JEDDAH — ART lounge is a Bahrain based initiative that gives local artists a platform to showcase their talent while focusing on community needs and social welfare. The enterprise is dedicated to artwork generated by local artists displayed at the chilled out settings of ART lounge and features other artwork including paintings, lithographs, photographs, sculptures, costume designed objects and mirrors. According to Marion Labani, art consultant and managing director of Art Lounge, it's art services also involves hotel projects around the island such as Sofitel Resort and Spa, Majestic Arjan by Rotana and Renaissance Hotel Amwaj offering expert designing and artwork facilities. She said: “We also provide glass artworks, mouth-blown artistic glass designs as well as just common glass solutions for bathrooms, partitions, tables etc.” Art Lounge kicked off in 2008 and organized many Fine Art Exhibitions around the island promoting Bahrain's artists. These exhibitions picked up local support by different sponsors and two years later ART lounge was appointed as the art consultant for the Sofitel Resort and Spa in Bahrain. Labani said: “This is where we successfully handled installing wall artwork frames in the guest rooms with a local theme. “In close collaboration with the client the artwork got selected and framed, carefully paying attention to the design concept and for sure to the vision of the client. It was a great challenge yet a reassurance on our philosophy Go Local.” Labani said with the cosmopolitan range of visitors and residents in Bahrain, projects like hotels and other commercial properties convey a sense of belonging. “Art is the easiest and most beautiful way to do that. This is exactly ART lounge's philosophy and we are very happy that this concept is being more and more recognized.” Their next hotel project is Majestic Arjaan by Rotana. “I have now completed installing wall artwork frames and decorative mirrors in the guest apartments and public areas as the hotel opened officially a few weeks ago.” She said a successful deal was signed with the Renaissance Hotel in Amwaj. “As their art consultant is in close alliance with their Singaporean interior designer David Tay, who is considered a “Guru” in this business and expected to be part of the art project of this beautiful beach side hotel that intends to reflect a local flavor with works by Bahrain's and Saudi artists.” ART lounge also provides its services to individual clients with the possibility to have a closer look at the local art scene and gives them an opportunity to delve into their culture. Labani said the opportunity presents itself to the client “to choose The Piece” between the latest works which speaks to them at the artist's studio or at one of the exhibitions we are organizing. Many of such artworks like sculptures, paintings, photographs or lithographs have made their way not only to many homes in Bahrain, but to Germany, UK and South Africa.” ART Lounge artists include: Abbas Almosawi, Abdul S. Khamdan, Ahmed Anan,Ali Al Mahmeed,Ali Al Koofy, Ali Khamees, Balqees Fakhro, Cheney Fairchild, Christian Ghammachi, Faika Al Hassan, Freed Abu Quais, Hassan Al Saari,Hussain Fateel, Jaffar Al Oraibi, Khalid Farhan, Khalil Hammad, Kareema Taha, Lobna Al Amin, Manfred Erber, Mohamed Al Mahdi, Mohsen Ghareeb, Nabeela Alkayer and Zaman Jassim.
