The Metropol Grand Hotel Gelendzhik has a new attraction for art lovers: an open-air contemporary art gallery. Here, a stroll through the hotel grounds becomes an introduction to works by Russian artists, and familiar symbols of summer vacations are given an unexpected twist.
The project’s curator is art historian Anastasia Pronina. Her vision is for the art objects, specially created by artists for the five-star hotel, to be seamlessly integrated into the park space and engage in a dialogue with nature, the hotel’s architecture, and the mood of guests. The ironic and light-toned works evoke the key components of the ideal vacation: freedom, sea, sun, and serenity.
The first piece in the collection is a monumental sculpture by St. Petersburg artist Konstantin von Riben, titled “Slides.” The familiar shape of beach footwear, scaled up to a new level, transforms into a symbol of summer memories and absolute freedom.
Slides have long been a universal attribute of a seaside vacation—regardless of age, status, and habits. In the work of Konstantin von Riben, this everyday object transcends its domestic context and becomes a full-fledged work of monumental art.
The sculpture is made of garnet amphibolite, a rare natural stone quarried in the village of Chupa in Karelia. The choice of material is particularly important: in one object, the north and south of Russia meet – the harsh Karelian nature and the sunny coast of Gelendzhik.
The second object in the collection is the work of artist Milena Strelkova “Swan Lake”. This is an ironic reimagining of the resort aesthetic and decorative pools familiar from southern Russian cities.
A stainless steel composition in the shape of an inflatable swan-shaped beach ring has appeared in the fountain’s bowl. The light, almost weightless image, set against the fountain’s monumental architecture, creates a visual play. The viewer is presented with both a recognizable attribute of relaxation and a subtle reflection on the nature of vacation happiness, which always seems so long-lasting, but in reality turns out to be fleeting.
Both artists live and work in St. Petersburg, and in their works, they address the theme of beach holidays as a metaphor for freedom. Flip-flops and an inflatable ring—simple, almost everyday objects—take on a new meaning in their interpretation.
For a modern hotel, it is important not only to provide guests with comfort but also to fill their stay with emotion. The AZIMUT Hotels chain, which includes the Metropol Grand Hotel Gelendzhik, has long been developing this approach through its AZIMUT Art program. For example, at the AZIMUT Park Hotel Pereslavl, art objects have become part of the walking route around the hotel grounds; in Nizhny Novgorod, the sculpture “The Sun Awaits Dawn” complements the hotel’s observation deck; and in Astrakhan, the light art object “Brighter from These Words” has become part of the city’s cultural program.
The open-air art gallery in Gelendzhik continues this tradition: the hotel grounds become a space for experiences. The collection will gradually be expanded with new works by Russian artists, creating new points of attraction for city visitors.
