Tommy Balogh’s works combine technology, light and abstract expression to generate thought-provoking experiences. Photo: Tommy Balogh.
An unmissable art exhibition is happening in Canberra right now, and it’s not at one of the national capital’s galleries.
Visitors to Braddon’s Midnight Hotel this month will encounter a captivating collection of works by world-renowned Canberra artist Tommy Balogh.
The hotel has partnered with the maverick artist for the third instalment of its new “Meet the Maker” series – an initiative showcasing the artwork, craftsmanship and culinary delights of Australian artisans.
The Meet the Maker program empowers the hotel to feature a new artist regularly, fulfilling one aspect of its mandate to use both dynamic activations and fixed design and art features to engage guests from their first arrival and throughout their stay.
Known for his large-scale, immersive art installations and collaborations with global entrepreneurs and cultural institutions, a selection of Tommy’s vibrant and organic abstract paintings will grace the hotel lobby until the end of November.
“For me, art is about opening the floodgates of imagination and creation through the moments of the unexpected and unknown,” Tommy says. “The interaction of organic art with light unlocks 5D experiences, where space and time collapse, where boundless potentials exist and can be accessed by anyone. This is the era we now live in.”
Tommy’s works combine technology, light and abstract expression to generate thought-provoking experiences.
Midnight Hotel’s Kristy Ryan says it represents a “beautiful brand alignment” for the hotel, whose point of difference under the Marriot banner is to give guests an immersive and interactive experience through aesthetic beauty, culture and art.
“Tommy’s artwork is really opening minds,” Kristy says. “We are receiving great commentary and discussion with our guests – even those not ordinarily engaged in art are finding it inspiring.”
Hallucination by Tommy Balogh can be viewed at Midnight Hotel until the end of November as part of the latest installation in the hotel’s Meet the Maker exhibition series. Photo: Tommy Balogh.
Like Tommy, the hotel uses multiple media to create an experience for its guests so that simply stepping foot inside evokes a feeling.
Works from diverse local artists feature at every turn; in all guest rooms, across the lobby, conference spaces and corridors. A “map” for the hotel provides guests with a detailed knowledge of each individual piece, the significance, the artist’s story and why it connects with the Midnight brand, taking the hotel beyond accommodation into the realm of pseudo-gallery.
“This approach is a natural fit for us given the beauty of our building, which was designed by Fender Katsalidis – the architects known for designing remarkably stunning buildings like Nishi and MONA,” Kristy says. “It feels natural that art is our ‘mark’.”
Meet the Maker collaborations not only allow Midnight to take a fresh approach to its artworks, but also embody its focus on locality by providing local artists a platform to share their works.
“Midnight is a locally owned hotel and in every facet we endeavour to support local,” Kristy says. “We look to include local artists, producers and suppliers in the day-to-day of the hotel, and through sponsorship we support a lot of local sports teams, groups and institutions.”
The hotel is a major financial supporter and accommodation partner for the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), accommodating visiting artists, offering exhibition packages and spreading the word about their shows.
Exclusive selections from the cultural institution can be seen throughout the hotel, as well as a diverse array of bespoke commission pieces, beautiful design elements and custom and one-off pieces from local artists.
For more information, visit Midnight Hotel.
