LUCIEN SMITH PRESENTS MACABRE SUITE IN THE SOUTH BRONX

On October 29th, Keith Rubenstein and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn hosted Lucien Smith’s “Macabre Suite”. Lauding concerts as the most evolved level of performance where people from all different backgrounds and contexts come together in the same space and environment, Smith conceived Macabre Suite as an “art happening” comprised of three parts— a special dance performance by Kobe Kanty borrowing from a wide range of traditional movements such as Sioux Ghost Dance and Japanese Butoh, a central sculpture which was part of Smith’s “Scrap Metal” series and a selection of oil paintings and video.

The invite-only event was an epic party in celebration of Somerset Partners and the Chetrit Group’s revitalization of the historic South Bronx’ Piano District. Guests, including Gigi Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Kendall Jenner, Carmelo Anthony, Adrien Brody, Baz Luhrmann, Maxwell, Dev Hynes, Swizz Beatz, and Hailey Baldwin took in musical performances from Bronx luminaries Frankie Bones, Kool Herc, Mess Kid, Lucas Vercetti, Tigga Calore, DJ Chase B, and a special performance by rapper, Travis Scott.

Party-goers entered a warehouse bathed in flashing lights of various hues of deep purple, burgundy, and bright green. The lively yet morose vibes were curated by Bronson Van Wych and matched the theme of the night—Macabre Suite is derived from “danse macabre”, an artistic genre reflecting on the universality of death. Smith examined this idea in the microcosm of the city, revealing that despite surface differences, mortality is the ultimate unifier of the human experience.

The event reflected the city’s changing tapestry as it drew together guests from various corners of the arts and social stratospheres of New York. Walton Ford, Thomas Hayo, Dustin Yellin, Leo Villareal, Gaetano Pesce, Shelter Serra, Bjarke Ingels, Daniel Libeskind, Michele Lamy, John Varvatos, Brian Atwood, Max Osterweis, Carlos Souza, Carlos Mota, Claire Distenfeld, Ruby Aldridge, Johannes Huebl, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Jacquelyn Jablonski, Eniko Mihalik, Dree Hemingway, Andreja Pejic, Renata Zandonadi, and The Untitled Magazine’s Indira Cesarine were among those who attended.