Le Meridien's sculptures connect guests to destinations

A group of 11 young female dancers with hair bands, dressed in skirts of different designs, sashayed down the catwalk at Le Meridien Shanghai on the evening of Dec 9.

It was not a fashion show, but a demonstration of "Ai Mei. Midsummer" artwork - 11 distinctive sculptures of a young woman.

The initiative was co-founded by Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, part of Marriott International, and Chinese art collective X+Q Art, founded by Chinese sculptors and artists Qu Guangci and Xiang Jing.

X+Q Art offers limited-edition handcrafted sculptures, accessories and design products.

Each of the works of art was inspired by the dynamic locations of the hotels across China, each with its own specially designed costume.

Guests can enjoy each sculpture in the lobby of the hotel it represents. The hotel brand will also hold an exhibition tour of the 11 sculptures at its 11 properties in China early next year.

"With its passion for culture, the hotel brand is an ideal platform to share our inspirations and aspirations for art," Qu said. "The artworks convey our joint appreciation of different destinations and their diverse local cultures."

Xiang, Qu's wife, said: "The pretty dolls are modeled on one of my previous works. Making them is like adding a bit of sweetness to art.

"I tend to think about how to relate art to daily life."

One of Xiang's most iconic sculptures is a young woman who resists growing up.

In October, she finished her large-scale show in Beijing, a review of her works from the past and her latest works.

The sculpture made for Le Royal Meridien Shanghai wears a dazzling neon dress, paying homage to the iconic neon lights along the city's landmark Nanjing Road during the 1920s and 1930s.

The sculpture's dress at Le Meridien Qingdao was designed with colorful triangular sails against a blue background, symbolizing the city's nickname - City of Sails.

Brian Povinelli, global brand leader of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, said: "Our hotel brand is about unlocking the destination through culture, coordination and cuisine. X+Q Art shares similar values and we work together to create special experiences for our guests."

"The artwork will bring a smile to guests' faces, and they will ask hotel associates about the dolls," Povinelli said. "We like to do collaborations and set up installations in the hotel to create such dialogues, to build more meaningful relationships with our guests."

He said the brand's target customers are those who value experiences. They are creative and curious-minded travelers and like hotels that can connect them to the local culture.

According to Povinelli, the brand will open three new hotels in Xi'an in Shaanxi province, Shenyang in Liaoning province and Suzhou in Jiangsu province in 2017, with 22 more hotels in the pipeline over the next three to four years.

xulin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 12/17/2016 page10)