David views his role as an artistic counterpart to TOGA Group managing director, Allan Vidor, who had a vision of laser-like precision for the hotel’s art curation (even rolling up his sleeves to help hang the artworks he and David collected).
Art at The EVE is not decorative – it is considered and responsive to space, and David has selected works that engage with materiality, architecture and atmosphere. The result is a living art gallery in Redfern – thoughtful, dynamic and integrated into the fabric of the hotel rather than applied to it.
Guests to The EVE are greeted by one standout piece – a sequinned golden moon dramatically weeping golden LED tears in the reception lobby by Western Australian artist Tarryn Gill, represented by Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert.
“When I first saw Tarryn’s exhibition ‘Soft’, I thought the works were perfect – engaging and alive, and referencing ancient mythology (as does the Greek restaurant, Olympus) and there was a decadence about them that related to The EVE.”
The artwork's layered tactile materiality and sculptural presence respond directly to the architectural finishes of the space, introducing a richness of texture, quality of light and a subtle sense of a theatrical experience.
A salon-style hang in Bar Julius captured the eclectic ambience of a European bistro. Here, David used his contacts and experience to pull together a wildly eclectic assortment of artworks, ranging from all manner of periods, mediums and genres.
There’s everything from a 17th-century painting of a military gentleman by Flemish-English painter, Cornelius de Neve (playfully dubbed ‘Julius’ by the team), to a pop art painting of the Queen in a meditative state by artist Chris Levine, some street art and even a few of David’s own works.
It might seem that so many mismatching disciplines couldn’t possibly add up to a cohesive whole, but step into the welcoming room and it all comes together. “Here's something to know about art,” says David, “Sometimes the rules of art are to break the rules. And that’s what we've done at Bar Julius.”
This winter, the curation becomes the backdrop to new works and new conversations through Art House, which transforms the hotel into a living art gallery.
The season is anchored by the hotel’s inaugural guest artist, Louise Olsen. Her work is already embedded within The EVE – from Still Life, suspended across the Barrisol ceiling of Bar Julius, to Dream Garden, the large-scale Tibetan wool and silk tapestry in the hotel cloisters.
For Art House, Olsen’s presence expands. New works, courtesy of Olsen Gallery, have been installed throughout Bar Julius and the lobby alongside sculptural pieces from Dinosaur Designs, the influential Australian design studio she co-founded. Together, they add another layer to David’s original curation – less a traditional gallery experience than a series of artistic encounters woven through the hotel.
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