Calling All Artists: Make The InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort Your Muse
When you fall in love with a destination, there is something special in then sharing that experience with someone else – as you get a chance to witness the magic through their eyes all over again. I've been fortunate to visit the Maldives many times, but never in the company of an artist. This is something InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort in Raa Atoll is exploring with its Artist in Residence series as a way to build strong cross-cultural connections with the Middle East, whilst inviting guests to explore the paradisiacal archipelago through the eyes of an artist. Recently, Dubai-based Lebanese artist Kristel Bechara spent a week on the island creating a painting inspired by the island's natural beauty, its wildlife and ongoing conservation efforts. Her piece, entitled The Silent Dance, captures the incredible magnetism of the Maldives' marine life as a chromatic Manta ray gliding through a monochrome ocean.
Joining Kristel for art workshops and exclusive live art classes where we unleashed our own creative instincts on canvas, allowed an entirely new perception of the Maldives to take shape. While the islands are, by default, undeniably appealing, when you're looking to put pencil to paper you notice things on a more acute level. Not just the blue of the sea, but the exact moment one hue bleeds into the next; how each palm frond moves singularly in the breeze creating light and shadow play; how the sun alters the entire character of the island depending on where it sits in the sky. And through this, a new interpretation of the same place. An artist's impression where the Maldives is the muse.
Naturally, a beautiful backdrop lends itself to artistic expression and InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort doubles down on agrarian allure. Five-star, yes, but much more raw and organic in its approach to luxury. The island is smaller than many, but all the better for it. Buggies are rendered almost obsolete, as bikes and walkways take you everywhere you'll need to go. Namely to the villas, that are either overwater or beachfront, all with private pools. Designed by Avalon Collective, the interiors looked to the 'musafir' (Arabic for traveller) for inspiration, with modern, open- plan interpretations of a nomadic free-spirit, where the space is left open, absent of internal walls to convey a true sense of freedom.
Nature is all around: from the reef sharks that swim in the shallow waters and the kaleidoscopic house reef to the towering greenery that envelops the island. Climb The Lighthouse at dusk or dawn for the best views of the island. Make a night of it too at its restaurant, with grilled artichokes, local fish and seafood paella served over the sea. Or, grab a table by the water at Fish Market for dinner under the stars.
Manta ray and dolphin-watching excursions should almost be mandatory they are so special. Nothing on earth beats seeing these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat – silently dancing, wild and free.
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