Costa Smeralda
The Best of Italy
Curating an art and craft collection for an Italian family-oriented cruise ship in collaboration with five leading interior design practices is no easy task. Under the leadership of designer Adam Tihany, Jeffrey Beers International and Rockwell of New York, Partner Ship Design of Hamburg and Dordoni of Milan, designed a 2641 staterooms ship that is intended to immerse over 6500 passengers in the Best of Italy spirit.
ArtLink was engaged to work with all five design groups and curate a collection that represents 3000 years of Italian art, craft and culture in a 21st Century accessible accent, speaking to passengers of 3 to 90 years old.
With references from Roman Empire architecture to Milan fashion runways and with the creative support of dozens of artists and artisans we delivered a collection that brought the work of five different designers under one narrative and created a guest experience that resonates through the ages and the many eyes of those who cruise on the Costa Smeralda.
Message in a Bottle - Vino Restaurant Installation
“Interactive” today means digital. You click a button, or a few, and the experience unfolds. We took this interactive practice back in time to offer an even more active immersion. We wanted to encourage interaction between generations within a family with a hands-on feel for it. The main wall of the Vino Restaurant features an installation of 23 bottles containing replicas of ship models. Those are the ships that famous world explorers sailed to encounter the world we live in.
We worked with the curators of the Maritime Museum in London, who gave us access to some of the original ship plans, and engaged a family owned workshop on the island of Mauritius, specializing in hand-carving and rigging ship models, to make their replicas. One may scan a ship with a phone to get the story of each expedition; the successes and failures, the bravery and hardship those seafarers went through in charting the maps of our world.
"We selected ArtLink to curate and provide art for the Costa Smeralda for their creative, out of the box curatorial thinking and excellent project management skills. Curating a collection, consisting of hundreds of works, that should live and thrive in a living, bustling hemisphere of a family-oriented cruise ship, is no small task. Delivering that collection and having it installed on a ship during its construction is another considerable challenge. ArtLink excelled on both challenges."
— Luca Zuccolo, Hotel Newbuildings Director and Guest Experience & OBS Costa Crociere S.p.A
Biblioteca
The forefather of the natural history museum – the Cabinet of Curiosities – was a passion of those who were enchanted by the curiosities of the world and wanted the experience of being immersed in their presence.
The elegant Biblioteca restaurant resembles a private Renaissance library. ArtLink curators carefully selected quirky art and craft objects which, much like a cabinet of curiosities, create a "microcosms of the universe". The private collection offers guests a remarkable experience, combining historical hints and imagined natural auditees with artistic touches.
Works Provided
Designers: Jeffrey Beers International, Dordoni Architetti, Rockwell Group and Partner Ship Design
Creative Director Design: Tihany Design
Works Provided: 256
Artists: 47
Scope: Public Areas
Services Provided
Research
Development of Art Concept
Art & Accessories Sourcing
Decorative Accessories Consulting
Art Selection & Curation
Artist Relations Management
Commissioned Artworks Management
Custom Prints
Custom Framing
International Shipping and Delivery
Installation