The art of Artotel

There’s a certain downtown vibe going on at Artotel. My cosy Studio 20 room has an “industrial-chic” look with exposed concrete walls and a clean design. It’s small but the 20 square-metre room does make up in comfort what it lacks in space. The large imposing double bed is comfortable; there’s high speed Wi-Fi, a Dolce Gusto coffee maker, an ensuite bathroom with decent sized shower, hair dryer, iPod dock, safety deposit box, LCD TV and 24 hours in-room service.

But it’s the room’s art by artist Oki Rey Montha that is most startling. Inspired by Tim Burton’s dark undertones, Oki’s pop surrealism showcases Jakarta’s legendary (if not infamous) traffic congestion with exaggerated cartoon-like caricatures of people in vehicles on a smog-filled road. Seen one way, the art adds a much-needed organic element to the room; seen another, the black-and-white image seems to meld perfectly with the bustling streetscape below.

The forward-thinking placement of art doesn’t stop there. Down on the ground floor at the award-winning Double Chin restaurant, the vibrant artwork on the floor and ceiling showcases the handiwork of renowned artist Eddie Hara, the “punk uncle” of Indonesia contemporary art.

As the name suggests, Artotel celebrates avant-garde artists since its launch in 2013. The hotel collaborated with eight Indonesian renowned, as well as emerging artists, and presented them with a whole floor each, as a “canvas” for their imagination. Artists including Darbotz, Eddie, Zaky Arifin, Ykha Amels, Wisnu Auri and Oky Rey Montha rose admirably to the challenge and stamped their identity on the

The ever evolving art space at the hotel display original artwork by talented local artists in the region. Artist Zaky Arifin used his chalk motifs to visualise wild animals on the 3rd floor. Artist Darbortz’s distinctive work on Artotel Thamrin’s facade.