painter didn’t follow the preferred artistic style of his era. While at that time most painters focused on abstraction, Bacon favored realism. Creating images that were as distinctive as they were wicked. From the mid-1940s his work gained traction, establishing his reputation as one of the key figures in figurative painting. Since then, his works have remained a source of inspiration for the generations of artists that followed him.
“Francis Bacon, a prominent 20th-century artist, is known for his emotionally charged and often disturbing figurative paintings, exploring themes of existentialism and the human condition. One of my favorite pieces is his Triptych 1944 revisited by him in 1988, and the creatures portrayed on those 3 paintings have an effect of presence in a space where you are. ‘The figure sinks into a deep red void accompanied by dark patches of paint that diffuse upwards from the bottom of the picture plane. A light horizontal line running across the lithograph suggests that this creature is in the room.’ [After Second Version Of The Triptych 1944 (right panel), 1988].”
“Cancale is a very charming coastal town in Brittany, France, renowned for its picturesque seaside setting and oyster farming. We arrived here with my boyfriend as a last destination before returning back to Paris. Nestled along the Emerald Coast, Cancale is celebrated for its fresh seafood, particularly its DELICIOUS oysters. The town's harbor is dotted with colorful fishing boats. This is where Maisons de Bricourt opened the Bistrot de Cancale: their new restaurant just above Port Mer beach. Port Mer is Cancale renowned beach where the sea stretches as far as the eye can see and the rocks by the beach are covered with oyster shells, sparkling with its nacre open under the northern sun. Bistro de Cancale, Hugo and Marine Roellinger’s unbuttoned and tastefully designed restaurant, serves traditional French seaside cuisine. The hospitality here was honest and brought to perfection. Cancale oysters with a dusting of a spice blend by Épices Roellinger; a plate of grilled langoustines fresh from Brittany’s chilly waters; and grilled Breton lobster à la Cancalaise (a sauce of fish fumet with leeks and mussels).”
A CHARMING FRENCH SEASIDE BISTRO
Overlooking the beach at Port-mer in Cancale with its small boats bobbing on the waves at anchor, Le Bistrot de Cancale instantly gives you the nostalgic feeling only travel and great food can evoke. Opened in June of 2022 by Hugo and Marine Roellinger, the space perfectly combines the fishing knick-knacks expected at a marine bistro with a chic and modern design – all enhanced by a 1930s fresco. The menu is a celebration of Breton cooking as well as the restaurant's seaside location. Think the freshest oysters, shellfish and sole with a caramelized jus. But we’ll let Cate tell you more.
THE LEGACY OF A RENOWNED CHOREOGRAPHER
Over her 35 year career, Crystal Pite has become one of the most pivotal and renowned choreographers of our time. Pite’s bold vision has made her an internationally acclaimed artist. She’s celebrated for her ability to explore complex themes such as trauma, conflict and mortality. A former company member of Ballet British Columbia and William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt, the Canadian choreographer has created over sixty works for companies including The Royal Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, The Paris Opera Ballet, and the National Ballet of Canada. In 2002, Pite created Kidd Pivot, a company focused on translating universal questions into artworks that promote connection.