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)