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Artist creates installation from 200 Champagne bottles
English artist Alexander Hall has created an installation from 200 individually painted Champagne bottles to mark the opening of the 200th InterContinental hotel.
The brightly coloured bottles are suspended together on wire to reveal the number ‘200’.
The work by Hall, who uses the alias ‘Haut de Gamme’, is being taken around the world and is currently on display at the InterContinental London at the O2.
The bottles are painted in Hall’s signature drip style and each one is different to represent the individual character of each of the 200 hotels.
The bottle commemorating the InterContinental in Cannes is inspired by the location’s glamourous setting and all the stars of the silver screen who have stayed there, while the New York bottle depicts the bird cage in the hotel lobby.
Hall, aka Haut de Gamme, hard at work on painting the 200 bottles
“When I first started painting Champagne bottles, I wanted it to make people feel something positive.
“Champagne for me means happiness, joy, celebration and the idea of bringing people together. That’s why I decided to paint on Champagne bottles to celebrate the 200 InterContinental hotels,” Hall said.
“I wanted the bottles to reflect each InterContinental hotel’s unique personality, design and location, as well as the legacy and pioneering spirit of the founder, Juan Trippe,” he added.
Inspired by the Pop art aesthetic, Hall’s reputation is growing globally. Many of his paintings feature the trappings of the high life, including Champagne bottles, super cars and polo ponies. Entrepreneur Peter Jones is a keen collector.
The artist will also be creating a bespoke Haut de Gamme painting to commemorate the milestone, and will release a number of limited edition prints.
“Having 200 InterContinental hotels around the world is a milestone for the brand, and what better way to celebrate than with a drink synonymous with celebration?
“Much like art, great luxury hospitality is part science, part experience and part natural flair,” said Ginger Taggart, vice president of global marketing – luxury portfolio at the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Founded in 1946 by aviation pioneer Juan Trippe, the first InterContinental hotel opened in Belem, Brazil in 1949. Today it is the world’s largest luxury hotel brand.