AMAN NEW YORK  - UNIQUE ART PROJECT BY KALPA

Over the last three years, KALPA Galleries have been bringing art to the newly opened unique AMAN NEW YORK hotel and private residences. Contributing to Aman’s philosophy of creating sanctuaries beyond the commonplace notions of luxury, working alongside the brand’s international team and inspired by the art curator Ratina Moegiono, we provided extensive art research and consultancy. 

Since 1921, the iconic Art Deco-style Crown Building has presided over the midpoint of Manhattan, the corner of Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Formerly the first home of the Museum of Modern Art, in the summer 2022 the building was launched into a new life following the monumental transformation designed by the architect Jean-Michel Gathy and his legendary Denniston Studio, which, whilst paying homage to the building's striking architecture and significant history, imbued it with the inimitable spirit of Aman.

"True perfection seems imperfect, yet it is perfectly itself. True fullness seems empty, yet it is fully present (...) True art seems artless."

To express the Aman identity and experience, KALPA embarked on in-depth research to source and curate a prodigious collection of contemporary art and craft, sensitively integrated into the Asian-inspired interiors of understated elegance. For this project we have brought in over 100 great artworks from several artists worldwide, many of them strategically commissioned "bespoke" art pieces specifically designed for the property. From large-scale site-specific installations to accompanying decorative objects, we enhanced both public and private areas with thoughtful art, within one coherent aesthetic vision.

The style and culture of Aman are extraordinary, embracing and inspiring a quality of peace, seclusion, and an appreciation of beauty. We are proud to be a part of it as the essence of this project lies in the deep inspiring dialogue and shared values of our brands.

Discover more: https://www.aman.com/hotels/am...

"Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity.” - entering the Aman sanctuary

Art captures the essence of a place, giving it identity and unicity.

The ground floor of Aman New York is the liminal area between the outside and the inside where guests are introduced to the spirit of this unique hotel for the first time. Here, art meets Aman’s genius loci by way of Guillem Nadal’s (Spain) and Domingos Tótora’s (Brazil) site-specific wall pieces and sculptures, announcing a true experience of serenity and mindfulness. As the first glimpse into Aman’s sense of sanctuary, where the philosophy and values of West and East combine, this space is in itself an invitation to switch off from the outside world.

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."  - enjoying a memorable dining and leisure experience

As in a sanctuary, the bond between art and space is inescapable at Aman.

In the spectacular public areas of the 14th floor, guests take the time to relax and immerse themselves in a landscape of nature-nourished art, embracing the energy, lightness, and movement of Peter Gentenaar’s (The Netherlands) and Federico Gori’s (Italy) site-specific installations. The elegant austerity of the interiors is juxtaposed with the vivacity of the artworks featuring herbs, flowers, geological formations, and found-object-like sculptures in wood, as in the case of Patricia Shone’s (Scotland) raku ceramics and Nic Webb’s (England) wood sculptures.


"Perfection is the willingness to be imperfect."  - exploring the Japanese fine-dining concept of omakase

Bringing Aman’s eastern roots to one of the West’s greatest cities, Nama restaurant celebrates the Japanese washoku dining tradition with authentic and elegant dishes.

Artist Yoshimi Futamura (Japan/France) creates botanical and geologically-inspired sculptures and vases, reaching a perfect balance between Oriental and Occidental approaches to art. The same meditative quality of her pieces, reflecting the history of the material itself through the surface, can be found in the wall artworks by Angela Palmarelli (Italy) and Pascal Oudet (France), dedicated to the narration of nature's secret code organised in a subtle and profound form.


"Those who flow as life flows know they need no other force."  - reconnecting to the senses at Aman Spa

An experience like no other in Manhattan, Aman Spa Houses are temples of wellness.

Clean, minimalist lines are enhanced in both the spa and the gym. The artworks of different textures and forms are presented as symbols of equilibrium, and emotional and physical balance within the beauty of inner flaws and struggles, as suggested by Benoît Averly’s (France) centerpiece in ash wood and Sabine Pagliarulo’s (Italy) ceramic sculptures. The unique experience of grounding and connecting with the senses while being in Aman Spa is expressed in the focal wall pieces created in minerals and natural soils by Mitch Iburg (US).


“Where the Mystery is the deepest there is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful.”  - experiencing the softness and intimacy of the Aman suites

Flowing into the intimate universe of Aman suites and corner suites, nature-inspired sculptures and paintings welcome guests into their private spaces, offering a sense of calm and warmth.

Wall art by Annette Wijdeveld (The Netherlands), Eleanor Herbosch (Belgium), and Ulrike Arnold (Germany) reflect the harmony and refinement of a profoundly personal stay at Aman, matching the use of organic, natural materials with the muted tones of the interiors. Pursuing an idea of exploration of form and texture, experimental techniques, and natural processes, Kate Windibank’s (England) ceramic pieces follow a fragmented aesthetic echoing the traces of time in human experience and identity.

C R E D I T S : 

Quotes: Lao Tzu

Photography:  Robert Rieger & Chris Colls © AMAN, Olga Niescier © KALPA

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