Zmax Fairway introduces art hotel to Colombo, featuring Anoma

 The Zmax Fairway Hotel opened its doors on 15 September. Probably the only hotel in the recent times to be built around the art that is displayed in it, Zmax explores the intimate relationship between art and interiors on a magnified scale. Reflecting the popular international concept of ‘art hotels’, Zmax features the works of a single artist whose art is known to stand for a profound cause: This is the renowned artist Anoma Wijewardene whose life’s work has been a voice against environmental destruction and climate change. 

Set at the heart of Colombo Fort, the Zmax sits amidst history, commercial bustle, legends and stories from the times of colonial rule – a perfect setting to inspire a visual dialogue with art. The hotel has a framed view of the historic Dutch Hospital built in 1681 and former home to 16th century art by Johannes Rach that are conserved in the Netherlands today. 

With the increasing population, vehicles and businesses in Colombo, the city is struggling to keep things green; Zmax is conscious of this and attempts to inspire curiosity and conversation on the topic of the environment and climate change. Positioned as a ‘smart luxury’ hotel with modern tech and sleek interiors, Zmax displays over three-hundred artworks by Anoma in all the corridors and in every bedroom, on all seven floors of the hotel. 

Anoma is an internationally acclaimed artist educated at the iconic Central Saint Martin’s College, University of the Arts in London. Her work has been exhibited all over the world, and most recently in Hong Kong by Sotheby’s, the premier art auction house, as part of a ground breaking exhibition by 15 women artists from the silk route, of which Anoma was the only South Asian artist. 

A magnificent installation from this show – Earth rise within us, is displayed in the main lobby of Zmax: It is a plea for us to love the earth more fully and to be aware of how deeply indivisibly we are connected. The images are not about the results and consequences of climate change but more about embracing our unity with it. The other art images at the hotel are based on the previous exhibitions Deliverance and Earthlines, which resonated sustainability, environment and climate change. 

Hemaka De Alwis, Chairman of Fairway Holdings to which Zmax Colombo belongs, envisioned the theme ‘one artist, one hotel’, which also aims to celebrate the arts and the notable personalities within Sri Lanka’s cultural community. The Zmax experience lies somewhere between the inspiration of visiting an art gallery and the luxurious indulgence of being at a sleek hotel. 

Probably the only art hotel in Sri Lanka to feature a single artist, commit to a single theme, creating awareness about a universal topic, perhaps the most crucial of our time, Zmax has pledged a commitment to both the environment and the arts. Here, the reception has paperless check-in and is designed with fast track arrival in mind which is only fitting for the most tech advanced hotel in Colombo. Zmax Fairway promises the Z generation life, with its concern for connectivity, privacy and the environment. 

The rooms come alive as a guest walks in thanks to the ultra-sensitive motion sensors and turns off as a guest leaves to preserve electricity. The hotel is paperless and the key feature is IP-TV which offers a selection of restaurants for room service, and all the information the guest needs. With the Zmax Fairway Hotel being developed in a deeply historic area of Colombo, it stands as an example of the unity that modernity, love for nature and history can have. 

“It is both surreal and humbling to have eight floors of a public and accessible building, a hotel, full of my art, on a permanent basis; and more importantly work which is a gentle plea to protect and love our beloved Earth; it is our only raft and connection. I am deeply grateful to Hemaka for his vision and persistence in making this unique idea a reality in our city,” said Anoma. 

Find out more about Anoma and her thought-provoking art on www.anoma.com