Elite Traveler Summer 2019

elite traveler SUMMER 2019 30

Art by Samantha Coles

CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA

To commemorate InterContinental Hotel’s 200th opening (you might have spotted the Shanghai Wonderland in an earlier issue of Elite Traveler ), an installation by mixed-media artist Alexander Hall (also known as Haut de Gamme) has been displayed in select hotels throughout the world. The installation is comprised of 200 hand-painted champagne bottles — fitting for the momentous celebration. Every hanging bottle is unique and inspired by one of the 200 hotels; each one captures the character, history and individuality of its location. The InterContinental New York Barclay bottle depicts a bird cage, as it was the first hotel to have one in its lobby. It was filled with canaries and other song birds, and guests could house their own birds in the 14-ft cage. While the whimsical, fun installation was commissioned exclusively for InterContinental, you can still bring a little champagne-inspired art into your home. Haut de Gamme’s vibrant, punky prints are daring and chic — his signature style is Pop Art-esque bright colors, dripping paint and gold leaf. A limited edition series features a number of original prints with Dom Pérignon-style bottles reimagined in Technicolor glory. As Hall explains: “My inspiration for this painting stems from experiences with people, which made me want to create something that made others feel positive. From the response of my other works, I wanted to create this piece with softer pastel colors to reflect my emotions of excitement building up. It’s one of my favorite pieces because I remember holding myself back from overworking it (which is very easy to do!). I had fun doing it, and I think it shows.” From $11,015, hautdegamme.com

TAKE THREE/// THE ART OF DINING

KRONENHALLE, ZÜRICH A former beer hall might not be the first place you’d think of having an extensive fine art collection, but that’s just what Kronenhalle in Zürich has. Hanging on the restaurant’s dark mahogany walls, you’ll find an eclectic collection fromMatisse, Picasso, Braque, Rodin, Kandinsky, Bonnard, Chagall and Miró, and the lamps are by Giacometti. Picasso and Giacometti were frequent visitors, as were Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Gustav Zumsteg, son of the restaurant’s founder Hulda Zumsteg, amassed the collection with his mother over many years. Don’t leave without trying the famous chocolate mousse, served with a generous helping of double cream. kronenhalle.ch

LA COLOMBE D’OR, FRANCE With a story as fascinating as the pieces displayed on its walls, Colombe d’Or opened in 1920 in the quaint village of Saint Paul de Vence as a restaurant and hotel. It was a hideaway for creatives during World War Two and Picasso, Braque, Léger and Matisse were all regulars. They settled their respective bills with original artworks instead of cash, and these pieces fill the rustic restaurant and hotel today. Despite the unbelievable art on display (be sure to visit the courtyard to see a Fernand Léger mosaic, framed by foliage), the cuisine is not fine dining; instead, it is hearty, traditional French fare such as steak with gratin dauphinois and Burgundy snails. la-colombe-dor.com

CASA LEVER, NEWYORK Casa Lever is housed within the landmark Lever House on Park Avenue, and is a power lunch favorite for New York’s movers and shakers. The modern art lining the walls is from the Lever House Art Collection, founded in 2003 by real estate tycoon Aby Rosen. The displays often rotate (the Collection is committed to showcasing new and exciting contemporary art) but you can expect to dine with around 23 of Andy Warhol’s famous silk screens watching over you. The pieces depict many famous faces, including Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland and Dennis Hopper. The cuisine is exquisite Milanese: Try the ricci di mare (sea urchin linguine). casalever.com

Photos www.hautdegamme.com/@hautdegamme, Nico Schinco