bmi voyager

Let’s go to the movies

hti2 — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:23:07 +0000

Words: Karen Carmichael

This month, you’re invited to a big screen party in London

THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE turns 75 this month, and the cinematic institution on London’s South Bank, formerly the National Film Theatre, is marking the occasion with a month of special events. Take part in star-studded gala evenings, rare screenings of early films accompanied by live scores and free showings of movies from the Bfiarchive in the Mediatheque.

Special art events during September include the first public exhibition of paintings by French actress Juliette Binoche, who’ll give an onstage interview to The Guardian with an audience question-and-answer session. There’s also a new video installation created by Oscar-winning film-makers Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) called The All-Seeing Eye.

And don’t think that the film-fest is only aimed at smoochy couples or intellectuals; family-friendly events abound. On 28 September children and adults alike can bring out their inner comedian with a slapstick Charlie Chaplin workshop, and watch his silent movie classics. There are ‘parent and baby screenings,’ where you can choose from the likes of The Simpsons Movie or the distinctly more adult Billy Wilder classic from 1950, Sunset Boulevard.

Throughout the month you can catch film retrospectives of Juliette Binoche, Clint Eastwood and the best of British silent film. Meanwhile, online you can download short films from directors such as Stephen Frears, Ridley Scott, Gurinder Chadha and Peter Greenaway for just 75p each during September at www.bfi.org.uk/filmdownloads. The Bfishop will also have big discounts on more than 75 DVDs, such as the martial arts classic The Seven Samurai.

Looking beyond its 75th anniversary, the Bfihas plans for a new centre to allow greater public access to its vast film archives as well as to showcase rare film and television memorabilia. Soon to be on view are Marilyn Monroe’s dress from Some Like it Hot and Derek Jarman’s annotated shooting script for Jubilee.
BfiSouthbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London, SE1, +44 (0)20 7633 0274; visit www.bfi.org.uk

UK Arrivals

hti2 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:11:27 +0000

ДЛЯ ПРИБЫВАЮЩИХ В СОЕДИНЕННОЕ КОРОЛЕВСТВО

How to complete UK entry forms:

The UK immigration card must be completed by all non-EEA Nationals arriving in the UK (including Northern Ireland), except those in transit and continuing their journey to another country.

Как заполнять формы для прибытия в Соединенное Королевство:

Immigration cards will be handed out by cabin crew. Please ensure that you complete the form BEFORE you arrive at Passport Control. Иммиграционные карты будут раздаваться бортпроводниками. Пожалуйста, обязательно заполните данную форму ДО вашего прибытия в пункт паспортного контроля.

The completed form should be presented together with your passport to the Immigration Officer at Passport Control. Заполненная форма должна быть представлена вместе с вашим паспортом сотруднику иммиграционной службы на пункте паспортного контроля.

NOT E S A B O U T T H E F O R M :
ЗАМЕЧАНИЯ ОТНОСИТЕЛЬНО ДАННОЙ ФОРМЫ:

>>Формы следует заполнять
полностью печатными буквами без
исправлений.

>>There is no portion to retain and nothing to
submit when departing the UK.

>>Никакая часть карты не остается у
вас и не предъявляется при отъезде
из Соединенного Королевства.

>>The reverse side is for official (immigration)
purposes only.

>>Обратная сторона предназначена
только для использования в
служебных целях (сотрудниками
иммиграционной службы).

>>If you have any queries about completing
the immigration card, please ask a member of
our cabin crew, who will be happy to help.

>>Если у вас есть вопросы
относительно заполнения
иммиграционной карты, пожалуйста,
обратитесь к бортпроводнику, который
будет рад помочь вам.

1 Surname
Фамилия
2 First Name
Имя

3 Sex (please place
M or F in the space
provided)
Пол (пожалуйста,
напишите в
предоставленном
месте букву М,
если вы –
мужчина, или F,
если вы

4 Date of Birth
(Day/Month/Year) Дата рожд ения (день/месяц/
год)

5 Place of Birth
Место рождения

6 Nationality
Гражданство
7 Occupation
Профессия

8 Address During Your Stay in the UK
Адрес проживания

во время
вашего
пребывания
в Соединенном
Королевстве

9 Signature Подпись

10 For Official Use Only (please leave
boxes blank) Только для
служебного
использования
(оставьте поля
свободными)

ИММИГРАЦ- ИОННАЯ КАРТА СОЕД-ИНЕННОГО КОРОЛЕВСТВА ЗАПОЛНЯЕТСЯ В ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНОМ ПОРЯДКЕ ВСЕМИ ЛИЦАМИ, НЕ ЯВЛЯЮЩИМИСЯ ГРАЖДАНАМИ СТРАН ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ЗОНЫ, ПРИБЫВАЮЩИМИ В СОЕДИНЕННОЕ КОРОЛЕВСТВО (ВКЛЮЧАЯ СЕВЕРНУЮ ИРЛАНДИЮ), ЗА ИСКЛЮЧЕНИЕМ ТРАНЗИТНЫХ ПАССАЖИРОВ, ПРОДОЛЖАЮЩИХ ПОЕЗДКУ В ДРУГУЮ СТРАНУ.

U.S. Arrivals

hti2 — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:55:46 +0000

How to complete US entry forms

1 Everyone entering the US (or one member of a family) must complete a customs declaration form.

2 Depending on your circumstances, you’ll also be given either a white or green immigration form. You DO NOT need to complete an immigration form if you are a US or Canadian citizen, a Green Card holder or a new immigrant.

Who needs to fill out the green immigration form?

Fill out a green form (Visa Waiver) if you hold a passport for one of the countries listed below and you are either:

• Travelling to the US without a US visa under the Visa Waiver Programme or

• In transit to a country outside the US without a US visa under the Visa Waiver Programme.

NATIONALITIES TO COMPLETE THE VISA WAIVER*:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom**

*Subject to change. **Only British Citizens qualify under the Visa Waiver Programme.

Who needs to fill out the white immigration form? Fill out the white form (Arrival Departure record) if:

• You are a non-US citizen, hold a valid US visa and your final destination is the US, or if you are in transit to a country outside the US.

• Please complete items 1-13 on the Arrival Record and items 14-17 on the Departure Record. Make sure you keep the departure record somewhere safe as it MUST be given to your airline when you leave the US.

DOS AND DON’TS

Use a pen, not a pencil, and write in capital letters.

• Make sure you write in the correct space, below the numbered question, and fill in every line.
• If you make a mistake, don’t cross anything out - ask a cabin crew member for a new form and start again.
• For most visitors, your US address is the address of the hotel where you’ll be staying. If you are continuing your journey beyond the US today, print the word ‘transit’ here.
• Ask the cabin crew if you are unsure.

What kind of checks should I expect when I arrive ?

To travel to the US you must now be in possession of a machine-readable passport or a valid US visa, the lack of which may prevent you from travelling. Non-immigrant US visa holders and Visa Waiver Programme nationals are required to enroll in the US-VISIT programme on entry to the US. Under this scheme, biometric data (digital fingerprints and photographs) will be collected during the immigration clearance process. US authorities also collect biometric data at exit kiosks at most points of departure, but if there isn’t one at your departure point, you won’t be penalised.

This means that biometric data will be collected for nearly all citizens of the European Union on entry to the US and, where exit points are set up, on exit from the US. For further information, visit www.dhs.gov/us

Personal information:
In the interests of combating terrorism and serious crime, bmi is required to pass records to some government agencies concerning the information we hold about you.

Voyager inflight magazine: September 2008

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:07:44 +0000

Diary September’s hot events in bmi destinations and a special month for the BFI	Explore A spa that rocks, Barbados-inspired art and more
Whizz List The newest hot gadgets reviewed	Hot hotels Where to rest your head in bmi destinations including Palma and Copenhagen
Top tables Restaurants worth a visit in Chicago, Brighton, Amsterdam and Venice	Match Made in Ireland A special dating festival
New & Old…A new Scottish salon with a difference; Syria’s ancient ‘beehive’ houses	Passport to… Belfast
Email from… Almaty	Rising Star Is Cortes the boy to make opera cool?

