Art Installations at Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, located just outside Florence, Italy, features a new collection of artwork that beautifully contrasts with the Renaissance frescoes adorning the resort.

Art Collection Overview

High in the hills outside Florence, an unexpected artistic phenomenon is taking place. Among the stunning Renaissance frescoes and ecclesiastical carvings of Villa San Michele, set in a 16th-century monastery, an entirely distinct group of artworks has emerged.

Teenager & Teenager Installation

At the hotel’s entrance, framed by a stone arch that offers a postcard-perfect view of the Duomo, visitors encounter the first piece: an eerily lifelike sculpture of a man, dressed in a suit, sitting in an armchair. The only indication that he isn’t real is a massive block of stone obscuring his head.

This piece is one of three that comprise “Teenager & Teenager,” a thought-provoking installation by Beijing-based artists Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, available for viewing until October 29, marking the end of the hotel’s 2023 season. Inside the hotel, the series continues with three elegantly dressed figures on a leather sofa, and a couple in evening wear arranged around a chaise—each entirely encased in stone.

Themes of Identity and Technology

The works are centered on themes of identity and technology. Sophie Fabiani, the Villa San Michele’s public relations manager, elucidated the message behind the installations during a guided tour. “The heavy rocks on their heads symbolize the burden technology can impose. While it connects us, it can also lead to isolation,” she noted. “Our aim is to remind visitors to appreciate the beauty of the environment and their relationships, going beyond the confines of technology.”

Mitico Art Series

Villa San Michele is one of seven Belmond properties participating in a series of art installations known as “Mitico.” Other venues include Castello di Casole in Tuscany, Hotel Cipriani in Venice, and several others. This marks the second consecutive year Villa San Michele has featured contemporary art installations, both curated by Galleria Continua, a contemporary art space based in the Tuscan town of San Gimignano.

Guest Reactions

During my visit, Fabiani recounted a moment when two guests entered the lounge, laughed incredulously upon seeing the installation, and began snapping photos. “We don’t receive negative comments,” she remarked. “The pieces evoke smiles and spark conversations.”

Permanent Installations

Furthermore, two installations from the 2022 edition of “Mitico,” created by Argentinian artist Leandro Erlich, remain on display. One piece featured stacked glass panels with screen-printed images that create the illusion of a cloud, strategically positioned beneath a 17th-century fresco. Another, “Window & Ladder,” is a lifelike representation of a window elevated about 15 feet, which seamlessly frames the rooftops of Florence, including Brunelleschi’s Duomo.

As noted by Fabiani, “This is the window on the city. When Leandro Erlich visited, he remarked that iconic Florentine architecture truly began during the Renaissance.” Extremely popular, the hotel decided to purchase this installation and put it on permanent display.

In conclusion, Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, offers a unique blend of captivating contemporary art installations that encourage reflection on modern themes of identity and technology against the backdrop of breathtaking historical architecture.