Cultural Connection presents In Full Bloom
Returning this December for a final installation to close off the year, the hotel has transformed into a haven for art enthusiasts. In collaboration with the Dutch Collective from December 9th until January 7th, 2025, curated by Margriet Vollenberg, the exhibition brings together six trailblazing artists and designers whose work explores the beauty and vitality of nature through innovative mediums.
ME by Melia Dubai is inviting guests inside its awe-inspiring hotel to experience the powerful synergy of nature, creativity, and sustainability within its premises. Showcasing the remarkable work of six Dutch creatives: Linda Nieuwstad, Olivier Teepe, Hakim El Amrani, Vouw, Sina Dyks, and Jasper Udink ten Cate, which will be displayed across the lobby all the way to the third-floor atrium, visitors can marvel at an array of mediums, including textiles, technology-driven designs, AI-integrated photography, and large-scale floral sculpture, all while immersing themselves in the breathtaking designs and architecture of Zaha Hadid.
Known for her awe-inspiring floral sculptures, Linda Nieuwstad employs a variety of mostly recycled materials, often repurposing everyday objects, to create work that bridges sustainability and tradition. Having begun her artistic journey at the prestigious Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, where she honed her skills in design and art, her creations invite guests to reflect on how society interacts with the natural world and the ways in which art can repurpose the mundane into the magnificent.
Transcending the boundaries of time and mediums, Olivier Teepe uses photography and generative artificial intelligence to merge the timeless elegance of Dutch flower paintings with modern storytelling.
With a background in fine arts and a keen interest in technology from a young age, his series "Florilegium" represents two years of meticulous research and experimentation, delving into themes of beauty, power, and the cyclical nature of economic exuberance.
Hakim El Amrani, born in Amsterdam, was stirred to invent from an early age with his Moroccan mother’s persistent encouragement to sketch, paint, and dream. Now having grown and matured into a visionary in biophilic design, he often takes inspiration from nature, large open spaces, small, intriguing objects, and architecture. His spatial designs, showcased at ME by Melia Dubai, provide a restorative experience, offering guests a moment of calm and reflection amidst the city’s bustling energy.
Vouw is an Amsterdam-based design studio, founded in 2017 by Mingus Vogel and Justus Bruns, working at the intersection of design and technology. Pioneers of “slowtech”, technology that prioritises humanity and connection over efficiency, their interactive installation at ME by Melia Dubai is designed to slow down time, encouraging visitors to pause, prompting them to foster real-world connections as their work emphasises humanity over efficiency. Their contribution to “In Full Bloom” resonates deeply with the hotel’s ethos of creating spaces that inspire creativity and meaningful moments.
Sina Dyks goes beyond being an artist. She embraces the textile craft with passion and challenges the boundaries of traditional craftsmanship with her vibrant wall hangings made from recycled PET yarns. Her pieces stimulate the senses with bold colours and organic forms, inviting viewers to reflect on how colour and texture influence our mood and how these elements can enrich our perspective on the world. For ME by Melia Dubai, her work brings a playful yet profound element to the exhibition, further mirroring the hotel’s mission to blend artistry and sustainability.
Bringing with him a background that fuses art, design, music, and food, Jasper Udink ten Cate, founder of Creative Chef Studio, aims to create experiences that resonate and leave lasting memories through his art. The multi-sensory storyteller specialises in crafting “experiential recipes” that incorporate elements from nature, physics, coding, and philosophy, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Set against the stunning backdrop of the hotel’s atrium, his work is set to invite people to engage with art in transformative and interactive ways, celebrating the intersection of creativity and culture.