Candy girl
Madonna tells all, from the story behind her new album Hard Candy to what life’s really like with Guy and the kids

Dane and able
A look at the strange and beautiful work of conceptual artist Olafur Eliasson

The circus life of Brian
The surprising story of the British man wow-ing the crowds in Las Vegas

Haile successful
How a boy from Ethiopia grew into the world’s best athlete

Club Europa
The coolest new places to hit the dancefloor – and they’re not where you might think

Turning style on its head
A retrospective exhibition in London celebrates Viktor and Rolf – The Netherlands’ brilliantly quirky fashion design duo

Woman of wonders
The inspirational story behind the business empire of Sung-Joo Kim, who has triumphed in the face of adversity

A degree of responsibility
Why corporate social responsibility, or ‘CSR’, has become so important to today’s MBA students

Doing business USA style
What it’s really like to take an intensive executive training course in the States

Your bmi
All our latest news, advice for frequent flyers, landing at Heathrow, US arrivals and a map of where we fly

Inflight Entertainment

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:47:55 +0000
Welcome to bmi’s infl ight entertainment listings guide
You’ll fi nd the latest blockbusters, an excellent selection of TV and audio programmes and games that will keep you amused for hours on many of our fl ights. Our listings are now categorised by system a, b, c, d for fl ights from the UK and a, b, c, d for fl ights to the UK depending on what aircraft you’re fl ying on today. Your cabin crew will announce which listing you should refer to at the beginning of the fl ight. Don’t worry if you miss it, a member of cabin crew will be happy to advise you about the guide.
PROFILE | JUDE LAW

The actor stars opposite Norah Jones in atmospheric road movie My Blueberry Nights

Jude Law was born on 29 December 1972, in Lewisham, south London.
His unusual fi rst name is said to be a reference by his parents both to the Beatles’ song Hey Jude and to the Thomas Hardy novel Jude the Obscure.
Law began acting at the age of 12 with the National Youth Music Theatre. He landed his fi rst television role in a soap opera at the age of 17.
In 1997 he won the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer, for his role as Lord Alfred Douglas, the lover of Oscar Wilde (played by Stephen Fry) in the acclaimed biopic Wilde.
It was far from the only awards show he would be invited to. Law has twice been nominated for an Academy Award: for Best Supporting Actor for TheTalented Mr Ripley in 2000 and for Best Actor for Cold Mountain in 2003.
Law has three children by his ex-wife, actress Sadie Frost: sons Rafferty and Rudy and daughter Iris, whose godmother is Kate Moss.
In 2005 Law was the subject of a press scandal, and issued a public apology to his then fi ancée Sienna Miller for the relationship he had with his children’s nanny.
Well-documented as being no fan of the paparazzi, Law has said of photographers: “I hate the intrusion into my private life. It’s like being followed by snipers.” Some journalists have nicknamed him Privacy Law as a result.
Next year, Law is set to portray Shakespeare’s Hamlet on the London stage, in a production directed by Kenneth Branagh.
See Jude Law in My Blueberry Nights on channel

NR – Not Rated
U – Universal suitable for children aged four years and over.
PG – Parental Guidance suitable for children aged eight years and over. Parents are advised to monitor fi lm content for suitability for younger children.
12/12A only suitable for children over the age of 12 unless accompanied by an adult.
15 only suitable for audiences over the age of 15. May contain scenes of sex, violence and/or bad language.
18 only suitable for audiences over the age of 18. May contain scenes of sex, violence and/or bad language.
For more information, visit The British Board of Film Classifi cation website at www.bbfc.co.uk

MOVIES TELEVISION AUDIO GAMES

Well-being

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:28:18 +0000

Enjoy a happier, healthy flight

…OR HOW NECK ROLLS AND CHEWING GUM CAN HELP YOU ARRIVE FEELING REFRESHED AND RARING TO GO

Before you fly

>> DRESS COMFORTABLY

Loose-fitting clothes are more comfortable in the air. If you’re travelling on business and need to dress smartly, at least take your jacket off, loosen your tie and undo a top button once you’re on-board.

>> PACK YOUR MEDICINES
Carry any regular medication, including asthma inhalers or angina sprays, in your hand luggage. It’s also a good idea to carry a document outlining any allergies or special medical conditions in the unlikely event of an emergency.

In the air

>> DRINK UP
Keeping your fluid levels up is probably the biggest favour you can do your body on a flight. So drink plenty of water – aim for one or two glasses an hour – and go easy on the coffee and alcohol.

>> BE A SUCKER
As the aircraft lands, your ears may pop: sucking sweets or chewing gum helps keep them comfortable. Alternatively, blow your nose, with your nostrils pinched shut. Start early in the descent, and continue as the aircraft descends.

Beating jet lag

>> Jet lag occurs when your body’s natural (or circadian) rhythm gets out of sync. It can cause lethargy and poor decisionmaking, and depends on the number of time zones you cross, not the length of your flight.

>> On a short visit (a day or two), it may be best to keep your body clock on “home time”. For longer stays, change your watch to the new time zone as soon as you board the plane and try to adjust to eating and sleeping at the appropriate times.

>> If you arrive in daytime, try to stay awake until early evening and enjoy a good sleep. If you arrive at night, get some sleep straight away and start the next day on local time.

>> Light strongly affects your body clock. It can help your adjustment to a new time zone, or it can make things worse. In fact, the conventional wisdom that you should expose yourself to light as soon as you arrive may not be helpful at all.

>> If you’re arriving in the morning, eat breakfast, have a coffee if that’s what you usually do, and try to get some exercise. Enjoy your day!

Your inflight exercises

>> Humans aren’t designed to sit in one position for long, but even small movements can promote blood circulation. Try some of our armchair exercises (below) and if you’re flying longhaul, get up and walk around the cabin every couple of hours.

Keep your heels on the floor and point your toes upwards. Hold for five seconds. Then, with your feet back on the floor, wiggle your toes.

Rotate your right foot, first to the right and then to the left, holding for five seconds each time. Repeat with your left foot.

Lift your ankles and rest on the ball of your foot. Rotate each ankle five times both ways. Now hold your knee, raise the leg and hold for 10 seconds.

Grip the end of your armrest, hold for five seconds, and relax. Repeat four times.

Relax your shoulders and then roll them in a circular motion. Repeat five times.

Lean your head to one side, count to five, and repeat to the other side. Repeat five times.

Why not do business USA-style?

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:56:40 +0000
Words | Lesley Symons
With the dollar still weak to the pound, studying at some of the world’s best business schools Stateside has never been nearer. So how does an intensive business course push you? Our writer reports back from the front line

AS THE GROUP of us attending an intensive executive programme at the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago take our seats for the welcome lecture, the professor asks how many of us are not from the States. A significant 62% of us raise our arms. Either the marketing department is running an unstoppable campaign abroad or the US dollar to sterling rate is still a godsend to Brits. So, however good their marketing team, I suspect it’s the latter that’s behind the allure. Nearly 50 of us (a mixture from Europe, Asia and the Middle East) had made the long-distance trip to study at one of the top North American business schools.

My company had enrolled me at Kellogg for a one-week improved performance course. Just entering the prestigious college, which is set on the lake in beautifully manicured grounds, makes one feel more intelligent. Joking aside, it made me feel more valued by my business. For a $7,000 (about £3,700) investment on their part, you get to participate in a learning experience that stretches you and has huge rewards. It also helps to meet people doing similar jobs to yours, who are having the same difficulties in an environment where many challenging issues are dealt with. As you would expect here, the tutors are first class. They have not only educational experience but real-life commercial acumen, which overcomes the response you want to give fresh-faced consultants: “Hmm, but you’ve never had to deal with these sort of problems, have you?”

Each day starts at 7am for breakfast, with lectures starting at 8am and running through to 9pm. Cap that with copious amounts of reading, studying and working together in groups to solve the various case studies and the result is an extremely intense course. So it helps that the accommodation and food (all meals are included in the costs) are excellent. Generous sustenance helps you get through the gruelling schedule.

An executive education course is a great refresher for best practice or a previous MBA. Otherwise, it offers a good overview of corporate strategies and is a highly recommended way of taking your problems from the office and sharing them with liked-minded individuals. You return to the office with new energies and fresh outlook on your business, even your life – and hopefully some new contacts from around the world.

A word of caution: it’s important with this kind of course that you research the backgrounds of the professors to ensure that they have the commercial wherewithal to deal with the subject. Writing books is great, but without the day-to-day experience of working in – if not actually running – a business, it’s like firing blanks.
The five-day course cost $7,300 (including board and food) and was based at Kellogg School of Management, 2001 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA, +1 (847) 491 3300; www.kellogg.northwestern.edu

A degree of responsibility

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:51:31 +0000
Words | Laura Latham
As corporate social responsibility becomes key to business strategy, MBA courses are adapting to stay ahead of the trend

ONE OF THE MOST important aspects of MBA degrees is their ability not just to teach the fundamentals of business but to draw on important new developments. Chief among these at present is corporate social responsibility (CSR), or the ability of companies to take into account the effects of business practices on local communities and the environment.

Several MBA courses are at the forefront of changing business trends and many now include important lessons about CSR. In a recent survey by the University of California, Santa Barbara, MBA students at 11 top business schools ranked CSR high on their list of values. Many claimed they’d be happy to accept a lower salary to work for an employer adopting ethical business practices. This echoes society’s steady shift towards greater public awareness of corporate responsibility.

Professor David Grayson, chairman of the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at Cranfield School of Management, believes responsibility, sustainability and issues surrounding the globalisation of trade are becoming increasingly important in the corporate world.

“Our goal is to make sure students have the opportunity to be exposed to debate about the role of business in society and a globally connected economy,” he says.

Grayson sees this new breed of MBA as a way of creating future managers able to implement sustainable and responsible business practices.

At Nottingham Business School, Professor Jeremy Moon says there is a growing demand for more socially responsible courses within the MBA structure.

“There’s evidence that more business schools are integrating social and environmental stewardship into their MBAs, as well as developing specialist CSR modules and programmes,” he explains. “There appears to be a growing interest in the business world as to what skills and competences a CSR manager requires and this may create a greater future interest in the subject.”

Moon says the main aspects MBAs should address are: “the responsibilities of business; the scope and limits of these responsibilities, particularly in respect to governments, societies and individuals, and the different global, national, cultural and company contexts of these responsibilities”.

He adds that the growth of interest in CSR among the wider public is what makes it so important to MBA students. “Increasingly, investors, employees and customers bring social and ethical criteria into their decisions about investment, work and consumption. Companies value our graduates for their CSR positions, but they also value CSR education in graduates entering other business positions. This suggests CSR training will have an impact on the future of global business.”

