Andy Warhol's 16 Campbell's Soup Cans, a seminal work int he history of pop art, from 1968. Courtesy Ludwig Goes Pop
Andy Warhol's 16 Campbell's Soup Cans, a seminal work int he history of pop art, from 1968. Courtesy Ludwig Goes Pop

Our top international art picks this week: Pop Art in Vienna and Lauren Bacall’s personal collection goes up for auction



Retrospective of artist who blazed a trail in NY

In the 1980s, a bold new voice emerged in the New York City artistic world. His works addressed big issues, such as identity, racism and social conflict, and he swiftly made an impact on the New York scene. Jean-Michel Basquiat's death at just 27 in 1988 cut short a promising career, but his works continue to provoke. This exhibition in Canada is the first major retrospective of his work in the country and will feature 85 paintings and drawings from private collections and museums across Europe and America. Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time runs until May 10 at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. For more information visit www.ago.net.

Art collection of a screen legend up for auction

She was one of the last great screen legends and Lauren ­Bacall was also a keen collector. The stage and film actress died last year and her personal collection will be auctioned in New York next month. Bonhams has been entrusted with the sale, 750 lots, and a global highlights tour is ongoing. Included are contemporary prints, artworks, 18th- and 19th-century European furniture and tribal works of art. Bacall's art collection includes three realistic bronze sculptures by Robert Graham, whose monumental works detail the human figure. The Lauren Bacall Collection auction takes place in New York on March 31 and April 1. For more information visit www.bonhams.com.

Go pop at a landmark exhibition in Vienna

Pop art was arguably one of the most important artistic movements of the 20th century. Now an exhibition in Vienna is putting on a display of one of the world's most significant collection's of pop art, that of the German industrialists Peter and Irene Ludwig. They became interested in the movement and artists in the mid-1960s, when it was still practically unknown in Germany. About 100 works from seven different institutions associated with the Ludwigs will be brought together. Ludwig Goes Pop runs at the Mumok in Vienna until September 13. For more information, visit www.mumok.at. To see a picture gallery of images from the exhibition, click here.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)

What is THAAD?

It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.

Production:

It was created in 2008.

Speed:

THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.

Abilities:

THAAD is designed to take out  ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".

Purpose:

To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.

Range:

THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.

Creators:

Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.

UAE and THAAD:

In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.

THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

Fund-raising tips for start-ups

Develop an innovative business concept

Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors

Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19

Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.) 

Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months

Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses

Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business

* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna