CHINA
22 March 2014
Chinese art at Toronto's Shangri-La Hotel
Toronto's Shangri-La Hotel has the best collection of Chinese art in the city. You must go and savor the experience, as I have done.
Toronto's Shangri-La Hotel has the best collection of Chinese art in the city. You must go and savor the experience, as I have done.
As you arrive in front of the hotel building, you are greeted by an immense polished stainless-steel sculpture by Shanghai-based artist, Zhang Huan. It measures some 21.98 x 19.8 x 4.8 metres, and weighs 22 metric tons.
Zhang conceived "Rising" as a philosophical reflection of the world around us. It is made up of many doves and a twisted tree branch that resembles the body of a dragon.
Zhang Huan says that "through the monster-shaped tree, I would like to advocate the protection of ecology, and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The doves in the tree symbolize the peace of the world and my wish is for beautiful city life to be shared by mankind and nature." And is if to connect the inside and outside worlds, a series of doves continues on the ceiling of the hotel lobby.
The double-sided fireplace of the lobby bar is bordered on one side by travertine columns, which showcase four large-scale paintings by Shanghainese artist Wang Xu Yuan. These paintings portray young pretty women (hua dan) in the Chinese Peking Opera -- Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yangui, Shang Xiaoyun, Xun Huisheng. These magnificent works are painted in a rapid brushstroke style, with bold sparse lines that are wonderfully suggestive of the characters.
As if to bring us back to earth, these four scrolls are complemented by a rapid fire ink representation of Niagara Falls.
I did not see them, but in the guest rooms there are said to be some 480 different lithographic works, also by Wang Xu Yuan, each representing a Chinese character. Wang, a noted professor of art and culture in China, is also an award-winning ceramics master. His vases and framed ceramic works are also exhibited in the lobby area.
During a quick visit to the gentlemen's wash room, I was met by a nice little painting of plum blossoms. Though we are now in summer, the plum blossom is a perfect flower for Toronto, a city of horrendously cold winters.
The plum blossom is seen in China as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. Its blossoms are so beloved because they can be viewed blooming most vibrantly in the winter snow. The plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope.
Full of inspiration, I made my way to the restaurant, delightfully called "Bosk", meaning a small wooded area. Its name could not be more apt, as this wooden-paneled space is adorned by three large photos taken inside a forest. Thanks to deliberate over-exposure, I presume, the leaves have a luscious look and feel, which seems to invite the visitor to the menu, and a starter entitled "gathered leaves". Eating these leaves was a wonderful multi-sensual experience.
Shrimps on cold Japanese soba noodles were decorated with gratings of both rainbow and regular carrot, radish and cucumber. Exquisite, though a dash of coconut vinegar may have added an interesting touch.
As I was contemplating dessert, I noticed an erotic suggestion in the form of a small orchid on my table. I don't know how it escaped my attention. Interpreting its late apparition as a sign of good fortune, I proceeded to order goat cheese snow, and basil and lime ice cream, with a sprinkling of dried purple chrysanthemum flowers.
In short, the Toronto Shangri-La hotel is just as artistic at the table, as it is in its sculptures, paintings and ceramics. It is a placed that should not be missed, either by visitors or residents of this great city.
Executive Director
Asian Century Institute
www.asiancenturyinstitute.com
As you arrive in front of the hotel building, you are greeted by an immense polished stainless-steel sculpture by Shanghai-based artist, Zhang Huan. It measures some 21.98 x 19.8 x 4.8 metres, and weighs 22 metric tons.
Zhang conceived "Rising" as a philosophical reflection of the world around us. It is made up of many doves and a twisted tree branch that resembles the body of a dragon.
Zhang Huan says that "through the monster-shaped tree, I would like to advocate the protection of ecology, and the harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The doves in the tree symbolize the peace of the world and my wish is for beautiful city life to be shared by mankind and nature." And is if to connect the inside and outside worlds, a series of doves continues on the ceiling of the hotel lobby.
The double-sided fireplace of the lobby bar is bordered on one side by travertine columns, which showcase four large-scale paintings by Shanghainese artist Wang Xu Yuan. These paintings portray young pretty women (hua dan) in the Chinese Peking Opera -- Mei Lanfang, Cheng Yangui, Shang Xiaoyun, Xun Huisheng. These magnificent works are painted in a rapid brushstroke style, with bold sparse lines that are wonderfully suggestive of the characters.
As if to bring us back to earth, these four scrolls are complemented by a rapid fire ink representation of Niagara Falls.
I did not see them, but in the guest rooms there are said to be some 480 different lithographic works, also by Wang Xu Yuan, each representing a Chinese character. Wang, a noted professor of art and culture in China, is also an award-winning ceramics master. His vases and framed ceramic works are also exhibited in the lobby area.
During a quick visit to the gentlemen's wash room, I was met by a nice little painting of plum blossoms. Though we are now in summer, the plum blossom is a perfect flower for Toronto, a city of horrendously cold winters.
The plum blossom is seen in China as a symbol of winter and a harbinger of spring. Its blossoms are so beloved because they can be viewed blooming most vibrantly in the winter snow. The plum blossom came to symbolize perseverance and hope.
Full of inspiration, I made my way to the restaurant, delightfully called "Bosk", meaning a small wooded area. Its name could not be more apt, as this wooden-paneled space is adorned by three large photos taken inside a forest. Thanks to deliberate over-exposure, I presume, the leaves have a luscious look and feel, which seems to invite the visitor to the menu, and a starter entitled "gathered leaves". Eating these leaves was a wonderful multi-sensual experience.
Shrimps on cold Japanese soba noodles were decorated with gratings of both rainbow and regular carrot, radish and cucumber. Exquisite, though a dash of coconut vinegar may have added an interesting touch.
As I was contemplating dessert, I noticed an erotic suggestion in the form of a small orchid on my table. I don't know how it escaped my attention. Interpreting its late apparition as a sign of good fortune, I proceeded to order goat cheese snow, and basil and lime ice cream, with a sprinkling of dried purple chrysanthemum flowers.
In short, the Toronto Shangri-La hotel is just as artistic at the table, as it is in its sculptures, paintings and ceramics. It is a placed that should not be missed, either by visitors or residents of this great city.
Author
John WestExecutive Director
Asian Century Institute
www.asiancenturyinstitute.com