David Rodger, communications manager for the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group and a graduate of Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University, agrees that CSR skills now being taught on MBA courses are paramount to tomorrow’s business models.

“There’s been a real shift in our culture and issues of CSR now have a broader application in business than previously,” he says. “Companies need to think about the way they’re doing things and how they can change.”

While at university, Rodgers studied the renewable energy industry and he finds satisfaction in using his education in the sector. “MBAs with a CSR relevance definitely encourage students to consider how they can achieve business targets while still having empathy for society and the environment,” he says.

CSR issues are now regarded as so important that Manchester Business School has devoted a department to them. Professor Rosa Chun says: “Corporations are under a lot of pressure to be responsible and universities are also under pressure to include ethics into the curriculum.

“MBA students are future business leaders and, therefore, our mission is to put the curriculum into our courses.”

The school aims to provide a framework to help students understand how aspects of running a business and making a profit can exist alongside ethical issues. However, Chun explains that, because the subject is still relatively new, there’s little evidence yet to indicate whether CSR training is making any discernible difference to business practice.

“It’s doubtful whether new graduates can completely change the way companies or governments do business. But if we supply them with the knowledge and a framework then maybe change can happen by degrees,” she says.

“There’s no doubt multinationals are welcoming students with a CSR background and demand is growing among students, as it’s seen as something that could help you find a better job after graduation.”

CASE STUDY
Steven Lang, 34, from Bromley, Kent, graduated recently with an MBA from Manchester Business School and was formerly a marketing professional with Disney in France. He majored in corporate social responsibility (CSR) but was president of the business school’s CSR club. “Students now have a better awareness of CSR issues,” he says. “They are conscious about corporate ‘greenwash’ and want to be able to tell when a company is genuinely involved in CSR and those just paying lip service to it.”

Lang believes corporate responsibility used to be merely part of a company’s marketing or PR strategy but the issues are now becoming so critical to consumers that they are beginning to form the core of many corporations’ business practices.

“It’s definitely important to MBA students,” he says. “Our CSR club got more students to its talks and events than those for investment banking.”

Lang now seeks a position in a mainstream company that allows him to practise his knowledge of CSR. “Responsibility crosses all sectors – retail, banking or renewable energy,” he says. “Companies realise there has to be someone in their organisation who is taking responsibility for how those concerns are met.”

Want some CSR in your MBA? Try these business schools:

London Business School

+44 (0) 20 7000 7000; www.london.edu
Cranfield School of Management

+44 (0) 123 475 1122; www.som.cranfield.ac.uk
Manchester Business School

+44 (0) 161 306 1320; www.mbs.ac.uk
Glasgow University

+44 (0) 141 330 3993; www.gla.ac.uk
University of Edinburgh

+44 (0) 131 650 9663; www.business-school.ed.ac.uk
Nottingham University

+44 (0)115 846 6602; www.nottingham.ac.uk
Trinity College, Dublin

+353 (0)1 896 2707; www.tcd.ie
Queens University, Belfast

+44 (0) 289 097 3683; www.qub.ac.uk
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

+44 (0) 122 426 2000; www.rgu.ac.uk

Woman of wonders

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:48:21 +0000
Words | Robina Dam
As the Korean-born entrepreneur offi cially launches the British flagship store of her luxury German fashion brand during London Fashion Week, Voyager meets Sung-Joo Kim. As a global powerhouse who is commanding multimillions, her rise to the top is just as extraordinary as her personal story

THE FOUNDER OF the Sung-Joo Group (whose company carries her fi rst name) and the chairman of the MCM Group strides downstairs to the basement boudoir in London’s Knightsbridge of her latest MCM store, which specialises in luxury bags and accessories. Somehow she simultaneously greets the store manager, confi rms the rest of the day’s appointments with her publicist, introduces herself to me, orders green tea for us, casts an appraising eye over the changing room area – each of which is done as though it’s the sole thing on her mind. It’s clearly this level of multitasking which has taken Sung-Joo Kim to huge commercial success and international recognition as the head of a designer accessories’ franchise which has included the likes of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Sonia Rykiel. A far cry from her fi rst experience as apprentice to the legendary retail guru Marvin Traub, chief executive of Bloomingdales in New York where she learnt the golden rules of luxury branding.

“I never imagined that the company would be like this,” murmurs the businesswoman who has been described as one of ‘the New Century’s Leaders’ by CNN. She’s been ranked among ‘The Top 50 Women To Watch’ by the Wall Street Journal and ‘One of the Seven Most Powerful Women in Asia’ according to an Asiaweek list.

The context of these commendations is all the more remarkable given that Kim, 51, who was born to a leading Korean business tycoon – her father Kim Soo-keon being the founder and chairman of the Daesung Energy Corporation – was strongly discouraged from following her natural academic bent. Her parents intended her to have a traditional arranged marriage and when she rebelled against it found herself disinherited; more of which later. The repercussions were to form the basis of this future CEO. For although highest-ranking executives generally shy away from sharing their life stories for business coverage, Kim says simply: “It’s hard to talk about how I got into MCM without talking of my personal background.” For instance, her devout faith lies behind her decision for 10% of the company profi ts to be donated annually to charities and NGOs and 30% of her personal income to causes close to her heart, such as those which give education and business opportunities to young women in developing nations – hence she has been inducted into the Enterprising Women’s Hall of Fame in Florida this year.

The plaudits don’t stop there. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 1997 Kim was given an award for ‘Global Leaders of Tomorrow’ and more recently was invited to the fi nancial Times’ Luxury Summit where she was a guest speaker. “It was very interesting: on the podium were the likes of Mr Zegna [CEO of Ermenigildo Zegna] and Mr Oberoi [of the fi ve-star hotel chain Oberoi Group]. When I rose to speak after them, I joked: ‘So I see we are following the Asian custom of women last!’”

The audience may have laughed but the irony was not lost on them, given that Kim is at the forefront of the retail revolution which is seeing companies from the east achieving hitherto-unseen success in the western markets. Last year she had a $100m turnover and is predicted to be on course for a $1 bn business within fi ve years. “It has been referred to as reverse imperialism but I see it as true globalisation,” states Kim earnestly.

While her name may not spark instant recognition, her soft launch this summer of the MCM boutique on Sloane Street was attended by the capital’s discreet power brokers and society fi gures, such as celebrity interior designer Kelly Hoppen (who designed this store) and bmi’s chairman, Sir Michael Bishop. Now that the fi nishing touches have all met her exacting standards, she is throwing the offi cial launch party during London Fashion Week this month when a weekend bag designed by Prince Azim of Brunei will be unveiled in aid of the charity Make-a-Wish Foundation.

It also marks the rebranding of the German fashion house which once had supermodel Cindy Crawford as its ‘face’ when it was a major player in the 1980s and 90s. MCM stood for Mode Creation Munich but was nicknamed More Cash Money in fi nancial circles for its unstoppable flow at the cash tills. But in the Noughties, the company lost its way with overexpansion of its concessions, though sales in south-east Asia stopped it flatlining. Kim came up with a rescue package and bought it for an undisclosed amount. “It was a young brand which launched in 1976 and I started the licence for it in Korea and the Asian market in 1992. That’s how I could see it was one of the fastest growing luxury brands in Asia. So when I bought it in 2005, the Korean operation was growing extremely healthily – after all, Asia is so important to the designer sector that even Louis Vuitton and Burberry have around 60% from there. We learnt how to bring in German excellence to the Korean factories which cut costs but not quality. Our competition is Louis Vuitton,” states the businesswoman who is dressed in a trouser suit. Her cropped hair and lean 5ft 10” frame are offset by vibrant lipstick – this is relevant as she brings insight from her own lifestyle to the business. “I look at how 21st century women run their lives – always on the move. If I’m travelling in jeans and a casual top, I add a smart jacket and it takes me to a meeting. Add strappy shoes and it carries you to the evening. So our products cater to this new luxury trend that women want.”

And that is clearly working: there have been very public sightings of celebrities such as Geri Halliwell travelling with MCM luggage. The strategy behind this new luxury is just as strong as the designs of the products themselves. Upon buying the company, Kim had a three-pronged plan: “The fi rst phase from 2005-8 was to ‘clean up’ stores and concessions which weren’t right and to consolidate the business. Secondly, we appointed our new creative director Michael Michalsky, who was previously Adidas’ global creative director. Thirdly, we embarked on our PR and marketing plans. I plan to have 75 stand-alone stores by the end of this year and an additional 150 outlets worldwide on top of our seven global offi ces which include Zurich, London and Beijing – with Tokyo opening soon.”

However, London will play an increasingly important role; Kim plans to spend more time in the capital while her 18-year-old daughter Jeehae studies here and also as distribution increases from Harrods and Selfridges to other major outlets. But as her daughter continues her education, Kim – one of seven children where the sons were expected to follow their father into business while the daughters married into good families – recalls how as a bright child who brought home glowing school reports, her parents’ face fell when she kept winning the fi rst prize. “They thought ‘oh no, another smart girl’. Their attitude was that a smart girl does not marry well as she is hard for a man to control. They would rather I just did ok, studied soft subjects like home economics or art and then married the man of their choice.” Instead, Kim applied to the extremely prestigious Amherst College in Massachusetts and when her father refused to let her go, she approached several key business and political fi gures who were Amherst alumni. “They included the ambassador of Japan and a couple of cabinet ministers. My father didn’t believe me when I said I had invited them to dinner. He did not think such dignitaries would accept the invitation of a young girl.” In fact, they came and pleaded the case for young Sung-Joo; her father could not refuse them so aged 22 she duly went off.

