ON TOP OF THE WORLD

THE MOST IMPORTANT SUMMER HAPPENING

29.08.2008 - 07.09.2008.

THE 10 DAY ENTERTAINMENT EVENT PRESENTS THE INTERNATIONAL ART AWARD OF AWARDS, INTERNATIONAL FINE ART EXHIBITIONS, WORLD CLASS CONCERTS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC, GALA DINNERS AND PARTIES THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE UPPER ENGADINE VALLEY INTO THE LAND OF ART & MUSIC. more

Christa & Billich, Kathy Dobers Cindy Tai, Charles Billich

Monthy Shadow, Charles Billich

Richard Hung, Charles Billich, Monthy Shadow

Richard Hung, Xiao Hui Wang, Christa & Charles billich

Juan Carlos Torres, Charles Billich, Lu Siqing

Valery Gergiev, Charles Billich

Smart

Charles Billich, Kathy Dobers and children

Charles Billich recently received one of his greatest honors when he was appointed as Artist to the Royal Family of Tonga for the recent coronation of King George V Tupou – Monarch of the Pacific. Billich created a body of portraits each featuring the King in his own distinctive style across his many roles in both his private and public life.A massive Coronation festival was held with events spanning a number of days and the major ceremony itself on Friday August 29th was attended by several hundred local and international guests.To mark the occasion guests also received a magnificent limited edition print of the official portrait of the King featuring the Royal Seal and Cipher, personally hand signed by His Majesty.Another work was offered to the People of Tonga in a commemorative poster format with all proceeds from sale going to the Kings selected charity aiding in the fight against Diabetes.The portraits together with the King’s robe, crown, throne and other pieces of significance relating to the Tongan Royal Family and the recent coronation will tour to the UK in the near future.

Sporty strokes
By DING QINGFEN(China Daily)

If painting were an Olympic sport, Charles Billich would undoubtedly have won gold.

From ballet student to an internationally well-known artist, the life of the Italian-born, Croatian-bred, Australian emigrant has been as varied and colourful as the art he has created for the past 50 years. He has gained international prominence as an "Olympic artist", specializing in sports arts and cityscapes depicting Olympic host cities such as Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens.

Now, Charles Billich has come to China, and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with great fanfare. David Irvine, the Australian ambassador to China, says he is proud his fellow Australian has put so much of himself into the "the search for understanding China. In doing so, he has helped interpret China, its long and rich history, its culture and turbulence, and its people to the outside world. His art has helped Chinese see themselves through new eyes."

Charles Billich's exceptional spirit and talent have been forged by many dramatic personal experiences in a career spanning some forty years and have taken him to the highest pinnacles of artistic success, among which he counts the honour of having his work hung in the Vatican....

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Charles Billich predstavio sliku "Sarajevska simfonija"

Poznati australski slikar dr. Carls Bilic (Charles Billich) zavrsio je gradoskopiju, sliku pod radnim nazivom Sarajevska simfonija, koju je uradio u sklopu trilogije svjetskih multireligijskih centara, zajedno sa Jerusalimom i Toledom. Na Franjevackoj teologiji, jer su domacini slikaru Bilicu bili franjevci, u ponedjeljak uvece je prireðena prigodna sveèanost predstavljanja gotovo  cetiri metra velike slike, a istovremeno i oprostaja sa njom. Naime, Bilic ce Sarajevsku simfoniju 25. septembra izloziti u zgradi Ujedinjenih naroda u Njujorku, zajedno sa kroki-motivima grada Sarajeva... more

PORTRETI Australski umjetnik podrijetlom iz Lovrana, službeni slikar olimpijskih igara, radi trilogiju svjetskih multireligijskih centara

Billich: Sarajevo je duhovni centar svijeta

Billich ovih dana u Sarajevu završava gradoskopiju, koju radi u sklopu trilogije svjetskih multireligijskih centara zajedno s Jeruzalemom i Toledom. Jedna soba na Bogoslovnom fakultetu u Sarajevu pretvorena je u njegov atelijer... more

Bandic pozirao slikaru Billichu

U sjeni jucerašnjeg skandala s precrtanim plakatima, gradonacelnik Milan Bandic sinoc se na Bundeku susreo sa slikarom Charlesom Billichem, odbijajuci komentirati akciju inicijative Pravo na grad....more

