When Ian Lundin first conceived the idea for Jiva Hill, he wanted to create an environment using clean contemporary lines, but while also embodying true comfort and style. For him it was essential to use the most beautiful, modern, and classic materials and designs in the creation of Jiva; and this desire alongside his wife's inherent love for contemporary art led to the inevitable result of putting together an art collection that would reflect the many values already being amassed with the help of teams of architects, designers and decorators.

The Jiva art collection, including nearly 200 works on paper, a film and a large sculpture, hoped to compliment the easy simplicity of the Hotel, and also reflect the beautiful environment in which Jiva stands.

To that end, much of the art will bring to mind the stunning natural world outside the windows: the joyful, dancing installation of flowers by Alessandro Twombly in the entrance, backed up by the elliptical film piece by Mark Lewis at the back of the lobby, and by the fabulous black and white flowers by Donald Baechler in the sitting room. Elsewhere, there are horses upside down and vibrating with movement by Georg Baselitz, and several vibrant colour-bursting prints and wood cuts depicting love hearts and trees, by the veteran pop artist Jim Dine.

Photographs have also played a major role: the swimming pool bar area has a stunning mountain night scene during Swiss military testing by Raphael Hefti, plus throughout the hotel, photographs of mountains, flowers and organic life by artists such as Bradford Washburn, Ron Van Dongen, and Bruce Rae can be seen.

Finally across in the Shamwari restaurant, which was inspired by the Lundins' deep affiliation to Africa, the mood becomes African in subtle ways: the Louise Bourgeois ladles, basic and naive in style, and the stunning giant leaf by Sovann Kim, interspersed with pieces of tribal art and wildlife photographs.

Just as so much of the art appears to be organic, so too is this unique art collection. It thrives in its environment, and as the meaning of “Jiva”(*) indicates, it is alive. Virginia and Ian Lundin hope that you will enjoy and appreciate it as much as they do.

>>> Download the ART Collection Presentation (1 Mo, pdf)