A Monaco Fairy Tale: The Courage to Say Yes to Art
By: Antoinette Peragine
Some journeys feel guided by something greater—timed with a precision the soul recognizes before the mind catches up. Our recent trip to Monaco was one of those journeys. What unfolded felt less like a business venture and more like a modern fairy tale—one painted not in fantasy, but in courage, connection, and the timeless resonance of creativity.
For Norman and me, arriving in Monaco felt like stepping into a dream—one we didn’t even know we had until it unfolded before us.
As we were driven in from the French countryside, we rounded a bend on a storied stretch of road—the very one that leads to Princess Grace’s former residence. It was there, at that precise moment, that we caught our first glimpse of Monaco from above.
Almost in unison, we both gasped and said the same thing: we had never seen anything like it before. It was as if the principality had risen from myth itself—shimmering, surreal, and Kamil’s installation calling us.
The Kamil Art Gallery did something bold. Their world is not fine art photography—it leans toward the contemporary, the sculptural.
And yet, they said yes to Norman’s beautiful work. They said yes to the unvarnished truth of his still portraits. They said yes to the energy and insight of his cinematic footage. They said yes to a kind of creative offering that’s not merely visual, but deeply human. That kind of yes takes courage.
Watching Norman and Kamil together was, for me, a true privilege. Two master artists, each with a singular vision, communing in a deeply creative and sacred space. Their collaboration was more than curatorial—it was a meeting of souls. I watched them with quiet awe, feeling immense gratitude and honor to simply be there as witness to the unfolding of something rare and beautiful.
That spirit of mutual respect and creative alignment is woven into every corner of the exhibition, and you can feel it the moment you step into the gallery.
What happened in that gallery and at Cipriani the day before the official opening, where Norman welcomed the press & esteemed guests for a sneak peek, was beyond us.
Norman’s talk and the Q&A that followed weren’t just “well received”—they were met with reverence. People didn’t simply look at the art. They felt it. Something opened in them, and you could see it in their eyes. In their questions. In their silence.
This is the power of human creativity—it transcends borders, languages, expectations. It’s deeply emotional.
In a land known for elegance and wealth, Norman’s message of soul, vulnerability, and authenticity landed like an answered prayer. And that, to us, was the miracle.
Monaco met us not with indifference, but with open arms. With understanding.
Now, as Monaco exhales from the dazzling whirlwind of the Grand Prix and returns to its usual rhythm, this is when the exhibition truly begins.
The gallery doors are open. The quiet has returned. And Norman Seeff: 50 Years x 50 Icons now stands ready to welcome art lovers, collectors, adventurers, and fellow seekers of soul.
“Because somewhere, in some faraway land, there’s someone who’s been waiting for exactly what you have to offer.”