Five-star service? Check. Stylish spaces? Check. Fine-dining menus? Check. These opulent trappings are what’s expected from any luxury hotel, but increasingly, such establishments around the region are now positioning themselves as cultural incubators of the local art scene too.
“We view our hotel as not just a place to stay, but as a living gallery,” says Edward E. Snoeks, general manager of The Hari Hong Kong. The Hari Art Prize, an initiative now in its third year, provides a platform for Hong Kong-based self-taught artists and recent graduates in their first decade of practice. The winner earns the chance to exhibit their work at the hotel and is awarded a HK$100,000 grant from Dr Aron Harilela, chairman and CEO of Harilela Hotels, which operates The Hari. The initiative was first launched at The Hari’s sister property in London and its Hong Kong edition debuted in 2023.
The 2025 winner, Chan Ka-kiu, captivated judges with Tickle Tickle, a playful and thought-provoking video installation that stitches together pop culture references, pet footage and AI-generated visuals. “Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for Hong Kong’s creative ecosystem by encouraging young talents to unleash their artistic potential,” says Snoeks.
For Snoeks, integrating art into everyday experiences is essential. “It makes the stay memorable by sparking curiosity and conversation.”
Over at the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, the artistic direction takes its cue from the capital’s vibrancy and deep cultural roots. The hotel’s “contemporary Tang tradition” collection is a nod to the Tang dynasty, often described as China’s golden age of art and literature. The collection reinterprets classical themes, such as landscapes and calligraphy, through modern materials and forms.