Michael Yamashita exhibition installation at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square, London. (2023)
Luxury Art Installation at Four Seasons Hotel London: Michael Yamashita Photographic Exhibition
Project Overview: Installing Art in a Unique Luxury Hotel Space
In 2024, Seido Art Services was commissioned by the Displays and Events team at the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square for a technically challenging art installation. The project involved a photographic exhibition by acclaimed photographer Michael Yamashita, displayed in the Rotunda Bar and Lounge, a central feature of the hotel with bespoke architectural details.
The rotunda presented a unique challenge: the walls feature intricate plaster carvings, which prevented standard methods of hanging artworks. This required a custom installation solution that would preserve the architectural integrity of the space while showcasing the photographs elegantly.
Planning and Preparation: Precision Art Installation in Luxury Interiors
Installing art in a luxury hotel environment requires meticulous planning. Before the installation began, our team conducted a comprehensive survey of the rotunda, noting the ceiling height, lighting angles, and existing architectural features.
Key considerations included:
Protecting bespoke plasterwork and finishes using foam and blanket barriers while moving equipment.
Avoiding disruption to hotel operations, which meant scheduling all work overnight when the space was closed to guests.
Determining the ideal placement and spacing of each photograph to achieve visual balance while accommodating the ceiling and lighting constraints.
This planning phase is crucial in high-end hospitality environments, where even minor damage or misalignment can compromise the hotel’s aesthetic standards.
Installation Process: Creating a Floating Effect
To display the photographs without attaching anything to the walls, Seido Art Services fitted hanging wires to the bulkhead ceiling, allowing each photograph, mounted on rigid boards, to appear as if floating in the air.
Technical Considerations
Material selection: We used nylon hanging wires, which are virtually invisible under the existing up-lighting, enhancing the "floating" visual effect.
Precision measurements: Each wire had to be cut to the exact length to ensure photographs were perfectly level and evenly spaced.
Secure fixing: Ceiling fixings were installed carefully to avoid damage to the bulkhead while supporting the weight of the artworks safely.
Lighting optimization: The exhibition benefited from existing up-lighting, which highlighted the photographs and rendered the wires nearly invisible, creating a magical floating display.
Overnight Work
The multi-day installation took place overnight, ensuring minimal disruption to hotel guests and staff. This approach is standard practice for luxury hotel art installations, where guest experience must be preserved while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Challenges and Solutions
Luxury hotel art installations often involve unique obstacles. In this project:
Architectural constraints: Bespoke plaster walls meant no standard hooks or fixings could be used. Solution: ceiling-mounted hanging system.
Delicate finishes: Protective barriers and careful material handling prevented scratches and scuffs on both walls and flooring.
Visual impact: Achieving the floating effect required precise alignment, spacing, and lighting considerations.
By addressing these challenges, the team delivered an installation that maintained both artistic integrity and architectural elegance.
Project Outcome: A Magical Floating Exhibition
The completed installation showcased Michael Yamashita’s photographs in a way that felt effortless and magical. The images appeared to float in the air, enhanced by the hotel’s up-lighting, creating a visually stunning exhibition that complemented the luxurious setting of the Four Seasons Rotunda Bar and Lounge.
This project highlights Seido Art Services’ expertise in luxury hotel art installations, demonstrating technical precision, careful planning, and a commitment to preserving the integrity of both the artworks and the architectural space.
