Here at the Hoxton, we have a thing for local experiences – be that local food, local creatives or the local streets and scenes we call home, in Hox neighbourhoods all around the world.
That’s why we’re beyond excited to unveil a special, locally-flavoured art installation series this September in our Hox Galleries, in collaboration with our pals at Bombay Sapphire. As part of the gin maker’s ‘Saw This Made This’ campaign, we’ll be championing new-gen artists in five European locations – in the form of five unique pop-up art installations.
Each artist has been specially chosen for the Hox Gallery project because of their local ties with our hotel neighbourhoods in Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, London and Paris. Drawing from a wide range of mediums, genres and influences, they’ll be putting their creativity on show with takeovers & installations in Hox hotel windows and lobbies across Europe.
Each artist’s style is distinct, but the installations are united by the fact that each one is inspired by the feel and character of their local setting. And where does the Bombay Sapphire gin come in? With a series of limited-edition cocktails, specially commissioned by our Hoxton creative bar team in each location – to reflect the essence of the city. Art and an artistic tipple: could it be any better?
The line-up of local talent involved in the installations begins with Argentina-born fine artist Sofia Clausse. Sofia will be putting her RA-trained skills to use at the Hoxton Holborn this September, creating a colourful stained glass-style mural to mirror the vibes of one of London’s liveliest neighbourhoods.
“When I came to visit The Hoxton, Holborn, I was attracted to the series of arched windows by the bar, which look out to the main street. They made me think of stained glass windows, especially because of the shape of the arches, so I decided to use them for these windows for artwork.” Sofia tells The Localist. “I love how much art and culture London has to offer, and that it feels like most people are very in tune with it. There is so much to see, so much to be inspired by, so many creative people making great things everywhere, and many opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona-based illustrator and muralist Perrine Honoré will be spreading joy in The Hoxton, Poblenou, using her ebullient style and pops of awesome colour to reflect the area’s vibrant beachside appeal.
“I love finding inspiration in everyday life, using my colourful and contemporary aesthetic to create works of spontaneity across street art, textiles, posters and more,” says Perrine, who is French but decided to move to Barcelona due to the city’s buzzing network of dynamic designers and illustrators.
“Barcelona is a very open-minded and stimulating city,” she continues. “As a local creative, I love to wander around artisanal shops, laid-back plazas and the Fundació Joan Miró museum. I also find inspiration from concert venues in Poblenou and dancing shows at the Mercats de las Flores.”
Over at The Hoxton, Amsterdam, self-taught Dutch artist Frederique Matti will be using thick layers of paint to depict the cosy vibes of an Amsterdam party in full flow. Her tactile, colour-popping motifs will appear on a glass wall just inside the hotel entrance, capturing local moments in her signature line style.
“I’m capturing the local spirit in my work by expressing it through objects you might find at a buzzing party,” Frederique tells The Localist. “They tell a story about the guests, the surroundings and the sense of energy in the air.
For the pop-up installation at The Hoxton, Rome, visual artist Luca Font will be taking centrestage. His bold, geometric graphics with strong blacks and primary colours will come to life in our Rome lobby in the form of four wanderlust illustrations printed on giclee.
“To this day, Rome stands at a crossroads of histories and cultures – yet it also has a very strong personality that makes a trip to Rome a very different experience from any other European capital,” says Luca. “From my point of view, capturing the local spirit of Rome means absorbing the city’s many artistic and cultural layers, along with moments of everyday life; then turning that into something that tells the stories of the places and people that surround The Hoxton Rome.”
Last but not least comes Parisian artist Caroline Derveaux, who’ll be using a joyful palette to create an immersive, dream-like artwork appearing on the glass roof of our Paris abode. The design will play with natural light and celebrates cocktail hour in the City of Light.
“Paris is so poetically beautiful and the best city for culture in the world,” says Caroline. “I wanted my installation to give an immersive new environment and play with the light that comes through the incredible glass roof of Hoxton Paris.
“I’ve added figurative elements to my abstract style, in order to allude to the beautiful end of summer in Paris – my favourite time to enjoy the city,” she adds.
And in case you fancied an arty tipple to go with all this art – let’s just say, we aim to please. Alongside each of these bespoke installations, we’ve created limited-edition Bombay Sapphire cocktails, inspired by our cities noting landmarks to locally grown produce, to the literal streets around us (hello, #cocktailart) and available to guests throughout September.
So, prep your diaries for a September Hox Gallery extravaganza in support of local art with heart. Creative installations and limited edition cocktails: does life get any better? Stay tuned for more details on social channels for the Hoxton Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, London and Paris.
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