Hotel Art - Chiang Mai

Just a small selection of some of the fantastic art which is to be found in all corners, inside and outside

in our loo

in an alcove outside Edward's room

in Edward's loo

in the dining area

detail of one of two huge wallhangings in the dining area

above our bath

figure in a niche near the restaurant

above our bed

at the bottom of our garden

and finally, my favourite, on a plinth by the central reception area

Hotel Art - Siem Reap

Well, I suppose choosing art to put on the walls here is a bit of a no brainer. The black and white images of Angkor which line the walls of every corridor and room in the hotel are an interesting record of how the site has altered in just a few short years.

In addition to the Angkor photography, there are attractive buddhist sculptures here and there, adding a real sense of place to each room.

And just to fool us, we looked at this poster once or twice before reading on the side label that it's a book jacket from 1997. So much for our original thought that it was a 1930s travel advert.

Hotel Art - Phnom Penh

Aaaah, L'Indochine.

A pity these two chaps wouldn't fit in my bag!

Actually, come to think of it.....

(interesting garment, n'est ce pas?)

Hotel Art, Saigon

At Grumpy's request, some Hotel Art. I have to admit to being so taken with the sights and sounds of the day, that much of the hotel art has been overlooked. However, I did document it all, honest!

Danang was totally bereft of art. Totally bereft of quite a bit actually (including internet service, but that's another story!)

Saigon delivered the goods in the form of one framed picture on the side wall. Quite textile-y in a way - though it wasn't. But most certainly the kind of thing produced by the hundred for each room of the hotel. I didn't feel it did a great deal for the atmosphere, certainly didn't give any hint of time or place and could have been in any room in any part of the world.




Above the staircase was this huge ?painting ?print? Couldn't tell. The light was bad there but it was a strikingly large image - probably 5ft square. I feel it all is supposed to mean something but quite what, I have no idea!

My favourite was our bathroom installation. Beautifully posed, don't you think?

Hotel Art 15 - Hanoi

The hotel art in Hanoi isn't just paintings but beautiful still life arrangements too. As for the flowers...

Hotel Art 14 - Stresa

There is nothing whatsoever on the wall in our room - unless you count the fire directions - but the rest of the hotel more than makes up for this in the public areas. Here in a corner of the lobby, we are treated to a 12ft hexagonal table with five enormous pieces of silver upon it. This is set in front of a 20ft wide mural, spanning the area between two columns. Elsewhere there are similarly extravagant pieces, a stained glass dome and plenty of gold here and there.

Interesting really, for our room is decorated in quite a spartan fashion, which contrasts strongly with the crystal chandeliers and the opulence elsewhere. It's a kind of "fur coat, no knickers" approach, I think.

Hotel Art 13: Antwerp

In our room here, there is a collection of six small (20cm x 35cm approx) prints on canvas.

Discuss.

Hotel Art 12 - Yorkshire

We have been staying at the Devonshire Fell Hotel, in Burnsall in Wharfedale and seldom have I had so much hotel art to record.


In my room, I enjoyed the company of someone's parents, a most interesting pair to peer at from time to time.

This chair was a little less to my taste, though I found the composition very satisfying and calming.I very much enjoyed looking around the gallery of portrait photography on each floor, too. Such wonderful contrasts in these timeless images.

The dining room was a work of art in itself, never mind the glorious paintings to enjoy at mealtimes! Who would have thought that such an unassuming country house hotel would have such an exuberant decor?

I loved it so much, I forgave them for neglecting to tweak the hanging from time to time!

Hotel Art 11 - New York

Well, one might expect something lively in this, one of the liveliest of cities. The painting above the bedhead did not disappoint, and retained its striking effect even when reflected in the dressing table mirror, opposite.

But these four little black and white images really did nothing for this dark corner, even if they did serve to offer a sense of place. Perhaps the spacing could have been better?

Strangely, I walked past this one several times before even noticing it was there. It was hanging on the wall outside the bathroom door, opposite the wardrobe. Maybe I simply had other things on my mind as I passed it by...

(Apologies for the poor picture quality...usual reflection problems with a glazed frame)

Hotel Art 10

Initially, I was a little underwhelmed by the art on our walls last night. Pretty, yes, but though they were clearly relevant to our locality and very Scandinavian in character, I thought them rather bland and a safe choice for a beige wall. They are labelled "handcolor H.G.Carlstrom-83"

(you wouldn't believe the contortions I went through to get this crummy photograph with minimal reflections!)

Taking the second photo was rather easier, because I didn't have to sprawl on the bed to get the right angle. Getting closer to it, my eyes homed in on this:

It looked a little familiar and I wondered where I'd seen it before. Then I opened the curtains...

There it is!

Good Morning from a sunny Stockholm!

Hotel Art 9

The walls of our hotel room here are simply painted white and have no further adornment. There is plenty of hotel art, however, shared with the whole world as it's out there on the walls of the building. We like to think our home from home here is the prettiest of them all, of course, though there is competition a-plenty.

Hotel Art 8 - Cornwall

I realised that I haven't yet posted photographs from our weekend in St Mawes and thought priority should be given to the next in my Hotel Art series. This little collection (all originals, it seemed) were to be found in our smallish room - treasures, every one. I'm sorry that I have no artists to attribute these pieces to - must remember to ask questions and make notes next time.

This stood on the windowsill and was one of several differently sized examples to be found throughout the hotel. Not all ammonites.

This oil (?) painting hung above the bed head. Not my favourite piece but a pleasing palette.

This amusing drawing was on my side of the bed and for some reason reminds me of my friend Grumpy's work. I can imagine her stitching something like this on her sewing machine.

These last two pictures were hung together above the chest of drawers with a table lamp in front of them. The frames were very different from one another and yet the ensemble worked very well indeed.

I should (could) be braver in my hanging arrangements!