This was followed by studying at London School of Economics and Kim went on to Harvard when – in order to escape an imminent fored marriage back home – she gave her then Canadian boyfriend an ultimaturm of a week to marry her. She was removed from the family tree and all support immediately stopped. Kim suddenly found herself urgently needing a job. Serendipity brought her to Marvin Traub’s orbit where she was responsible for organising a Bloomingdale’s special festival focusing on Korean products.

Kim was not reconciled with her family for several more years till events led her to being a translator for her father’s Daesung company during a negotiation for an American joint venture with Bendix. When the boardroom talks broke down, it was the ostracised youngest daughter who asked her father’s permission to mediate and saved a deal worth $20m. As thanks her father asked her what she wanted: Kim requested a $300,000 loan. “Not only did I repay that loan – but with 10% interest,” she recalls. It was this early capital which saw her establish her own company, holding the licence to luxury European brands in Asia. Following a visit to Gucci’s Florence stockroom –“It was so dusty as Gucci was going through a diffi cult time at that period that I almost didn’t want to take on the deal but then remembered that I had enough background in branding to push a name that had heritage” – she snapped up $500,000-worth of stock. She went on to expand with other designer names as well as Marks & Spencer whose massive South Asian presence from early 1997 was thanks to Kim. “I invested $30m in M&S and the Asian fi nancial crisis of 1998 when the market crashed meant I nearly lost that amount overnight. So many companies went bankrupt; we nearly did too.” But her enormous market for Gucci (Kim’s company handled their duty-free operations) was her saving grace. After lengthy negotiations, a buyer put in a cash bid at the eleventh hour. Kim retains 90% of the company.

“I’ve learnt the lesson that everything happens for a reason and you can learn from even bad experiences so I never despair,” she smiles. As someone who is at vanguard of what she calls ‘women-omics’, it will take a lot more than a mere economic meltdown to derail Kim. Expect the awards to continue.

Turning style on its head

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:41:08 +0000
Words | Celeste Neill-Duvoisin
As this month’s London Fashion Week continues to uphold its reputation for cutting-edge style, where else would you expect the surrealist Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf to showcase their first ever retrospective? Catch them while you can at the Barbican Art Gallery

THE AVANT-GARDE Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf are often described as the Gilbert & George of the fashion world. Like the infamous East London conceptual art duo, the two young fashion designers dress alike (in sharp suits with a slight edge to them), both wear black, thick glasses, have neatly cropped hair, and even sometimes finish each others’ sentences, so close are they. Beyond their appearance, the comparisons are also justified in that Viktor & Rolf are as much about conceptual art as audacious frocks. But they are also commercially savvy. The Italian mogul behind Diesel, Renzo Rosso, has just bought a controlling stake to push the company even farther. But what is expected to stay the same is their unique blend of the surreal and ironic with the fashionable as seen in their pioneering catwalk shows, which use vividly theatrical flourishes to showcase exquisitely detailed clothes.

Models striding down the catwalk in black full-face motorbike helmets, a tap-dancing womenswear launch (including the designers themselves tap-dancing) and the famous ‘Russian Doll’ moment with a single model on the catwalk dressed in 10 different layers by the designers, have all given rise to their reputation for performance art being integral to their fashion.

It’s appropriate that the first UK exhibition dedicated to this highly influential pair is at the Barbican Art Gallery in the City, which has been known for championing avantgarde art. The specially commissioned installation charts the past 15 years of Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren’s fashion. The exhibition is dominated by a stunning oversized dolls’ house, three storeys high at seven metres, filled with 55 beautiful (if slightly disturbing) dolls, each one meticulously dressed in a perfect miniature version of an iconic outfit from the designers’ past shows.

“We wanted to do something different with this exhibition and it’s one of the most extreme installations we have ever done,” the two explain in their trademark, twinlike, sentence-sharing style of conversation. “It is at once inspired by the famous Dutch dolls’ houses of the golden age, as well as Victorian department store architecture.”

The installation was designed with Dutch architect Siebe Tettero, a long-time collaborator who designed their Viktor & Rolf ‘upside-down’ boutique in Milan, as well as their Amsterdam offices. “He can translate our language into something real. This time we wanted to focus on all our collections from the past. We created a gigantic dolls’ house as our starting point. The dolls are replicas of 19th century French and German ones. The eyes are mouth-blown glass and the little wigs are made of real hair. It’s said that dolls like this were once used by couture houses in the 19th century when the couturier would create miniature versions of a design and send them to clients living abroad, who could commission the looks they wanted without having to travel.”

The Barbican exhibition, conceived four years ago, includes pieces from Launch, their “dreams in miniature” October 1996 collection. “Working with dolls is a recurrent theme for us, but it comes from that installation,” they explain.

“At that time we were frustrated by not being able to find our place in the seemingly impenetrable world of fashion and we needed to be more focused about our dreams and ambitions. We created an installation with miniatures, each depicting an element of a successful designer’s life: an atelier, a fashion show, a photo shoot, a boutique and a perfume.”

Now, 15 years later, their miniature dreams have turned into a huge reality, complete with their own perfume, Flowerbomb, launched after they signed a deal with L’Oreal in 2003 – the first high-end designers to do so since Giorgio Armani. Meanwhile in the shops their confrontational autumn/winter 2008 womenswear collection continues their “fashion anarchy” crusade, using words like “no” and “dream on” cut into the fabric or even constructed in 3D. The designers have said they wanted to take a stand against the fast pace of fashion. It’s why quirky British actress Tilda Swinton has been a recurring muse for their collections. ‘Anti-fashion’ yet stylish celebrity fans include Gwen Stefani, Tori Amos and Cate Blanchett.

Even with the perfume contracts, global branding success and a collection for Swedish fashion chain H&M, Viktor & Rolf are still hungry to challenge the divide between art and fashion.
Viktor & Rolf’s favourite Amsterdam places:

Until 21 September
The exhibition, The House of Viktor & Rolf, is at the Barbican Art Gallery, Silk Street, London [+44 (0)845 120 7550, www.barbican. org.uk/artgallery] Admission £8; £6 for concessions.
13 September
Coinciding with London Fashion Week and to celebrate the exhibition, Viktor & Rolf will be guests of honour at an event highlighting their sources of inspiration. Check the Barbican website (above) for booking details. Also see www.viktor-rolf.com
The Vondelpark
“We love to walk with our dogs Vicky and Zwaantje in this park. Especially in the early morning before work, when the park is waking up and all is quiet in the midst of the city.”
Gallery Diana Stigter,
Elandsstraat 90 [+31(0)20 624 2361, www.dianastigter.nl] and Van Zomeren Gallery [276 Prinsengracht, + 31(0)20 420 8129, www.gmvz.com]. “They often have great exhibitions.”
The ‘9 streets’ in the heart of Amsterdam’s canal district. “It’s one of the city’s most delightful shopping areas. Spend a fabulous day exploring the designer boutiques, art galleries, jewellers, gift shops, fashion shops (like Van Ravenstein, Keizergracht 359, +31 (0)20 639 0067, www. van-ravenstein.nl), specialist businesses and there are plenty of great bars, cafes and restaurants to refresh you.”
Het Muziekgebouw aan het IJ, Piet Hein kade 1 [+31 (0)20 788 2010, www.muziekgebouw.nl]. “The restaurant at the Muziekgebouw is worth a visit, even if only for a coffee. Wherever you look, the view is spectacular.”
Rijksmuseum, Jan Luijkenstraat 1 [+31 (0)20 674 7000, www. rijksmuseum.nl ], and the Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein [+3 (0)120 570 5200;www3. vangoghmuseum.nl]. “Each Friday the museums are open until 10pm and there’s always something special going on.”

Club Europa

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:35:43 +0000

September has long been established as the month when clubbing seasons culminate with their huge closing parties. But move over Ibiza, there are cooler destinations that hit the spot. Voyager reveals three surprising clubbing capitals and three different styles of clubbing that equal one hot season ahead

ALTHOUGH BETTER KNOWN for being business and financial centres, Zurich, Moscow and Brussels have been steadily developing their nightlife scene. Our experts in these bmi destinations bring their insider knowledge so that after a hard day of business meetings or intense shopping, all you have to do is party. And this is why:

ZURICH CONJURES UP thoughts of Swiss banking, private vaults and expensive watches on the wrists of bespokesuited businessmen. But the city is fast becoming a European clubbing capital, says Celeste Neill-Duvoisin.

What’s the latest club?

Zukunft [33 Dienerstrasse, www.zukunft.cl] means ‘future’, aptly for a forward-thinking venue defining the city’s sound. Its interior style – like its music – is minimal but with a delectable disco twist. Zukunft is the heart of Zurich’s thriving electro music scene. It features local producers like Kalabrese, whose laid-back, leftfield house sounds are making them big names on the international dance circuit. Rather than hype, the club relies on word of mouth among a hip, slightly more grown-up crowd more interested in getting down on the dance floor than on the pick-up.

Join the cool crowd at…

The old factories and dusty warehouses around Zurich West have been an ideal breeding ground for an incredibly diverse club scene. The Rohstofflager [Duttweilerstrasse, +41 (0)44 439 9090; www.rohstofflager.ch] is perhaps the most impressive. Set in a gigantic old milk factory, it produces industrial-strength minimal techno sounds that bounce off the giant steel pipes and black brick walls. Germany’s legendary techno master Sven Väth holds his Cocoon record label nights here.

