For those in the know, Christine Radjimin’s last name is a respected name in the Indonesian hospitality business. In the past three years, however, Christine and her brother Erastus have staked their own ground with ARTOTEL Indonesia. After the successful ARTOTEL Surabaya and Jakarta, they expanded the business and brought their hybrid art-hotel concept to Bali, an island where art and hospitality are its heart and soul. She tells Indonesia Design the story behind ARTOTEL Sanur - Bali.
Among all locations in Bali, why Sanur?
Sanur has always been perceived as the elite art hub of Bali, but somewhat forgotten and shadowed by the limelight of other areas in Bali such as Kuta or Seminyak. We see the opportunity whereby there has not been many chic and contemporary establishments in Sanur. And we see how Sanur has gotten younger over the years. Previously deemed as the old people destination, nowadays Sanur is flocked with young couples and young families. There is tremendous tourism potential in Sanur to attract overseas and local travellers, as well as the residents of Sanur itself.
What are the strong points of ARTOTEL Sanur - Bali and what are your approaches to invite more (young) people to this area/hotel?
Our strong point is the lifestyle experience. At ARTOTEL Sanur - Bali, we have a story to tell at almost every corner of the hotel, hoping that guests would take the story home and continue telling those stories. This comes with comfort within reach and within budget. Our beds are so comfortable that you wouldn’t want to get up! Given the specifications and the facilities, I think ARTOTEL Sanur - Bali offers a good value for money compared to other hotels in the area. Location is great, just a step away from the beach, and right on the main street of Sanur where you can find anything you need, from restaurants, bars, art market, etc.
How do you pick the artists and their artworks?
All the collaborating artists chosen are relatively young and emerging, living in Bali, and truly living the art of Bali. Their artworks represent their take on contemporary Balinese art. We picked a group of artists with different flairs, different techniques, different mediums, and even different concepts to create unique ambiance to each floors. Although they were all given the same brief and theme: kites. It’s amazing how their interpretations and executions differ from one another. Ines Katamso for example, her artworks show what she does best, colourful prints with immaculate thread details. Kemalezedine shows off his strength in his line work of traditional Balinese drawing, and twists it into an amazing contemporary piece. And of course for the entrance you need something bold and striking, and I couldn’t think of any sculptor better than Pintor Sirait for this commissioned work.
We heard you are currently developing a beach club nearby this hotel. Please share more about this project.
This is an exciting project underway! We just appointed a French architect, and we’re currently working on the concept and design. Definitely it will be a beach club for everyone that especially caters to young families. Hopefully Sanur will never be the same!