Melbourne’s Newest Boutique Hotel Is Inspired By A Chinese-Australian Artist
Australia‘s Art Series Hotels have carved out a place for themselves as unexpected champions of Aussie art, with sleek boutique properties inspired by the likes of John Olsen, Charles Blackman, and Tommy Watson dotted around the country.
[related_articles]21603[/related_articles]Now, the company has this week announced The Chen – dedicated to the work of Chinese-Australian artist Zhong Chen – will open in Melbourne‘s Box Hill on November 22, 2017. A celebration of the area’s ethnic diversity, the property reflects Chen’s ethos of the “Art of Joyful Journeys”.
Arriving in Adelaide at the age of 18, Chen went on to graduate from the Adelaide School of Art. He later won a scholarship to the UK’s prestigious Chelsea School of Art and is a three-time finalist in the Archibald Prize.
His art is heavily influenced by traditional Chinese calligraphy and the work of artists from China, Australia, Germany, the USA and the UK. He uses watercolour, oil and acrylic to contrast harsh outlines with pastel tones, marrying Western expressions with Chinese traditions to explore memories and experiences from his childhood.
“I have lived and worked in Box Hill for nearly a decade and I am really proud of this community and its emergence as a powerful fringe suburb of Melbourne. To have an Art Series Hotel in my name is truly an honour,” Chen said in a media release.
In fact, he loves it so much that he purchased an apartment in the same complex, so it’s very possible guests will bump into the man himself during a stay at the hotel.
It’s inspired by Chen’s King Fu series, in which bright colours and bold expressions dominate. There are 100 designer rooms at the hotel, along with a sleek rooftop pool deck boasts spectacular views over the Melbourne CBD.
How To Get There
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(All images courtesy of Art Series Hotels)
