Davidoff: The Art of Rolling and Residencies

The initiative started in 2012 and with the company’s sponsorship of Art Basel. Davidoff CEO Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard sought to give back to the community that Davidoff owes so much to – the Dominican Republic and Caribbean Islands where tobacco production takes place and many of the company’s employees reside. The Davidoff hopes to fund up to ten residencies a year in the Caribbean, Berlin, Beijing, and Switzerland, teaming up with the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York.

Over wine and hors d’oeuvre in the sleek loft space, attendees were invited to try signature cigars in an outdoor patio divided by glass. Hoejsgaard described the initiative as a way of expanding the notion of art and includes the company’s “mission of genuine craftsmanship as an art form in and of itself, the art of growing, curing and rolling.” He described the Domincan Republic as a place of immense inspiration where many artists are working with an unparalleled vision. He hopes the initiative will create more opportunities and visibility, while also bringing the world’s attention to the art and culture of the region.

In addition to announcing future goals of the initiative (such as providing necessary technology, building workspaces, and collaborating with educational centers within the Dominican Republic) Hoejsgaard introduced the newest member and Manager of the Davidoff Art Initiative, Albertine Kopp. She described the selection process of choosing an artist as very democratic. An extensive board reviews each pool of applicants, including several council members as well as representatives from El Museo del Barrio in New York and the Altos de Chavon School of Design in La Romana.

de la Maza, who is currently partaking in her residency in New York until November 30, told us she was excited to be able to work in New York. She credits the environment as her main source of inspiration, including youth culture and the ways in which adolescents from separate neighborhoods in Santo Domingo differentiate from one another. Drawing influence from the ocean, climate, and urban sphere, de la Maza’s work is a reflection of collective experience within the Dominican Republic.

Future residencies include Jorge Pineda this spring in Berlin, and a special announcement at Art Basel Miami Beach this December will be made about which artist will be working at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing next May.