Belmond is making its debut at ART SG, Singapore’s largest international art fair, with a presentation that feels more like a pause than a booth. At the centre are two original works by Chinese contemporary artist Wu Jian’an, plus Belmond’s curated photographic publishing collections. The idea: a chance to slow down, soak in craft, and experience the brand’s signature elegance at an unhurried pace.
Colours Across Peru
The star of the show is a special version of “500 Brushstrokes for Peru”, a project that took Wu Jian’an from the Andes to the Amazon. Inspired by calligraphy, paper-cutting, and collage, the work is literally built from hundreds of brushstrokes contributed by local communities, layered into a single, collective expression of place.
Wu Jian’an.
The artist’s journey unfolded over 2023 and 2024, with stops in Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Lima, and stays at Belmond properties including Monasterio, Sanctuary Lodge, Río Sagrado and Miraflores Park, plus travels aboard the Andean Explorer. Each location became a hub for engagement — a quiet stage for collaboration, observation, and cultural exchange.
A director’s cut documentary by Luo Yunfei will also screen as part of the programme at ART SG, capturing the human and artistic moments of the journey. It’s less about spectacle, more about insight — showing the work as it truly took shape.
Publishing As Place
Belmond’s cultural storytelling continues with its publishing programmes. From As Seen By (photographers’ personal takes on Belmond destinations) to Recipes & Wanderings (food, travel, terroir) and Legendary Destinations (heritage through luxury publishing), each book extends the sense of place beyond the physical. The most recent, Peru: An Odyssey Across a Time-Honoured Land, celebrates 25 years of Belmond in Peru, offering an editorial lens on six hotels and two train experiences.
“This exhibition reflects our belief that cultural storytelling should be rooted in lived experience and editorial depth,” says Jonathan Openshaw, Editor-in-Chief of Belmond. “It’s a platform where art, publishing and storytelling come together in a way that feels human and lasting.”
The Belmond presentation at ART SG is also an immersive experience. Wu Jian’an will lead brushstroke demonstrations on 22 January at 3:00pm and 5:00pm, and 23 January at 1:00pm, letting visitors witness the work’s creation in real time — a rare window into process, craft, and collaboration.
(Images: Belmond)
