Chef James Viles may be the number one ‘culinary artist’ at Melbourne’s newest restaurant, No35 at Sofitel, but he happily shares the stage – or the restaurant’s walls at least - with several of the city’s favourite local designers and artists, enlisted to add a touch of ‘art’ to the restaurant’s fine wine and dining palate.
Sofitel Melbourne On Collins General Manager and avid arts supporter Clive Scott says great art and aesthetics are essential ingredients to contemporary restaurant culture.
“Our philosophy regarding the choice of artwork for No35 was to provide an interior artscape that reflected the sophisticated streetscape our guests encounter as they visit us at the Paris end of Collins Street in Melbourne,” says Mr Scott.
“We wanted to present No35 as modern, elegant and engaging, with splendid visual interpretations of its outdoors environs in various mediums, textures and designs.”
“The urban landscape is full of colour and life, intertwined, just like the branches that frame the street courtesy of Collins Street’s promenade of trees. Leaves lend a living feel to concrete surrounds, while fleeting clouds shift and offer inspiration overhead. All this and more is reflected in the art works we selected for No35.”
Mr Scott says it was a privilege to have so many talented local artists to work with in preserving the authenticity of the restaurant’s ‘Collins Street’ art theme.
“Our Art Consultants Global Arts Projects brought a lot of great recommendations to the table for us to consider, and we thought who better than Melbourne artists to collectively capture the essence of our place in the world,” he says.
Global Art Projects have an ongoing relationship with Sofitel, advising on resident artists and hotel based exhibitions throughout the year.
Indeed, No35s ‘menu’ of art is as diverse and considered as its clever cuisine and wine lists.
Six different artists’ works now complement the stunning views from the level 35 restaurant.
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