INSIDE THE ARTISTS STUDIO - Exhibition in Calgary
An Evening With Internationally Accaimed Artist Dr. Charles Billich

Artists of the World was honored to host Dr. Charles Billich, on November 10th, 2005. Dr. Billich sketched several female nude figures throughout the evening, while a crowd watched him in mid-creation.
An international artist with extraordinary credentials, Dr.Billich's list of accomplishments is remarkable. His paintings hang in museums and embassies as well as the United Nations in New York and Geneva; he also has the honor of having his work hang in the Vatican in Rome. His numerous awards include "Sports Artist of the Year", 2000. Dr. Billich also created "The World in Union," the official image of Rugby World Cup 2003.
He was decorated with the Olympic Gold Order by the French Ministry of Sport for his contributions to the French Olympic Team during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; he created the official images for the Australian and US teams for the 2004 Olympics and is currently working with the 2008 Beijing Olympics....

Sailling Committee Qingdao of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad

Unveiling Ceremony For''Great Qingdaa"

On July 13,2005, an unveiling ceremony for ''Great Qingdao''and a chorus concert to commemorate the 4th anniversary of China's successful bid to host the 2008 Olympics was held in Qingdao's Grand Regency Hotel. This event was sponsored by Qingdao's Olympic Sailing Sub-committee, the Qingdao Municipal Communications Department, the Qingdao Municipal Government News Office, the Qingdao Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Qingdao Broadcasting and Television Administration. This event was attended by Qingdao Mayor Xia Geng, Olympic Sailing Sub-committee Vice President Yang Jun, and Qingdao Vice Mayor Zang Aimin, among some other 600 distinguished guests.The ceremony was also attended by International Sailing Federation President Goran Petersson. Mr. Yang gave the opening convocation for the ceremony, which was also attended by Australian artist Billich, who unveiled his work, ''Great Qingdao'' Mayor Xia then presented Billich with a sculpture entitled''Violin Girl''. Later on in the ceremony, the Qingdao Broadcasting and Television Chorus treated the audience to a musical performance. The concert lasted one hour and concluded with the Olympic song''Set Sail for the Olympiad''...

Billich speaking Qingdao Mayfair upcoming "Qingdao" Creation......

Scenery painter Qingdao Laoshan Olympic and湛山寺tower let him inspiration as......

From flocks to frocks

Dear diary, what a week it's been for artist Charles Billich. On Sunday he was being treated like a VIP in St Mary's Cathedral and then yesterday he was in the front row of a fashion show sketching a nymphet.
"From the sublime to the fashionable," said Billich between encounters. And challenging too, what with being cruelly exposed up the front of St Mary's with no one to cue him and his wife, Christa, on when to stand or sit and then yesterday dashing off a sketch in the mere minutes it took for designers Danielle Milich and Joelle Morton to show their wares... (www.smh.com.au)

Mercedes Australian Fashion Week

Renowned artist Charles Billich will be front row sketching looks during selected runway shows that take place in MAFW's new on-site venue, The Billich Gallery. Built in 1844, Billich Gallery is the smallest and most contemporary venue and can be accessed via George St. With a capacity for up to 250 people, the stunning gallery with its high ceilings and opulent aesthetics provides the perfect salon milieu...(www.mafw.com)

Carnivale Christi returning to Sydney with an Easter theme

....Duncan's work will be juxtaposed with the acclaimed "Stations of the Cross" and other religious works of Croatian-born Australian artist Charles Billich. In the impressive surrounds of the Cathedral Crypt this exhibition will provide a unique experience to commence the three-day festival.
Immediately following this will be "Inside the Passion: An Insider's Look at the Movie", with Italian-based actor Francesco de Vito, who played St Peter in the movie along with American priest Fr John Bartunek LC, author of the definitive behind-the- scenes book.
"Inside the Passion" will explore extracts from the movie, include commentary on particular scenes along with interactive questions-and-answers and an opportunity to see official photos from the movie in the Crypt. This will be an opening night not to be missed....