Just a street or so away is Toni Molkerei [109 Förrlibuckstrasse, +41 (0)44 273 2360; www.tonimolkerei.com], a vast former yogurt factory whose stark white walls are now softened by custom-made cylindrical statement lights and a wall to wall red glass bar. Its DJ programme champions the freshest names in European hip hop and R’n’B. The venue and brand have become so ingrained with pioneering Swiss youth culture that it plans to launch its own campus of arts, education and entertainment in 2010.

But Zurich’s club scene isn’t only focused on the Zurich West district. Among the cobbled, narrow streets of the old town there are a number of more luxurious late night spots catering for the jet set. The spectacular interior design of Vertigo [10 Niederdorfstrasse, +41 (0)44 888 4408; www.vertigozurich.com] with its gourmet dining, DJ stars and sensual lounging has made it a hit. Bathed in white this ‘reclining restaurant’ features seductive beds layered around the interior and a soundtrack of deep house sounds via regular guest DJs such as Parisian Stephane Pompougnac.

Good to name-drop…

Although Zurich-born producer Headman is now a Berlin resident he’s still the biggest export in Swiss dance music this year. His acid-punk pop anthem On & On (Gomma) was a cult hit and he has remixed the likes of Franz Ferdinand and Mylo.

And an old favourite still going strong…

The theatrical glamour of Kaufleuten [Pelikanplatz, +41 (0)44 225 3322; www.kaufleuten.com] is a perennial favourite for the local glam pack, who adore the big house sounds and plush, red velvet interior. An added attraction is the chance to spot any international celebrities in town – Madonna and Prince being among the A-listers who have dropped by.

HAVING THROWN ASIDE the constraints of communism, Moscow has embraced the free market with gusto. As disposable incomes increase, so does the demand for fun. Club owners have to be constantly innovative and cutting edge. When it comes to the party scene, Muscovite glitterati aren’t just embracing excess, they are giving it a huge, vodka-infused bear hug. The European capital of bling is renowned for incomparable hedonism – it’s all about glitz, glamour, g-strings and pushing boundaries to the limit, says Harriet Brocket.

What’s the latest club?

The hottest club in town causing a stir with the city’s elitny is Soho Rooms [Savvinskaya Naberezhnaya, +7 (0)495 988 74 7444; www.sohorooms.com], located in an old warehouse building on the Savvinskaya Embankment. The owners have gutted the inside to form large atriums of two storeys. The main bar area has a mirrored-wall, lit by a large inset fireplace, whilst the dance floor offers laser shows and go-go girls suspended on chandeliers. An excellent place to see and be seen is the VIP seating suspended on a balcony over the dance floor. Up the grand staircase, you’ll find the restaurant (all clubs have one), but the main allure is the pool terrace, where revellers gather for a dip or just to take some air and enjoy the views over the Moscow River.
Join the cool crowd at…

Rai [9 Bolotnaya Embankment, +7 (0)495 767 1474], meaning ‘paradise’ is the place to find the young ubertrendy, beautiful, rich young Russians. The enormous dance floor is framed by several layers of VIP balconies adorned with gyrating go-go girls. Here, you can order a ‘kalyan oligarkh’, a hookah-pipe made with Cristal champagne costing 25,000 roubles (about £540).
The Most [6/3 Kuznetsky Most St, +7 (0)495 773 3100] wins on exclusivity. Owned by an oligarch, it’s unlikely you’ll get in unless you’ve got some mega-bucks to put down on the table. But once through the door, make your way down to the cavernous basement. A huge crystal chandelier hangs over the main dance floor where thumping house music amuses the beautiful people.

Good to name-drop…

Novikov owns more than 80 hip restaurants in the capital, including the GQ Bar [5 ul. Baltschug Dinm, +7 (0)495 956 7775]. Leather chairs and wooden shelves give an Old World club feel, but the roof lifts off at weekends as Moscow’s revellers come out to play.
And an old favourite still going strong…

Night Flight [17 Tverskaya St, +7 (0)495 629 4165; www.nightflight.ru] was the first club to open in Russia some 17 years ago. This well-known hotspot continues to be a stomping ground for international business people looking for a good night out.

THE MAIN REASON for opening her salon in Brussels, according to the Parisian celebrity hairdresser Marianne Gray was that the Belgian capital reminded her of Berlin. “There’s still a real raw, avant-garde energy here. I love all these amazing underground spaces, especially along the port area,” she told me. The city has transformed from shy and understated to unapologetically cool, declares Brussels native Nina Lamparski.

What’s the latest club?

The port area is where the city’s clubbing craze is now focused. Raw, avant-garde and underground, the decadent Anarchic party series invite you to get elegantly wasted and high on electro sounds. Held inside the K-Nal [1 Avenue du Port, Havenlaan, Centre, tel +32 (0)479 605 429, www.knal.be] – a converted warehouse overlooking the Brussels canal – this stylish dance orgy has been the talk of the town since event organiser Benoît Vano launched it last year. Every third Friday of the month, local and international DJs get beat addicts’ adrenaline pumping on two separate floors. Headlining acts have included New Jersey spinmaster Morgan Geist and Ghent duo the Glimmers. The former has appeared in Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Albums of the year, while the latter receive phone calls from Madonna and Robbie Williams asking for collaborative projects. The venue alone makes Anarchy nights [www.anarchic.be] worth a visit. There’s a downstairs split-level area for the hardcore stomping and a penthouse, the Chic Room, for a more chilled-out vibe.
Join the cool crowd at…

Bains::Connective [34 Rue Berthelotstraat, Vorstlforest, +32 (0)2 534 4855, www.bains.be] is an ancient former swimming pool that now hosts lounge evenings with artistic performances under the name Plankton. Enjoy live music acts and exhibitions in an awe-inspiring space. The Flat [12 Rue de la Reinette/ Pippelingstraat, Centre, +32 (0)47 218 9873; www.theflat.be] is another, albeit much slicker, party hotspot. Right now this two-level yuppie bar is one of the trendiest addresses in Brussels. The establishment gets its name from the fact that the upper floor looks like a stunning private apartment, featuring a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. DJs heat up the atmosphere in the downstairs lounge. The place organises great themed parties on an invite-only basis – sign up to the mailing list and join the elite next time you’re in town. Café Belga [Place Eugène Flagey Plein, Ixelles, Elsene, +32 (0)2 640 3508, www.cafebelga.be] near the newly refurbished Flagey square, is where the famous go when they want to be left alone. Apart from excellent live acts by turntable greats like DJ Herbaliser, the bar runs regular jazz events and has a huge terrace.
Good to name-drop…

Brussels’ hottest asset now is Cosy Mozzy, who exploded onto the national club scene in 2003, becoming one of Belgium’s most wanted DJs, producers and record label owners. Visit www.dirtydancing.be to find out when the grand master and his disciples are shaking the masses next.
And an old favourite still going strong…

Known as the cradle of Belgian electro and house, the Fuse nightclub [208 Rue Blaesstraat, Centre, +32 (0)2 511 9789, www.fuse.be] has withstood the test of MTV and fleeting pop trends. The cult place, spread across three floors, has been going strong for nearly two decades. Anyone who is someone, from Laurent Garnier to Sven Väth, spins the decks here.

Haile successful

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:27:17 +0000
Words & photography | Michel L’Huillier / TCS
Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie is one of the world’s best athletes, but he pulled out of the Beijing Olympics because he’s saving himself for London 2012. Panting for breath, Voyager catches up with this fast-mover at his home in Addis Ababa

HE IS THE ATHLETE who has broken world records and who still continues to challenge himself, yet this summer Haile Gebrselassie pulled out of the Beijing Olympics. Referring to his asthma, he told Reuters: “The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km in my current condition.” He hopes to compete instead in the 2012 Olympics in London.

Considered by many to be the best distance runner of all time, over the past 15 years the Ethiopian athlete has won two Olympic golds, four world titles and gained 15 world records over five distances, from 3,000 to 10,000 metres. Last September the 34-year-old also set the new world record for the Berlin Marathon at 2 hours 4 minutes, 26 seconds. Earlier this year he won 26 seconds. Earlier this year he won the Dubai Marathon – and created another record as it was the fastest time ever won in Dubai (2:04:53).

Gebrselassie was born to a humble peasant family in the highlands of central Ethiopia. From an early age he rose before dawn to begin a daily routine of milking, collecting manure for the kitchen fifire and shepherding the family’s herds of animals – all before walking 10km to school. Growing up without electricity and with the nearest drinking water a three-hour walk away, it was little wonder this small boy, one of 10 children, dreamt of a better life.

“I imagined that one day I would become an important, famous person and would travel all over the world,” he explains, almost 30 years on, as he sips a cup of tea in the kitchen of his expansive mansion on one of the hills that surround Addis Ababa, the country’s capital.

At the age of seven, Gebrselassie found the inspiration he needed: a radio broadcast of the 10,000m at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in which the Ethiopian Miruts Yifter won the gold medal. “That was a decisive moment in my life,” he recalls. “I decided that I would become the best athlete ever seen, so I started running everywhere, even to school. I let my mind drift, imagining I was running far away from the wheat fields and hardship.” His childhood running left its mark: even as an adult, he ran with his left arm crooked, the effect of holding school books under his arm. Gebrselassie’s first trainer was his older brother, Tekeye, who was a marathon runner. “When I was just 14, he signed me up for my first 1,500m race in the Asela stadium, where I competed with much older boys,” Gebrselassie recalls.

