Intercontinental, Ras Al Khaimah
Located on Hayat Island, surrounded by the sparkling shores of the Arabian Gulf, expansive terracotta desert and soaring mountains, InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah is a celebration of Middle Eastern hospitality, escapism and natural spectacle.
Client: IHG Hotels & Resorts
Industry: Hospitality
Year: 2022
Location: Hayat Island, Ras Al Khaimah
Services: Full-service Art Consultancy and Art Production
Featured artists: Amol Kadam, Stephanie Neville.
No. of artists engaged: 2
No of artwork commissions: 4
Total no. of artworks delivered: 196
Total no. of accessories delivered: 0
Our role at Capsule Arts was to supply artworks that would emphasize Ras Al Khaimah’s cultural elements such as heritage crafts, sailing, and the local nature.
Drawing inspiration from celestial navigation, we commissioned Stephanie Neville to create a series of Sheikh portraits. With the well-thought-out placement of nails, the design came to life through a connection of thin lines and a hatchwork of thread. The refined and delicate tone-on-tone 3D representation of the rulers in a fabric-wrapped panel was a method to integrate the pieces into the space and compliment the warmth of the interior colour palette.
In the reception, the wall was an exploration of an abstract installation that alluded to the sailing narrative while engaging the whole wall. A piece was created in collaboration between a local fabricator for the GRP Model and local artist, Amol Kadam, who created the plaster and paint application. With patterns that reflected waves, the natural hues from the sand and sea directed the colour palette while the juxtaposing textures depict what is typically found along the shore. The 3D sculptural form and contoured lines alluded to the dynamic movement of tides and fishing nets being pulled out of the sea.
In the guestrooms, we created headboard artwork which was produced by local fabricator, Lines & Dots. Drawn out of the heritage of craft concept, the artwork translates traditional sea crafting into abstract and contemporary shapes. The form of the modules refers to the simplified structure of Gargoor nets, whereas the element of the slightly ruffled and organic shape of the modules recalls movement along the water’s surface.
