Asia: Nine Raffles Hotels showcase local artistry

In Singapore, guests view paintings by emerging artists; in Cambodia, they can catch a puppet show; in the Seychelles, they see work by a painter, the only one on the island of Praslin.  

It’s all part of the local art scene on display at the nine Raffles Hotels Resorts.

“Art is very much in the DNA of Raffles,” said Diana Banks, vice president of sales and marketing. “We encourage our hotels and our hotel partners to develop a concept for their art collection that reflects local culture, and to be in character with Raffles’ nature of authenticity and individuality.”

The hotel group, which was launched in 1887 in Singapore, comprises several hotels based in Asia and the Middle East and one in Paris. In its own way, each of the hotels strives to give guests an authentic artistic connection, Banks said. Among them:

• Manila, Philippines: Raffles Makati, which opened in February, displays 2,700 pieces, all by Filipino artists.


• Seychelles:  Artist Raymond du Buisson takes inspiration from the Indian Ocean landscape at this tropical resort. His work reflects the rich fauna and flora of the Seychelles.  


• Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Guests can see or join a private shadow puppet workshop with Mann Kosal, master puppeteer, who is reviving this art form at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, a colonial reminder of life before the era of the Khmer Rouge.   


• Siem Reap, Cambodia: A hotel gallery displays iconic monochrome photographs of the Angkor temples by award-winning American photographer John McDermott.   


• Singapore: Raffles Singapore fosters emerging artistic talent in Singapore, promoting the contemporary visual arts in the city, as well as celebrating Singapore’s established artists.


• Hainan, China: Raffles Hainan, which is scheduled to open later this year, will include more than 1,000 works of fine art, curated by Hong Kong’s Willow Gallery, including works commissioned specifically for the resort. 

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Asia: Nine Raffles Hotels showcase local artistry