The two creative visionaries break down the beauty and complexity of cultural transformation that &lsquo;Lost Sanctuary&rsquo; and Else Retreats are holding up.

Ever since its establishment in September 2022, Else has emerged as a prominent establishment for fostering creativity and cultural endeavours within KL's Chinatown. Now, the institution is poised to elevate its offerings through the introduction of its inaugural Artist-in-Residence program, which entails engaging commissioned artists to curate their unique creations within the premises. Each residency is designed to assume a distinctive form, enabling seamless adaptation to the artistic vision of each participant. Notably, acclaimed artist Eduardo Enrique, hailing from Dubai, has inaugurated his exhibition titled "Lost Sanctuary," a compelling exploration of intricate themes surrounding consumerism, globalization, and the evolving nature of ownership. This thought-provoking exhibition will be on display at the hotel until the conclusion of the current month.

The exhibition presents an engaging blend of captivating digital and physical sculptures, captivating visitors and prompting them to contemplate the intricate nature and aesthetic allure of cultural metamorphosis. By skilfully intertwining museum artefacts with branded commodities, the collection delves into the intricate interplay between cultural exchange and the pervasive influence of consumer culture in today's society. Eduardo Enrique, renowned for his visually eloquent artistic style, fearlessly merges elements of cultural heritage with contemporary popular culture, thoughtfully incorporating his affinity for consumerism and background in the marketing industry into his artistic endeavours.
We caught up with Eduardo Enrique, the esteemed artist alongside Javier Perez, co-founder of Else Retreats in order to delve deeper into the captivating world of 'Lost Sanctuary' and gain insights into the Artist-In-Residence programme.

What was the selection process for choosing the artist and their artwork for this collaboration?
Javier Perez: With Else&rsquo;s Artist-in-Residence program, the intention was always to be the bridge between international artists and the local creative community, driving cross-cultural awareness and exposing a vibrant young audience to foreign artists that they might have only ever seen on digital platforms. Eduardo and I have been old friends for a long time. When the hotel opened, we had many casual conversations about how we could work together, and I was particularly fascinated with the concept of Lost Sanctuary. The juxtaposition of museum artefacts with designer goods, the combination of old and new was a story that resonated greatly with us. Else is housed in the 1930s historic Lee Rubber Building, and we&rsquo;ve transformed the iconic building into a modern and contemporary retreat, so it was very much a kismet moment and a no-brainer to have Eduardo as our inaugural Artist-in-Residence at Else.

How do you envision the artwork enhancing the guest experience and creating a&nbsp;unique atmosphere within the hotel?
JP: Our hope is that art serves as a form of nourishment to the soul. When guests come across the artwork, by chance or not, we hope it sparks a sense of creativity and curiosity within them that also recharges and revitalizes their spirits. We love the opportunity to share new and different artwork with people who don&rsquo;t normally come across such works themselves, providing a sense of discovery and exploration to the guest experience.

Can you share any specific challenges or considerations that arose during the planning and execution of this collaborative exhibition?
JP: We count ourselves very lucky as there weren&rsquo;t many challenges that arose while planning and executing Lost Sanctuary. Of course, there was a learning curve as there was a lot of coordination on-ground that was new to us in terms of production, so finding the right printer, framer, installer etc. We have definitely taken a lot of learning and insights from the first exhibition, which we&rsquo;ll apply for our next run of Artist-in-Residence.

How do you wish the artwork to respond to the house's aesthetic?
JP: We were not intentionally seeking artwork that would look cohesive with the property. The Artist-in-Residence program was to create diversity and bring new visual interest into the property. Our intention is to be a platform for these artists to showcase their works and voices and whatever that manifests into is always a unique addition to the hotel aesthetic. We want to help these artists push their boundaries and not restrict them with certain rules and restrictions.

In your opinion, in what ways does this collaboration contribute to the local arts community and support emerging artists?
JP: I think the Artist-in-Residence program brings together a couple of worlds together &ndash; it allows the local art community to experience the works of international artists, giving them new perspectives and a fresh attitude while providing a platform for emerging and established artists such as Eduardo to draw inspiration from the energy of the city which may influence their next artwork. Cross-cultural awareness is something that we are trying to push and foster with the program.

How will the exhibition be promoted to both hotel guests and the broader community?
JP: For hotel guests, we have leaflets throughout the property that promotes the show and we&rsquo;re thinking of making a postcard to put in the rooms as a memento for them. We are also in discussions to bring the show to the ground floor instead of its current home on the 1st floor so as to increase visibility amongst hotel guests and visitors alike. We are also actively promoting the exhibition on our social platforms and have also placed posters around the city and neighbourhood to increase awareness.

Based on the brief, the collection speaks about cultural exchange and consumer culture intersections in the modern world. What intrigued you about focussing on this topic?
Eduardo Enrique: It is precisely the way in which they are intertwined. International trade, for instance, has been determinant in the spread of religion since the beginning of times. People often don&rsquo;t realize that it is thanks to the economics of things that ideas and cultural practices get spread.

How would you describe the essence of Eduardo Enrique?
EE: The essence of an Eduardo Enrique piece is branded, subversive, and ironic. And most of the time, it feels like it&rsquo;s something you could have done. I am not a decorative artist and my work won&rsquo;t always look like a nice piece of furniture; the point of art is to make one.

Your journey in this industry has aged more than a decade. How would you describe the nature of art and its acceptance, especially in Malaysia?
EE: Compared to its closest neighbour, Malaysia isn&rsquo;t a region particularly concerned with order and sanction, and that gives room to the emergence of a very rich plethora of expressive possibilities.

What are some of the important elements that many might have missed out from your artwork?
EE: Every photograph on the wall is, in fact, attached to a digital good. The work of art is not just the image, but also a virtual tri-dimensional object that&rsquo;s given to the collector in the form of data amidst the metaverse revolution that&rsquo;s about to start.

So you&rsquo;ve been at Else for quite some time. What do you like the most about the hotel?
EE: The breakfast.

What&rsquo;s next for you after this exhibition in Kuala Lumpur?
EE: Sometimes what&rsquo;s next is to gratefully enjoy the present &mdash; especially when you&rsquo;re working from Else.

Visit <a href="https://www.elseretreats.com">www.elseretreats.com</a> for more information.

Javier Perez & Eduardo Enrique on Else’s Artist-In-Residence project and 'Lost Sanctuary'

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