DuangDy by Bo.Lan, Dubai, UAE
Husband-and-wife team Bo Songvisava and Dylan Jones, of Bangkok’s famed Bo. Lan restaurant recently opened DuangDy by Bo. Lan in Dubai’s One & Only One Za’abeel Hotel.
Client: Ithra Dubai
Industry: Hospitality, F&B
Year: 2023
Location: One Za’abeel Tower
Services: Art Consultancy and Art Supply
Featured Artists: Etienne Moyat, Ferhat Kaz
Total no. of Artworks Delivered: 7
Total no. of artists engaged: 2
This fresh culinary concept celebrates eco-gastronomy and authentic Thai ingredients served in a dynamic setting.
Our art curation for DuangDy by Bo.lan embodies a harmonious fusion of tradition, sustainability, and artistic ingenuity, meticulously crafted to complement the restaurant's Interior Design narrative ‘from chaos to enlightenment’.
In representing this journey, we took inspiration from busy urban cityscapes and crowded markets, referencing the chaos imbued so deeply within the day-to-day life of a Thai person. In contrast, we wanted to capture the serenity and peace that are also present and which come with enlightenment. This led us to explore how to bring this juxtaposition to life through the displayed artworks.
Throughout the bar and restaurant, three large murals feature portraits connecting to themes of spirituality and sustainability. As you enter, one mural portrays the serene face of a Buddhist monk, a symbol that embodies the spiritual passage towards enlightenment, evoking a sense of tranquillity and inner reflection.
Further, within the restaurant, two more scenes depict Thai fishermen's weathered yet resilient faces, personifying their profound connection to nature and unwavering commitment to sustainability, serving as poignant reminders of our responsibility to preserve our planet.
The murals each contain graphic patterns set against natural landscapes, while the scenes show the bustle of labour and its meditative vocation. These aspects are built upon in the artwork application. Natural clay plaster is chipped away with tools to reveal the scene, which in itself is a laborious and meditative process for the solo artist Ferhat Kaz.
Sustainability was a key aspect of the brief. Initially, the murals were to be made from carbon-capturing plaster finishes. However, these were neither locally available nor sustainable to source. To enable sustainability in the artist’s practice, we incorporated local sand, which brought texture and a local connection.
Another key artwork is the handcrafted wooden artwork by artist Etienne Moyat. Wood is natural, durable and hard-wearing, and Etienne’s creations are unique. All the work is crafted by hand, and the effect is achieved by a burning process he has perfected.
Elsewhere, a collection of photographs captures poignant moments, offering guests immersive glimpses into Thailand's diverse landscapes and cultural tapestry. While paintings contain vibrant abstract patterns and colours that echo the lively the energy of urban landscapes gradually transition towards tranquillity and mirroring the soul's evolution towards enlightenment. Attention to framing was paramount in this project to maintain the sustainability focus. We, therefore, used reclaimed wooden frames with recycled mat board, going to the extent of sourcing from a company that cares for the environment through its practices, such as waste reduction and water management, in addition to using a non-toxic coating.