“I’ll always remember how they laughed at me when they saw me on the starting line, as I was so little and puny. And then the surprise on their faces when they saw me break away from the group on the second lap to win the race on my own.”

Reaching his early 30s, having won everything on the track, Gebrselassie might have been expected to retire from athletics and enjoy life with his four children. Yet he took on a new challenge: the marathon.

“Before, I ran exclusively to win, save and ensure a better life for myself. But recently my mentality has changed,” he says. “Now I earn more money from affairs that are unconnected to athletics, so I run because my body and mind need it. Over the years I’ve become too slow for track running and the natural thing was to change to marathon running. Although I still feel the competitive spirit, it doesn’t matter if I win or lose.” Of course, he usually wins.

“Everybody expects Haile to keep on breaking records,” says his friend Richard Nerurkar, a British ex-marathon runner who lives in Addis Ababa. This same hunger for success has led him, in his first season as a marathonrunner, to achieve major victories in the prestigious marathons of Berlin and Fufoka. His time of 2:05:56 in Berlin allowed him to enter the exclusive group of only five athletes capable of running a marathon in under 2:06. One of the group’s leading lights is Kenyan Paul Tergat, who held the world record of 2:04:55 until last year. The rivalry between the two runners goes way back and includes the historic final of the 10,000-metres in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, where the Ethiopian beat the Kenyan after an extremely close call. Tergat had to accept the same result in the finals of two World Championships and in the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Last year Gebrselassie took part in only two competitions: the London Marathon, and the World Championship in Osaka. Unlike the previous year, he trained with the rest of the Ethiopian runners, rather than sticking to his own regimen. He joined his colleagues from the national marathon team (most of whom were in their 20s) at the Tadek training grounds, just outside Addis Ababa, before dawn. Overseeing them was Ethiopian team coach Dr Woldemeskel Kostre.

“From the first day, Haile seemed special,” recalls Dr Kostre, who discovered Gebrselassie. “I knew that breaking records wouldn’t be a problem for him. I believe everybody thought the same.”

After training, Gebrselassie returns to his other preoccupations – his businesses. “I feel privileged to have travelled the world through my experiences; this makes me feel a responsibility towards the people of this country,” Gebrselassie says as we drive back into town after training. We reach one of his buildings, located by the airport, and named after his wife, Alem.

From his eighth-floor office Gebrselassie runs two types of business: “One provides me with money; the other gives personal satisfaction,” he says. The former is his real estate businesses, and a new company to import trucks and construction machinery. Both are largely in the hands of his wife and brother, a postgraduate economist.

“I concentrate on my schools projects; there are two at the moment, one in Asela and the other in Bahar Dar, with over 1,000 students,” enthuses Gebrselassie. “Education is the key to changing poverty in Ethiopia.”

This social sensitivity is not new, says Jos Hermens, the Dutch manager who has taken care of Gebrselassie’s career since the beginning. ”I’d only just met him, when he was 17, when he told me firmly that he wanted to become the best athlete in the world so he could help his compatriots from his privileged situation,” says Hermens.

“I’m not a charitable institution,” Gebrselassie points out. “Nobody should expect me to go around giving my money away. What I mean to do is to create work for as many people as possible.” It is this approach that has led many of those near him to see him as a future president. However, it’s not an ambition he shares: “I can do more through my own private initiatives.” These include collaborating on all kinds of campaigns with numerous organisations that approach him for help.

Gebrselassie and Richard Nerurkar created the Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa (for amateur and professional runners) in 2001. It’s a platform from which to spread important health messages to the population, especially about AIDS, as well as to help to change perceptions about the country.

“Haile is such a hero to Ethiopians,” says Nerurkar. “His appearances in events, interviews and campaigns abroad make him the best unofficial ambassador for Ethiopia. He manages to exert influence on things concerning the economy and the country’s development.”
Haile’s hot spots

BEST FOR SHOPPING
“The Merkato market. You can buy everything, really everything here.”
BEST CAFE BAR
The Olympic Café [owned by Haile Gebrselassie’s brother]. Bole Road, Addis Ababa, + 251 (0)11 662 2936
BEST HOTEL
The Sheraton, Taitu Street, PO Box 6002, Addis Ababa, + 251 (0)11 517 1717; www.starwoodhotels.com
BEST RESTAURANT
“Habesha is a very nice restaurant with good Ethiopian food.” Bole Road, Addis Ababa, +251 (0)11 551 8358
BEST PLACE TO GO FOR A RUN
“Intoto is about 20 minutes’ drive outside Addis on top of a mountain. It’s very beautiful, and perfect for running.”
BEST PLACE TO RELAX
Addis Ababa Golf Club + 251 (0)11 320 1893

The circus life of Brian

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:20:01 +0000
Words | Neil Murray
Working as a clown in Las Vegas is hardly a typical occupation for a 76-year-old man from Greater Manchester. But it’s old meets new as Brian Dewhurst teams up with Cirque du Soleil – and he’s in no hurry to retire

BRIAN DEWHURST reached a turning point in his career at the age of 68 when he was asked if he would like to turn back the clock to be a clown with the legendary Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas.

“I’d come to the point [as artistic co-ordinator for the show O] when I had to move on. My first wife had died the night before the show opened and I’d stayed on for a year after that, but I felt I needed a change. They came to me and said: ‘Wayne the clown [in Mystère] can’t carry on because he has a bad knee and it hasn’t worked out with a couple of other people. Would you be interested?’ I said I’d give it a go – and that was eight years ago.”

Returning to clowning wasn’t an easy decision, however. For Brian, it brought back memories of the time when, performing his comedy wire-walking act in 1984, he fell and dislocated his shoulder. His daughter, Sally, ran into the audience to ask if someone could phone the emergency St John Ambulance – but they thought it was a joke and didn’t believe her. In fact, no one did. So he jumped onto his moped and drove himself, one-armed, to the hospital.

Now as a new, dazzling Cirque show opens at the other end of ‘The Strip’ in Vegas next month, the 76-year-old clown ‘Brian Le Petit’ will still be leading unwary punters a merry dance around the auditorium, their tickets in hand, trying – and failing – to find their seats before his show, Mystère, gets under way.

As the crowd realises what’s happening, the laughter increases, even more so when buckets of popcorn are spilled ‘accidentally’ over unsuspecting members of the audience. Later, midshow, he locks an unsuspecting male in a box onstage and takes the victim’s seat beside his wife or girlfriend.

If Criss Angel Believe, the new hi-tech, multi-milliondollar illusionist show opening next month, is the latest, edgy side of Cirque du Soleil, Brian’s act is the more traditional. A comedy wire-walker by trade, Brian comes from a circus family in which his great-grandfather was an acrobat, his grandfather a clown, and his father a knife-thrower and rope-spinner. And the genes still carry this passion. His daughter, Sally, now 42, a former British international gymnast, performed with Cirque, and his son, Nicky, 38, appears in Zumanity, another successful Cirque show in Vegas.

When his children were growing up in the UK, Brian recalls: “We always had a wire up in the garden. It was mainly for me to practise, but Sally and Nicky would jump on it, too. Sally has said she realised her family was slightly different when she saw me cutting the hedge on stilts.”

The dynasty looks set to continue. “Two of my four grandchildren [aged between 12 months to 12 years] are very good gymnasts,” he says, proudly.

Born in Longside, between Stockport and Manchester, Brian left school at the age of 13 to hit the road as a performer, a journey that has included touring Africa by rail for a year in his mid-teens and travelling around Europe with a variety of circuses. In the mid-1980s, he was involved in the UK with an ‘alternative’ group called Circus Senso. It led to the connection with Cirque du Soleil, and appearances with Sally and Nicky in the first Cirque show to take Las Vegas by storm. That was Nouvelle Experience, which was performed in a tent behind The Mirage hotel.

When Mystère, the first permanent Cirque show in Sin City, opened in December 1994, Brian was the artistic coordinator, a role he has subsequently performed with O in Vegas and a touring Saltimbanco.

Now, 14 years on from that opening night, Brian reckons there is plenty of fresh showmanship about Las Vegas that is exciting. There are some great acts coming here. Carrot Top, for example, is a very good music hall-type of act,” he says.

“The Blue Man Group is part of, for argument’s sake, the new wave, and there are now many shows being brought in from Broadway. I think the first was Chicago and, since then, there has been Spamalot, Mamma Mia and Phantom – but they all condense the shows to about an hour-anda- half.

“It used to be that we had to go out of the city to get good dining and shows. Now everyone has come to us, including high-end restaurants, West End/Broadway shows – and British food items!”

However much razzmatazz there now is, Brian can still escape, because he has a condominium in town and a split-level chalet set in half an acre of land in the Mount Charleston area, north-west of Las Vegas.

“I hit the highway, turn off and it’s 20 miles up the mountains,” he says. He relaxed there recently following a knee injury. The odd bump or bruise is an occupational hazard when you’re a clown.

“Having been involved in circuses since I was 13, there hasn’t been a year when I haven’t worked,” he adds. And retirement?

“When I can’t do it any more, that’s the retirement age. Hopefully, that’s a long way away.”

Cirque is still evolving
Having such a long link to Cirque du Soleil, how would Brian describe the current Cirque shows in town? “Ka is the most technically advanced,” he says. “It cost a fortune but the technology is just amazing, as are the performances.

