JOALI Maldives, the first and only art-immersive resort in the Maldives, will celebrate six spectacular years on 15th November 2024 in a special event, bringing its passion for art, sustainability and nature to life by partnering with the oldest Champagne house in the world, Ruinart, for this special celebration. The iconic brand Ruinart from Reims in France, currently owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy, was founded in 1729 and is known for its remarkable connection to art since Andre Ruinart commissioned Czech artist Alphonse Mucha to illustrate a poster of Ruinart in 1895. Similarly, JOALI, ever since its grand debut in 2018, has brought artists from around the world, redefining art in the luxury hospitality sphere in the Maldives. JOALI Maldives is celebrated for its joie de vivre lifestyle, resonating with Maison Ruinart’s long history of savoir-vivre philosophy, with shared values in art and the finest luxury.

Fabien Vallérian

Sophie Kitching, the renowned British-French artist, will display an ethereal art scene at sunset in its annual cocktail event at Mura Bar, the pulse of the resort. Sophie graduated from École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, and the School of Visual Arts, New York, famed for her installations, paintings, sculptures, and works on paper using simple oil, watercolours, paints and gold leaves on natural materials. She has collaborated with Maison Ruinart in several events, notably in Frieze NY 2022, in the exhibition ‘Maison 1729’. For the sixth-year celebration of JOALI Maldives, Sophie is commissioned to transform eco-designed second skins and coasters. The island’s native plants, elusive grey herons and sea birds, colourful corals and vibrant fishes are her muse, showcasing her signature painting skills with vivid colours and copper-zinc leaves on eco-friendly second skins of Ruinart bottles.  Breathing new life into champagne bottle skins from Ruinart, these pieces speak about JOALI’s commitment to art and sustainability.

Sophie Kitching (credit to Jonathan Hökklo)

Sipping on Ruinart Blanc De Blancs Cuvées, guests can admire Sophie’s Invisible Green Art XXX, 2024 painting, an abstract masterpiece using a specific tone of green invented in the Georgian/Regency era in England, unique to this series. Transported from its original location in Reims, France, part of the archives of Ruinart, this magnificent art piece will be showcased at JOALI Maldives for more than 6 months. For connoisseurs of art and wine, the limited-edition hand-painted second skins from Sophie are available to purchase during the cocktail event or even after, till the art pieces are sold out.

Further, guests can embark on a gastronomic voyage through the world of champagne with Maison Ruinart on 16th November 2024, hosted by Fabien Vallérian, International Director of Arts & Culture at Ruinart, an exquisite evening of champagne, expertly paired together with a symphony of flavours with every plate and glass telling a distinct story of art.

Praising this impressive partnership, Fabien comments, “At Maison Ruinart, the protection of nature is at the core of our values; we are committed to supporting artists that create a conversation between humanity and nature through their creativity and craftsmanship. Since 2022, we have collaborated with Sophie Kitching on several artistic commissions, and we believe this project with JOALI is an amazing opportunity for her to discover and explore the ecosystems and beauty of the Maldives.”

These events mark the beginning of a long-lasting partnership, with an exciting line-up of activations planned for the future in the Maldives and around the world.

JOALI Maldives has villas from $2,928 per night based on two persons sharing a Water Villa with Pool on B&B basis.

For further details and booking, please visit joali.com.