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.

1. Sculptor Eduardo de Luce - ‘Little Buildings of Melbourne’, small sculptures of buildings in plaster
2. Painter Lara Merrett - ‘Catch Me If You Can’, Synthetic polymer paint & ink on linen. A large contemporary colour panel.
3. Sculptor Geoffrey Mance - ‘The Hedgehog’, a series ofpink stick sculptures in the alcoves above the booth seating.
4. Blown glass sculptor Holly Grace - ‘Bonsai Series, 2009’ , Mouth blown glass with metal leaf, glass powder and frit on a sand-carved surface. Her small glass sculpture series is located in the restaurant annexe.
5. Potter, Jill Symes – various pieces on display
6. Painter, Andrew Browne – ‘The Space Between’, ……………………………..

“As the Hotel for the Arts Sofitel Melbourne On Collins always strives to work closely with Global Arts Projects in support of local emerging and well established artists and designers.

“For No35, we also consulted with the Craft Victoriagallery on Flinders Lane, and finally selected Holly Grace’s Bonsai Series from there.”

Mr Scott says the same care and attention was shown to the restaurant’s décor and design.

No35 is defined by a several dining ‘zones’ and seating, each highlighted by the changing light qualities cast across the restaurant at different times of the day and night.

Ambiance is created through the use of rich colours and dark timbres, coloured glass, marbles and soft metals which, when combined, offer a palette of aged gold, bronze and browns highlighted with striking pinks and mustards.

A custom designed chandelier from Canadian contemporary design and manufacturing companyBocci, has been based on ’14’ pendant lights in a composition tailor made to suit the space.

Standard upholstered and timber backed chairs fromEliza Furniture were also custom designed, whileInterstudio provided ‘Lost’ bar stools. Feature ‘Luigi’ chairs by designers Billinani were imported from Italy.