“With Love [set to the music of the Beatles], it’s the first time Cirque had put on a show without live music, but the sound is incredible, and O is very visual in content. The director wanted to have the appearance of looking at a theatre like an opera, like a proscenium arch theatre.

“Mystère, of course, is much more intimate because it’s almost in the semi-round.”

And Zumanity, which stars son Nicky?

“It’s just very naughty.”

Brian’s (serious) restaurant tips
During his long career there, Brian Dewhurst has seen a dramatic rise in the number of top-quality restaurants in Las Vegas. “They have so many top chefs now,” he says. “Wolfgang Puck has a couple of restaurants and the Chinese restaurant at Wynn Las Vegas [Wing Lei, +1 (0)702 248 3463, www.wynnlasvegas.com] is the first Chinese restaurant in the US to be awarded a Michelin star. So the quality of restaurants and dining has improved dramatically.

“Of my favourites, Marché Bacchus [www.marchebacchus.com, +1 (0)702 804 8008] is a little French restaurant on one of the faux lakes, and I think Le Cirque restaurant [+1 (0)702 693 8100, www.bellagio.com/restaurants] in the Bellagio is one of the top ones in the city.”

WHAT’S NEXT ON THE STRIP?
The new Vegas face: Criss Angel
THE 21st century face of Las Vegas is Criss Angel (below), a new breed of rockstar- like magician who has more in common with Tommy Lee than Paul Daniels. The most buzz-worthy new addition to the Vegas shows is Criss Angel Believe. The city’s sixth and latest permanent Cirque du Soleil show, it has its gala premiere next month at the Luxor Las Vegas.

And among the ladies vying for a place as Angels’ lovely assistant in real life? He dated Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz (inset) last year, which included taking her for a night out at the Beatles’ Love musical, and has been linked to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Angel was originally scheduled to perform a mirror illusion as part of Spears’ disastrous performance of her single Gimme More at the opening of the 2007 MTV awards, but he pulled a different kind of illusion and didn’t appear at all, reportedly for insurance reasons.

Criss Angel Mindfreak, his MTV show, has been hailed as the “most successful magic show in TV history” and Angel is the five times winner of the Magician of the Year award in the States.

Aside from his ability to generate tabloid gossip, Angel has made his name as a dazzling illusionist, with 600 performances of his Criss Angel Mindfreak live show on Broadway. His past tricks have included walking on water, levitating and floating between Las Vegas hotel buildings, and cutting himself in half in full view of his audience (rather than a female assistant – no wonder he’s a hit with the ladies.)

As for Criss Angel Believe, he is not giving much away, but he claims the show will be “unlike anything that anybody has ever seen before”.

“The images on stage will ignite responses that cause people to reflect – and I think that’s the truest form of magic,” he says. The only further detail he will offer is that the show will “hover between the land of the living and a surreal world”. That clears that up, then…

For tickets: +1 (0)702 262 4400, www.luxor.com/entertainment/entertainment_believe.aspx

Terry Fator, the winner of America’s Got Talent, who combines ventriloquism with celebrity impressions, starts a five-days-aweek, five-year contract at The Mirage in February next year.

The seventh permanent Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas – Mystère, O, Ka, Zumanity, Love and Criss Angel Believe are the others – will bring Elvis Presley back to the city that saw some of his most-famous performances. The Elvis/Cirque show, expected to open in November next year, will be part of the $9.2 billion, 66-acre CityCenter hotel-casino development currently in construction.

Musicians with scheduled stops in Vegas include Led Zeppelin (17 October), Tom Jones (30 October - 12 November) and Madonna (9 November). Artists in long-term engagements include Cher, Barry Manilow, Elton John, Penn and Teller and Bette Midler.

Dane and able

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:13:52 +0000
Words | Sophy Grimshaw

The work of Danish installation artist Olafur Eliasson is so extraordinary that he can even appear to control the weather: from creating false sunsets and waterfalls to encasing a BMW in ice

IF YOU DON’T RECOGNISE the name of Olafur Eliasson, you may well recognise some of his ambitious installation art works. Famously, he was the artist responsible for The Weather Project, literally a feat of smoke and mirrors in the Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, London, and Double Sunset, for which he created the illusion of there being two suns in the sky in Utrecht in The Netherlands.

Eliasson was born in Copenhagen in 1967 to an Icelandic family and graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1995. Currently his work on display includes four largescale artificial waterfalls in New York’s East River, which will be in place until the end of next month.

Known for dreaming big in experimental art and for the high level of engineering skill he brings to it, Eliasson is not above accepting commercial commissions. He created a complex frozen structure subtly to showcase a BMW and has been the brains behind window displays for Louis Vuitton. Eliasson put the money from the Vuitton commission towards the charity he has founded, 121 Ethiopia (www.121ethiopia.org). It funds the building of orphanages in Addis Ababa, where Eliasson and his wife adopted their two children.

Now a new book, Studio Olafur Eliasson: An Encyclopedia – by Philip Ursprung, professor of modern and contemporary art at the University of Zurich and an early champion of Eliasson – brings together photographs of Eliasson’s extraordinary work and the stories behind it.
Studio Olafur Eliasson: An Encyclopedia is out now (£80, Taschen, www.taschen.com)

The Things You Don’t See That You Don’t See, 2001
Eliasson folded a vast two-dimensional sheet of cardboard in such a way as to create this threedimensional tunnel.

The Weather Project, 2003 -2004
Fog machines and a giant ‘sun’ made from hundreds of lamps were part of Eliasson’s famous ‘weather project’ in the Turbine Hall of London’s Tate Modern. The suggestion of recreating the weather, rather than movie-effect realism, was the goal. Eliasson replaced part of the ceiling with mirrors – many visitors lay down to see themselves reflected.

Waterfall, 2004
At a gallery in Aarhus, Denmark, Eliasson mimics the rhythm and flow of a natural waterfall using scaffolding. Art works that use mechanics to recreate natural phenomena are a recurring theme for Eliasson.

Your Mobile Expectations, 2007
Expectations, 2007 This cover both displays and hides a BMW H2R hydrogen car. One layer emits yellow light; on top of that are steel rods and mirrors, onto which 2,000 litres of water are poured and immediately frozen into icicles.

Circumscription, 2004
Two spiral staircases that interlock, creating the continuous loop of a double helix, in the courtyard of an office building in Munich, Germany. To help the building process, a laser projector was used to show the spiral shape Eliasson’s team were working towards. The result is carefully engineered to balance on one single base point.

Your Waste of Time, 2006
Eliasson brought blocks of ice weighing six tonnes all the way from Iceland to display in sub-zero temperatures at a German gallery. The artist and his team took them from the Vatnajökull glacier, parts of which formed in 1,200 AD.

Berlin Colour Sphere, 2006 (detail)
Eliasson has an interest in mirrors and prisms, through which colours can be refracted in a number of ways. “Our experience of colour is not a purely biological matter,” says the artist. “It also depends on how our vision has been cultivated. Your notion of red may be different from mine.”

Candy girl

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:07:23 +0000
Interview: Danny Scott & Theinterviewpeople.Com
She’s topped every chart, broken every record – and every taboo – and still continues ringing the changes, as her London concert this month will show. But, as her 11th album hard candy fights for attention amid press headlines about the state of her marriage, is life still sweet for Madonna?

AS BEFITS THE QUEEN of pop, Madonna has spent most of this summer firmly under the media spotlight. Her latest album, Hard Candy, which was released this April, has sold several million copies and is a high-energy dance party with a string of A-list guests, including Timbaland, Kanye West, Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams. She’s followed that with the Sticky and Sweet concert tour, which brings her to London this month at Wembley, and will travel around the globe for the rest of this year.

She hit 50 on 16 August, but it seems Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone Ritchie is nowhere near ready to loosen her vice-like grip on the famously fickle world of pop music. A quarter of a century after her debut album – yes, Madonna was released way back in 1983! – she is still the Guv’nor.

“I wanted to make a very danceable record,” she says of Hard Candy, her eleventh album, which has topped the charts in 37 countries, including notching up her tenth UK number one. Stats aside, musically it’s even more upbeat than her Confessions on a Dancefloor, her famous 2005 return to her New York disco roots.

“How can you make a record with Justin and Pharrell and not make dance music? I love their records. I’ve been a big fan of Pharrell and the Neptunes for years, and I loved Justin Timberlake’s last album.” As for Timbaland’s production: “Every time I heard a song on the radio over the past year or two and loved it, I said: ‘Oh my God, who is that?’ and then I found out it was Timbaland. So it was just really because I am a fan more than anything.”

No prizes for guessing who wanted to be the boss once they were in the studio, though. “Well, we sort of took turns,” she offers. “Sometimes, they influenced me and, sometimes, I influenced them. I think that happened more with Pharrell, ’cause with Pharrell I’d say, ‘Let’s do some more up-tempo stuff’. Give It 2 Me and Beat Goes On were more my idea, whereas Incredible and Spanish Lesson were more his idea. I did get into an argument with Pharrell in the very beginning, but it wasn’t anything big. We all had to make compromises.”

Madonna describes Give It 2 Me, the album’s second single, as “like an anthem, like the ultimate inspiration song, like you can never give up, you just have to keep going and we are all winners”. She’s certainly got the track record to be able to sing it. Does she feel she’s a winner? “Absolutely.”

