Six innovative outdoor art installations designed to inspire the senses

The most impressive example of Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Mexico’s mission to create a destination resort that harmoniously marries art and nature is its extraordinary Art Courtyards. Profoundly influencing the resort’s artistic style and design, six innovative outdoor installations were created by the talents of leading contemporary Mexican artists. The Art Courtyards – soothing, tranquil and spiritual showcases –emerge as the heart and artistic soul of the resort’s architectural concept. Each artistic patio measures 5550 square feet/515 square meters and is strategically placed at the center of a group of Selva villas.

Captivating and thought-provoking, these elegant works of art are in keeping with the resort’s cutting-edge, environmentally friendly philosophy.  Gilberto Borja, the architect who commissioned the artists explains, “We conceived of these spaces as more than a merger of art and hotel design. Each patio is a reflection of our desire to create space which artistically expresses this environment, not merely to decorate space. As architectural passageways, the art patios invite one to travel through them but also to ‘discover’ them. The result is a fascinating display that delivers integrity to the architecture.”  

According to Pablo Amor, Resort Art Director: “These are living spaces that encourage contemplation and relaxation. They are tangible places where we can spend the day and let our senses soak up the subtle stimuli of the materials while we are reading in a relaxed manner, listening to water running, refreshing ourselves under shade or just looking at the dynamic shapes and textures.”

“The works exceed the visual realm and relate to dramatic arts, as they incorporate elements that appeal to all of our senses and therefore turn the space into an active component of the resort concept,” he adds.

As explorers to unknown territories, prior to designing their space, each artist spent time onsite, acquainting themselves with the light, vegetation, sounds and color at Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya. Interestingly, each artist chose to incorporate water in their installations, creating a life-giving commonality throughout. In the daylight hours, the six patios offer a placid retreat for the spirit, while at night they become a hypnotizing show of lights, invaded by the sounds typical of a tropical rainforest.

The six Art Courtyards are comprised of:

Loving fire ~ Pablo Amor and Gilberto Borja

This patio seeks to create a constant flow of sensations, colors and textures. The artists propose a blend of architecture and art, using the five elements traditional to both the Mayan and Oriental cultures: wood, fire, water, wind, and earth. Minimalist design and landscape invite guests to contemplate the natural rhythms within this space for meditation and deep reflection. The peaceful beauty of this patio is enhanced by two seasonal activities. The first is the flowering of the plum trees that encircle the patio in early spring. Another transformation takes place inside the focal point of the patio amidst the zen garden, where the native Guayacan tree sheds its leaves and blooms with light pink and magenta flowers.

Sea trees ~ Paloma Torres

In this patio, Paloma Torres designed an environment in which grassy hills embrace vertical clay sculptures, where guests are invited to step into the space in order to interact with the art forms, enjoying the elements involved. Within this living amphitheater, the murmur of the wind and water can be heard undulating between the columns, which are abstract representations of trees. The warm grass invites visitors to sit and enjoy the contrasting elements reminiscent of an open park on a spring day.

Dream spring ~ Kyoto Otta

Kyoto Otta leads guests into a natural refuge, a womb within the earth providing a place of shelter and protection. The construction of stone and grass is crossed by a cobbled path that guides guests over a reflecting pool where two small cascades create a peaceful experience. Here, the echo and reflection of the water invites the visitor into an introspective moment. According to the artist, “The patio allows us to be reborn, pause on the way under a halo of protection, and leave renewed from it. Any trip can be related with it, as sooner or later we travel to our interior.”

A voice of salt, a drop of breath ~ Yolanda Gutiérrez

Based on Oriental and Mayan shapes and ideologies, Yolanda Gutierrez’s work inspired by the inseparable relationship between sound, water and soul, encouraging awareness of the concept of harmony.

This patio showcases four concentric circles of seven sculptures creating a beautiful Mandala (geometric form), engraved in light onyx. In the center of the Mandala grows a ceiba, a sacred tree believed by the Maya to represent the underworld (the roots) and the heavens (the branches). The energy of these two mystical realms together at the earth plane (the trunk) creating a spiral of energy that provokes time and sound. In this patio, this energy is captured underneath the shadow of the ceiba branches by pools of water and seven Crystal Tibetan “singing” bowls. Each bowl produces a distinct note that resonates with the seven chakras in the human body, aligning us with the rhythms of the natural world. The bowls are intended to be played as musical instruments, providing visitors with a harmonic concert and healing session.

Spring water spiral ~ Yvonne Domenge

The main forms in this patio are six large sculptures reminding us of flower petals or seeds floating in the ocean. The sculptures create movement within stillness. As you walk among these high standing figures that resemble seeds, your feet are bathed in life and spirituality. The central focus of this patio is the powerful presence of sculpture itself, inspiring thoughts about our relationship with nature. According to the artist, the purpose is to “create peace of mind, freshness and spirituality.”

Vegetable stone ~ Eduardo Rincón

The way in which natural materials are used in this patio is absolutely striking. Here, the dynamics of an underground relationship are revealed. At the center of the piece are three traditionally revered amate trees. The roots of this tree are continually growing to embrace the rectangular limestone upon which they sit, creating with its beauty an ever-changing sculpture. Organic lines and abundant vegetation frame the almost surreal journey where the local limestone rocks seem to be floating, inviting one to step into another possible reality.

About Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Mexico

Nestled along an idyllic coastline on the dramatic Yucatan peninsula, Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya delivers an experience of luxury, well-being and exclusivity.

A luxurious hideaway sprawling over 36 secluded and unspoiled acres, the mile-long enclave is the ultimate sanctuary, where lush tropical jungle meets pure white, pristine beach. A naturalist’s paradise, the resort features protected mangrove reserves and crystal-clear water from naturally formed lagoons and streams, highlighted by a spectacular cenote, a deep, freshwater reservoir sacred to the ancient Mayan that serves as the complex’s centerpiece.

Ideally situated, the resort is only 10 minutes north of Playa del Carmen in bustling Riviera Maya, with its dining, entertainment, specialty shops and boutiques, and just a 30-minute drive from Cancún International Airport. For more information or enquiries, please visit www.mandarinoriental.com/rivieramaya.