Curating Art for Heritage Properties: Timeless Stories, Told Through Art

Timeless elegance: vintage portraits along the grand staircase echo the grace of Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

Heritage properties are living time capsules. They hold stories, traditions and textures of a bygone era. Curating art for these spaces is an invitation to engage in a delicate dialogue between the past and the present.

At Fiidaa Art, we’ve had the privilege of curating art for iconic heritage hotels like Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and The Capitol Kempinski Singapore where we explored ways to honour the legacy of these spaces while introducing contemporary artistic voices that resonate with today's audiences.

Reading the Room - and its history

Tipping the hat to Maugham. Art prints paying tribute to the author, whose authentic accounts of his journeys through Southeast Asia brought a lost world to life with his pen.

Before a single artwork is selected and proposed, we immerse ourselves in the space and take a deep dive into the property’s history, architecture and cultural context. With Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, a grand dame steeped in French colonial heritage, we explored its layered past, from literary salons to the numerous dignitaries and celebrities that have walked its corridors. 

One particularly inspiring discovery was the hotel's connection to renowned English writer Somerset Maugham, who was a frequent guest at the Metropole Legend hotel. This became the starting point for a series of literary art prints that now adorn the suite named after him. 

Transporting guests back in time and paying homage to how the hotel has hosted prominent cultural icons from around the world over the past 100 years  

Similarly, in the suite named in honour of the iconic actor Charlie Chaplin, who chose Sofitel Legend Metropole for his honeymoon in 1936, the vintage artworks adorning the bedroom wall capture the essence of the comic actor and filmmaker. They showcase Chaplin's signature persona, The Tramp, complete with artistic depictions of his distinctive bowler hat, cane and mustache. 

This link between space, history and storytelling shaped our curatorial approach: one that respected the building’s rich and impressive guest list who sought solace within the hotel walls, while weaving in a contemporary lens that speaks to a new generation of travellers.

Working With Local Artists, Rooted in Place

Locally inspired: ceramic vases celebrating regional art styles and forms.

We believe heritage spaces should reflect the communities they are situated in, and engage local artists to bring authenticity and a sense of place to the curation. At Capitol-Kempinski hotel in Singapore, we worked closely with local and regional artists to create bespoke artworks that echo the architectural elegance and cultural heritage of the hotel’s location. 

An oil painting by renowned Sri Lankan artist Senaka Senanayake depicts heliconias, found throughout Singapore and particularly at the Heliconia Walk at Singapore Botanic Gardens. a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Each piece was a continuation of the space’s story, told through brushstroke, fibre, or form. At the same time, we supported the local art communities and ensured that the artwork speaks directly to the locale's spirit.

Art as Atmosphere, Not an Afterthought

In heritage hotels, art must do more than fill a wall. It must enhance the guest experience. For both projects, we strategically placed works in lounges, suites and quieter passageways to invite moments of reflection.

These were visual anchors that invited guests to pause, look closer, and connect.

Balancing Preservation with Innovation

Working within conservation guidelines can be challenging, but also creatively rewarding. Heritage properties often have architectural constraints and preservation guidelines. Our role involves innovating within these parameters. 

In the Lobby Lounge at Capitol Kempinski hotel, a collection of black and white photographs can be found on the pillars. They depict the architectural features of the hotel, made up of Stamford House and Capitol Building, as well as various other buildings in the surrounding civic and cultural district. These photomontages consist of the layering of multiple shots taken from different angles to capture and celebrate the conservation of the hotel’s architectural framework.

Framed photomontages celebrating the hotel’s architecture by Singaporean photographer Terence Tan

Curating a Narrative

One of the most powerful tools in heritage art curation is brand storytelling. At Sofitel Legend Metropole, we curated a narrative journey through Vietnam’s artistic evolution, placing traditional patterns next to modern interpretations. The goal wasn’t to make a statement, but to spark quiet conversations between past and present.

This is an example of twelve art portraits of Vietnamese royalty dressed in the traditional ao-dai. These retouched photographs revitalises and brings to life Sofitel Legend Metropole as a living embodiment of Vietnam's rich heritage, where historical nobility once graced its opulent halls. 

Elegantly hanging in the foyer on Level 3, this collection of 12 artworks reconstructing a vase using Kintusgi - an ancient Japanese art form. Through each stroke and gold detail, the selection of art tell a tale of preservation and transformation, encapsulating the timeless beauty and modern restraint synonymous with Sofitel Legend Metropole.

Practical Tips for Curating Art in Heritage Properties

1. Start with the story – Research thoroughly to understand the building’s history and cultural significance.

2. Local voices matter – Engage and collaborate with artists from the region to reflect authenticity through site-specific works.

3. Consider the Guest Experience - Think beyond a feature wall to place art where people naturally pause, wait, or wander. This allows guests to engage with art naturally and meaningfully during their stay.

4. Work with the space, not against it – Respect conservation guidelines and work within the property's constraints to protect its heritage.

5. Curate for emotion, not just aesthetics – Curate artworks that collectively narrate a compelling story aligned with the property's identity.

Curated artworks that begins the guest experience at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s reception area

Curating for heritage properties is never about imposing an aesthetic. It’s about listening to what the space is already saying and helping it speak more clearly. At Fiidaa Art, we see these projects as quiet collaborations between history, space, and art.

Whether it’s the refined hush of a colonial suite or the gilded archways of a grand lobby, our goal is the same: to bring soul to surface.

Have a heritage space you’d like to bring to life through art? Let’s talk.