Dorsett Hotel commissions Melbourne’s most significant secret artwork.
Having recently opened in Melbourne’s CBD, Dorsett Hotel is slated to become an art lover’s oasis with a commission of artist Marta Figueiredo to adorn the central courtyard. The Diva Garden, a site-specific collection of sculptures, will bring joy and whimsy to guests of the hotel… that’s if their lucky enough to see it!
The 316-room Dorsett Hotel Melbourne is designed with a central courtyard where the artwork resides, but The Diva Garden is only visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows of The Diva Garden rooms of the hotel. The rooms’ windows are one-way and reflect black to ensure guest privacy and reflect the colourful sculpture.
The Diva Garden rises to more than six metres and consists of a family of large-scale totems with delicate, long arms with lanterns that appear to wave in the air. The family includes three large flower pod totems with lantern centres that light up at dusk, and a central Diva totem, inspired by the dramatic dress of an opera diva. The Diva Garden transforms the urban setting into a floral fairy-tale delight.
Charming and playful, the Diva Garden is on a scale that breaks through the landscape of the surrounding city of Melbourne. The piece also includes specialist lighting design by Edward Linacre, with audio-visual creative coding by Dr Joshua Batty. The pair have worked to ensure the sculptures are lit up at dusk and become unilluminated each evening, depending on the season.
The towering piece speaks of individuality, culture, and brings a lightness to those staying at the hotel.
Marta Figueiredo reflects on her Portuguese roots through her artwork, and the gestures of Amalia Rodrigues, the diva of Portuguese Fado. During sing-alongs and ovations, Amalia was known for raising her arms in the air and closing her eyes in appreciation to the audience. In The Diva Garden, she finds her lifelong stage. Marta also sees the Diva sculpture as a lullaby singer who cradles the guests into sleep.
