Shu Brocade Movie: The Artistic Awakening of Shangri-La Chengdu

Reflected in the shimmering Jin River, Shangri-La Chengdu resembles a floating ark of art. With the design theme of "East meets West", this building deconstructs the definition of a traditional luxury hotel with art. It is not only a place to rest, but also an aesthetic experimental field of Sichuan culture in the contemporary context. Stepping into the 18-meter-high lobby, a 23-meter-long Shu brocade screen "The Beautiful Land of Abundance" unfolds like a historical scroll. 300 craftsmen spent two years weaving the panoramic view of Chengdu with traditional Kesi techniques, and the silk-specific faint luster flows under the light. The bronze sculpture "Bamboo Rhyme" in front of the screen reconstructs the bamboo forest of Shu with deconstructionism. The coldness of metal and the softness of bamboo collide in the space to create a wonderful tension. The front office manager introduced that the installation works of contemporary artists will be changed here every quarter, "We want to let the traditional craftsmanship and avant-garde art continue to dialogue." The guest room corridor is transformed into a mobile art gallery, and art derivatives cooperated with Sichuan Fine Arts Institute are scattered on the walls. Abstract oil paintings interpreted with Shu embroidery needlework and prints incorporating Sanxingdui mask elements into pop art style, each piece is attached with a QR code, scan the code to listen to the artist's creation story. The entire floor-to-ceiling window of the executive lounge becomes a natural viewfinder. The lights of the Langqiao and Lan Kwai Fong outside the window and He Duoling's "City of Hibiscus" series of watercolors in the room form a double city record of virtual and real reflections. The most amazing is the Rong Coffee all-day dining restaurant. The 30-meter-long bronze relief wall is inspired by the Sanxingdui civilization and is covered with abstract solar bird and bronze vertical eye masks. When the morning light shines obliquely through the curtain wall, the relief casts flowing light and shadow on the white marble floor, and diners feel as if they are in an ancient sacrificial site. The hotel even cooperated with the Chengdu Shu Embroidery Museum to open a workshop for intangible cultural heritage masters, where guests can embroider exclusive "Chengdu memories" on silk. At night, the Cloud Bar on the top floor of the hotel transforms into an art salon. Overlooking the night view of the Jin River through the 270-degree glass curtain wall, the cocktail in hand reflects Xu Bing's "Book from the Sky" projection installation on the wall. At this moment, the cultural genes of the ancient capital of Shu and the avant-garde expression of contemporary art have reached a subtle resonance in the amber liquor. As resident artist Li Muyao said: "Here, every piece of art is a business card that Chengdu presents to the world."