E SS E NTI A LS
I N FO C US: ART IN THE CITY
—— Imagine a place where the walls are decorated with colourful artwork inspired by a strong sense of Arabia; a place where an alternative side of Dubai is presented in unexpected ways. Welcome to Rove Downtown Dubai, which presents a rich, artistic tapestry that celebrates the city’s lesser known past and atypical present. Boutique art consultants Capsule Arts devised a series of installations at the property which features everything from framed memorable quotes and oversized lettering to quirky interpretations of portraits and a ‘camel caravan’ that have all been created by locally-based artists including Stephen Chambers, Alia Al Shamsi, Dina Sami, Lama Khatib Daniel, Nasser Alzayani and Khalid Mezaina. Explore the main communal area that features a large-scale sculpture of the distinctive Rove ‘R’ in vivid yellow, while a kitsch collection of commissioned pieces and local objects represents an eclectic ode to UAE heritage. Some of the highlights includes traditional burqa masks displayed against ‘pop art’ style fabric and a real bicycle with a plastic crate – a frequent scene in Dubai – as well as Al Shamsi’s striking photograph showing Burj Khalifa in the background with goats in the foreground, reflecting a juxtaposition of the urban and rural sides of the city.
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By the hotel’s laundromat is another unexpected surprise as Mezaina creates a vibrant story-telling wall with life-size versions of traditional sikkas (alleys) in Dubai, while locally-based creative collection Ape Creative’s graffiti-style stencil artwork can be found scattered across the property. Each of the 420 rooms at Rove Downtown Dubai have also been designed with contemporary flair complete with handrawn graphics, refreshing wall art and neon-framed mirrors. “These specially commissioned artworks are integral to the Rove Hotels experience,” says Anne De Chaumont, design manager for Rove Hotels. “Rove is a brand that celebrates an uncommon Dubai. Design-influenced, Rove Hotels are for the global nomad, for the traveller who explores without borders and with an open mind. “We believe art is a means to connect with guests and offer them an authentic experience of this amazing city, and we are delivering a neighbourhood cultural experience within a hotel environment. At the very least we want to bring a smile to people’s faces, arouse their curiosity and inspire them enough to retain a fond memory of that moment in time that they are proud to share with friends.”
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