Maryanksi gives Meridien new public image

Maryanksi gives Meridien new public image

JAKARTA (JP): Enter the Le Meridien on Jl. Jend. Sudirman
these days and be pleasantly surprised.

Until April 30, the work of an American artist will line the
walls, from the lobby to the upper floor, in a display which
embodies the very essence of the hotel.

The 30 pictures in color and black and white may even look
familiar to the avid reader as many first appeared as
advertisements in local newspapers.

The man behind the images is American artist Ken Maryanksi,
who began his career as an illustrator and art director in
advertising.

He has received numerous awards for excellence in art and
design from art director clubs in Boston, New York and
Providence. The Art Director Club of Boston awarded him the L.E.
Sissman Award for successfully combining a career in advertising
with excellence in art.

Maryanski's works have become the signature and basis of
advertising worldwide for Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts.

With a subtle blend of humor and a sharp eye for the French
touch, Maryanski has imbued the group's advertising with elegance
and style.

Le Mridien presents itself as a worldwide chain combining
European style with individual character, and each hotel
incorporates a respect for the local culture.

Maryanski designed one illustration for all Meridien Hotels,
but adjusted it to accommodate the different needs of each.

The difference can be as subtle as the colors Maryanski uses
in his drawings. Unlike his pictures for European hotels, he
uses, for instance, warm yellow, orange and red colors to suggest
the Asian lifestyle.

In his own abstract way Maryanski creates an evening dance,
and viewers seem to be able to hear the music flowing out of his
drawings.

Le Meridien has been using Maryanski's illustrations for
advertisements since 1996. His drawings have became the icons of
Le Mridien Hotels.

"They (the paintings and drawings) are more about ideas and
entertainment than the making of art. Sometimes we all need a
little entertainment," Maryanski said.

The drawings in the exhibition express perfectly the
atmosphere of the hotel -- the music and genial ambiance -- and a
peek into the kitchen might reveal the inspiration for that
dancing chef. (Marieke van Heek)