Despite being an album full of what she calls “big bass sounds and fat beats”, Hard Candy has its thoughtful moments. 4 Minutes – the Timberlake collaboration that was a number one single earlier this year – is Madonna in eco-warrior mode, railing against our apparent disregard for the sad state of the planet. “It was probably inspired a little bit by Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, as well as doing the Live Earth concert. I also did a lot of my own investigations and spent time in Africa, and it made me realise that we are living in a world that is filled with chaos. We all need to wake up, take responsibility.”

Does writing a pop song really change anything? “I try to do as much as I can – whether it’s something like Live Earth [a series of worldwide concerts last year] or being involved in projects that help raise awareness. I made a documentary about children who have been orphaned by Aids in Malawi [I Am Because We Are, which was premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April]. Things are beginning to look up over there. Attention has been focused on Malawi in the last couple of years. I hope I have something to do with that.”

Madonna has, indeed, focused attention on Malawi, but some might argue that it had nothing to with her documentary. Journalists and news crews have been flocking to the troubled African republic because Madonna wanted to adopt two-year-old David Banda, unleashing what even her fans had to admit was a tidal wave of bad publicity.

For years, Madonna has slickly controlled media coverage of her life, whipping those naughty Fleet Street boys and girls into shape with a style and guile that would turn Gordon Brown green with envy. What the world got was a Madonna who had been sanctioned, shaped and airbrushed by Madonna Inc. An extraordinary, super-real Madonna that was reinvented and rebuilt for every new album and tour – the lippy, girl power troubadour for Like A Virgin, the dominatrix for Erotica, the psychedelic dancefloor and yoga guru for Ray of Light. “I think I have always had a sense of irony in my work,” she explains. “Whether people got it or not is another story. But humour is very important to me.”

While other pop stars came and went, often disappearing after barely a single or two, Madonna became the undisputed mistress of reinvention, setting new trends that the younger generation of entertainers could merely dream of. She has always appeared to be the one in control. But this year has been different and the wheels came off the bandwagon. The media haven’t been interested in her new album (unfairly, as it’s very good) or its glamorous guest list. They haven’t been as respectful of her sinewy arms (several hours a day of dedicated exercising), choice of religion (kabbalah), her 50th birthday or any of the stories that we’ve pored over for the past three decades. Instead, the tabloids have gone for the jugular, sinking their teeth into her eight-year marriage to the one-time bad boy of British film, Guy Ritchie, 39.

Recent times have seen relentless ‘exclusives’, from ‘Madonna and Guy in crisis talks’ to ‘No plans for divorce’. Yet ‘insiders’ reveal that ‘It’s over’, while convenient paparazzi shots show cinema outings en famille. Even Madonna’s younger brother Christopher Ciccone has written a book about her private life. And there’s the matter of Madonna’s friendship with New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez – a man whose Stateside profile is bigger than Beckham, Rooney and Ronaldo put together, and whose wife has just filed for divorce.

Madonna’s team played down the Rodriguez connection – not to mention reported sightings of the 32-year-old sneaking out of Madge’s apartment in the early hours. “They know each other,” we’re told. “They share the same manager.” But the headline writers aren’t buying it. What with all the pictures of Guy Ritchie looking miserable, we’re almost in danger of forgetting that Madonna is actually a musician at all.

At the time of going to press it was impossible to say what’s round the corner for the couple. Madonna appears to acknowledge that their respective workload has made life difficult. The song, Miles Away, talks of long-distance love, fading dreams and uncomfortable silences. “I think it’s a song everyone can relate to,” she says. “Especially when there are two people that work… and you are always travelling and you don’t see each other all the time.”

So, has her relationship with Guy changed at all. “Oh yeah! How could it not? I’ve changed. He’s changed. We have three children now [the couple’s seven-year-old son, Rocco; 11-year-old Lourdes, fathered by fitness trainer, Carlos Leon; and two-year-old David]. Our life experiences have changed.” For the better? “Yeah. I think we have just grown up more. We don’t have that same kind of idealistic expectation of what I think the perfect husband is, of what he thinks the perfect wife is. I think we are less judgemental of one another and… we have more compassion for one another. You become friends, but it takes a while. You could fall in love with someone right away, but it takes a while to really like them.”

Is having three young children a handful? “They all get along fine. They are all unique in their personalities, but I think it makes for fun in the house. When I leave the studio I don’t really think about work, I am too busy thinking about, did my daughter get her clothes for school, did my son brush his teeth…” How does Lourdes deal with having a mother who is a role model to so many other women? “Well, she is not stupid either, so I met my match, ha ha. She has her moments of rebellion. She doesn’t listen to me, like most 11-year-olds.”

You’ve had an important birthday yourself, this year.

“No, it was important for everybody else. For me, it was just another year. No different to 49 or 51.”

Whatever tabloid storms are brewing, Madonna is still in charge. Even the smooth-talking Warner Bros lawyers – her record company since that very first album – were unable to get the better of her. When they didn’t offer the right record deal, she walked, and signed with the Live Nation label.

Madonna doesn’t quite see it like that. “I am not leaving them,” she insists. “My contract ran out. I could have renewed it, but they didn’t offer me as good a deal as Live Nation.” Surely it was a huge blow to Warner? “They’ll get over it. Record companies have changed. Who knows if record companies are even going to be around in a couple of years.”

But it’s a safe bet that Madonna will be around for a long time yet.

Hard Candy is out now. Madonna plays Wembley Stadium on 11 September as part of the Sticky and Sweet tour, and cities including Las Vegas and Chicago next month. www.madonna.com

Rising Star Cortes

hti2 — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:54:11 +0000
Simon Cowell is making a mint from Popera (Popopera) groups, and must be kicking himself that he didn’t discover cortes, the tenor with a Brit nomination and a number one classical album under Hist.
How do you feel about being called both the ‘James Bond of opera’ and ‘the new Pavarotti’?
I love James Bond but the only similarity is that we both wear a suit. Maybe opera lacks sex appeal, but I don’t think that’s what we should focus on. The main thing for me is the music, but it’s not bad to brush up well, too. There’s only one Pavarotti, and he always looked brilliant in a suit.

Classical purists tend to shun the music industry’s attempts to make it more accessible. Where do you stand?
Music should be more accessible. Opera was the popular music of its day. Today opera is too elitist, for the people with money. Blending operatic singing with modern production is a great way of introducing all the fantastic melodies that opera has.

You started out as a child actor. How is the discipline of acting different from that of singing?
For me acting, interpreting a character, has always been a joy, though it’s hard work. When I was younger I was torn between which route to go down, but in the end I couldn’t leave music behind. A singer’s voice is a very delicate instrument, so it’s probably harder for a singer to pull off a good performance than it is for an actor in a play. You have to look after your voice and try not to catch colds.

Your parents are musicians. How much of a part have they played in your career?
They never pushed me into it. People often wonder whether musical ability is in the genes, but I think I would have got into music regardless. I feel very alive when I’m performing. Giving a concert is a real adrenaline rush.

When you were younger you were a fan of Bon Jovi and Prince. Do you think any of their songs are ripe for an operatic interpretation?
Some of Prince’s songs have great melodies, like those by Elton John, George Michael and Billy Joel. There are definitely songs among theirs that would work with a classical makeover. Some melodies belong just in the pop genre, but I think Purple Rain would work well…

Cortes’s album When You Say You Love Me is out now on Universal Records.
WHO IS CORTES?

The name Gardar Cortes sounds Spanish, but Cortes is from Iceland. Born in May 1974, the son of an English concert pianist mother and an Icelandic tenor father, he has had crossover success with his operatic singing style. He was a child actor and in 1999 his big break came when he won the lead role in a West End production of Phantom of the Opera.

The Things You Don’t See That You Don’t See, 2001 Eliasson folded a vast two-dimensional sheet of cardboard in such a way as to create this threedimensional tunnel.
	The Weather Project, 2003 -2004 Fog machines and a giant ‘sun’ made from hundreds of lamps were part of Eliasson’s famous ‘weather project’ in the Turbine Hall of London’s Tate Modern. The suggestion of recreating the weather, rather than movie-effect realism, was the goal. Eliasson replaced part of the ceiling with mirrors – many visitors lay down to see themselves reflected.
Waterfall, 2004 At a gallery in Aarhus, Denmark, Eliasson mimics the rhythm and flow of a natural waterfall using scaffolding. Art works that use mechanics to recreate natural phenomena are a recurring theme for Eliasson.
	Your Mobile Expectations, 2007 Expectations, 2007 This cover both displays and hides a BMW H2R hydrogen car. One layer emits yellow light; on top of that are steel rods and mirrors, onto which 2,000 litres of water are poured and immediately frozen into icicles.
Circumscription, 2004 Two spiral staircases that interlock, creating the continuous loop of a double helix, in the courtyard of an office building in Munich, Germany. To help the building process, a laser projector was used to show the spiral shape Eliasson’s team were working towards. The result is carefully engineered to balance on one single base point.
	Your Waste of Time, 2006 Eliasson brought blocks of ice weighing six tonnes all the way from Iceland to display in sub-zero temperatures at a German gallery. The artist and his team took them from the Vatnajökull glacier, parts of which formed in 1,200 AD.
Berlin Colour Sphere, 2006 (detail) Eliasson has an interest in mirrors and prisms, through which colours can be refracted in a number of ways. “Our experience of colour is not a purely biological matter,” says the artist. “It also depends on how our vision has been cultivated. Your notion of red may be different from mine.”