Radisson Collection, Radisson Hotel Group’s premium lifestyle brand, has revealed a new series of global art collaborations working with local emerging artists to create a curated selection of immersive artwork and creative lifestyle experiences for guests to enjoy as the brand continues to expand its luxury portfolio with key flagship openings in an innovative and creative manner.
The new global art series will see individual artists create new works of art at a selection of Radisson Collection hotels, providing not only an exclusive experience for guests to virtually discover these destinations from a unique angle, but also bring beautiful new artwork to life through a combination of art and avant-garde mediums. These new collaborations will showcase Radisson Collection hotels from a unique perspective and support the art sector by raising awareness of these artists on a global scale and tapping into new audiences across the world with their exclusive creations.
“Radisson Collection has always had a strong heritage and connection with art and design dating back to the SAS Royal Hotel, which later became the Radisson Collection Royal Hotel, Copenhagen,” said Cristina Serra, SVP, global branding & guest experience. “This hotel was designed by Arne Jacobsen—one of the greatest Danish architects of the twentieth century—and has been celebrated as a ‘Landmark of the Jet Age’ characterizing the 1950s, and is still celebrated as a prominent example of Danish modernist architecture. Today, art and design are recurring signature elements in our hotels, in which we feature art from both local and internationally celebrated artists.”
For example, Serra explained, in its recently opened Radisson Collection Hotel, Magdalena Plaza Sevilla the team worked with famed architects Borgos Pieper to transform Plaza de la Magdalena, drawing inspiration from the area’s rich history and Seville’s mix of traditional architectural styles to achieve top sustainability levels as Spain’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Hospitality Gold level.
“Likewise at our new Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Touring Club Milan, we are setting a new template for contemporary living alongside architectural firm Studio Marco Piva to transform this historic building into a five-star hotel,” Serra said. “The Studio developed both the architectural and interior design, with the aim of preserving and enhancing the historical and cultural heritage of the building, partly maintaining its original functions but giving them new life. Our guests have a passion for discovering new art and design and are looking for creative and inspirational ways to elevate their guest experience, and this new global art series is another way of creating Memorable Moments in line with our art and design heritage for our guests around the world.”
The first collaborations will launch in the United Kingdom with two artists who have achieved worldwide recognition and attracted large communities to their social media channels thanks to their highly imaginative work. These artists include the photographer Rich McCor, better known as Paperboyo, and Fei Wang, contemporary artist and Chinese illustrator known under the pseudonym of Mr.Slowboy.
Paperboyo (his Instagram account name) is an English photographer who has turned what once was a hobby into a full-time profession playing with perspective, history and architecture. His travels have taken him to some of the world’s most stunning locations including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, and the moais of Easter Island. At The Edwardian Manchester, A Radisson Collection Hotel, McCor was inspired by the landscape, designs and scenery around him, including the hotel’s mix of modern and Victorian architecture which he brought to life and captured from a new perspective with his signature brand of illustrative photographic art and humor.
“Six years of traveling the globe with my photography has unintentionally provided me with a lot of experience in hotels. As a visual artist, when I step into a lobby I can’t help but notice if a brand has gone the extra mile with their attention to detail, and in Radisson Collection hotels it’s certainly noticeable. To be aligned with Radisson made me want to step up my own game and create something special to celebrate their passion for detail and for noticing the small things other hotel brands don’t,” McCor said.
Mr.Slowboy is highly respected in the art and fashion worlds for his pencil illustrations having worked with global luxury fashion brands such as Alfred Dunhill, and British heritage brands like Barbour and Fortnum & Mason. Through his creative networks and large community of social media followers, Mr.Slowboy shares his unique vintage and retro style creations with a modern touch. Inspired by The May Fair, A Radisson Collection Hotel, Mayfair London’s strong fashion heritage as the official hotel for London Fashion Week, Mr.Slowboy has created detailed illustrations that depict characters in everyday situations wearing different outfits to fit the occasion, whether a special evening dinner or relaxing in one of the hotel’s award-winning suites.
“After witnessing and experiencing the awfully strange world without travel for two years, I certainly enjoyed every moment when I was working on the project collaborating with Radisson Collection as I could keep daydreaming those good old days when we were still able to jump on a plane for a city break,” Wang said.
Following on from the successful collaborations this year, additional partnerships will continue to be revealed into 2022 where artists will visit and share their inspiration from flagship Radisson Collection hotels in the U.K., Spain, Belgium, Italy as well as other key locations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia including the brand’s upcoming openings in destinations like Milan and Seville. The works of art will be showcased across both Radisson Collection’s and the artists’ social media platforms, as well as displayed within the hotels after each artist’s tenure.
The art collection by Paperboyo and Mr.Slowboy will be on display with further details to be revealed on the @radissoncollection Instagram page. A showcase event displaying the original artworks will be scheduled in one of the Radisson Collection destinations for guests and preferred Radisson Rewards members to enjoy a combined collection of all the artworks and explore Radisson Collection through the lens of art.