Pell to unveil first official Benedict portrait

Having just returned from Rome, Sydney's Cardinal George Pell will unveil the first official portrait of Pope Benedict XVI at tonight's opening of the Carnivale Christi Catholic arts festival.
The portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, which is the work of acclaimed Croatian-Australian artist Dr Charles Billich, was commissioned by Carnivale Christi together with a portrait of the late Pope John Paul II in Sydney.
Billich's works will be displayed in The Passion in Art and Film which will be opened in St Mary's Cathedral at 7:00 pm this evening by Bishop Anthony Fisher.
Tonight's event will mark the opening of Carnivale Christi, an event in which thousands of Australians including NSW Premier Bob Carr and Chief Justice of the NSW Supreme Court Jim Spiegelman will converge on St Mary's Cathedral for three days of music, theatre, film, and visual arts...

Aussie Artist Paints for Beijing Olympics

In this week's Voices from Other Lands, Charles tells about his new painting and his bond with China's Terra Cotta Warriors...
Hello, and welcome to CRI's Voices from Other Lands. I'm LPC. For the past several years, one Australian artist has developed a close relationship with Chinese Olympic events. In 2001, he produced a large oil painting called Beijing Millennium Cityscape, one used to promote Beijing's image during its bid for the 2008 Olympic Games. Well, the artist is Charles Billich, who immigrated to Australia from Croatia. Charles pays particular attention to the athletic spirit. He's been designated as "Olympic Painter" by 28 countries and has produced major cityscapes for the likes of Atlanta, Sydney, Salt Lake City and Paris. Works he created in Switzerland are equally treasured at the IOC's headquarters in Lausanne....

Artist "Begins Painting" for the Beijing Olympics

Charles Billich from Australia, a famous painter announced Beijing on Monday that he would send the Beijing Municipal Government a painting to memorize the city's successful bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games. He sent Beijing a painting titled "Beijing Millennium Cityscape" during Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games in 2001...

In An Art Of!!His Own

Cheering in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with Artistic Style
By Priscilla Jiao

From August this year, a large-scale oil painting calledCheering - China's Olympic Dream for A Century will beon display in Beijing. Measuring 1.8m by 2.8m, the painting will commemorate the third anniversary of Beijing's successful Olympic bid.
The artist, 71-year-old Charles Billich, started to paint his masterpiece in April this year using a fingerprint of a baby who was born on July 13, 2001 - the very day that Beijing won the bid.
"This painting will be a milestone for me," says Billich, who has been named the Official Sports Artist for the Beijing 2008 Olympics. "In this painting, I will try to symbolize all the cities and provinces of China including Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan." The cityscape, featuring 34 cities and provinces in China, will represent one China in celebration, said Billich. "It will be more ambitious and a natural sequel to the first painting," adds the artist....

Charles Billich: The Olympic Artist

"I try to convey spiritual optimism and vitality; visual utopias. I want people to look higher, as much for their own sake as for the sake of the community." "As an artist, my pursuits are beauty and peace." These are the words of Charles Billich, the world's Olympic artist. A strong believer that an artist should share the responsibility for the society, this Australian artist is one of the leading sports artists in the World today...

BEIJING, April 26 ,2004.(Xinhuanet) -- Charles Billich of Australia, a famous painter for his Olympic-related paintings, announced here Monday that he would send the Beijing Municipal Government a painting to memorize the city's successful bidding for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Billich, who sent Beijing a painting titled "Beijing Millennium Cityscape" during Beijing's bid for the 2008 Olympic Games in 2001, said "the second painting will be more ambitious and a natural sequel to the first painting. I have used the Terracotta Warriors to spread the Olympic messages. Soldiers competing in sports, not killing each other. I've always painted cities and this is the first time I'm going to paint a country, the biggest country in the world. This painting will be a milestone for me."
Billich, who was born in Italy, was called "the Olympic painter". His unique cityscapes of Atlanda, Sydney, Paris, Salt Lake City and Athens have been equally well received in those cityies.
Billich said:"In this painting I will try to symbolize all thecities and provinces of China including Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan, one China in celebration. But this mammoth task is more than I can handle. Therefore I need help. I welcome suggestions from people around China. I even need some bright title ideas for this painting."

Oil painting on China's bidding for 2008 Olympics

The oil painting entitled "Jubilate for the Century Olympic Dream of China", a masterpiece of Australian Charles Billich, a painter known for his Olympic-themed paintings. The painting, which is 2.8-metre-high and 1.8-metre-wide, depicts the rapturous moments when China won its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games on July 13, 2001 with the background of the famous scenic sites in China's 34 provinces..