The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
A Landmark Encounter: Contemporary Art and the Crafting of Exceptional Experiences, November 27-30
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands announces a landmark residency bringing together two cultural icons – acclaimed Chinese performance artist and photographer, Liu Bolin known as The Invisible Man, and Maison Ruinart, the first established Champagne house and a pioneer of artistic collaboration since the 19th century. From November 27–30, guests will be invited to witness a series of exclusive performances, exhibited artworks, curated Ruinart Champagne tastings, and immersive dining experiences, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldivian archipelago.
Liu Bolin, celebrated for his thought-provoking camouflage installations, a comment on man’s relationship to his surroundings, addressing issues of environment and cultural identity, will stage a live artistic performance on the shores of the Fari Islands. In this new work, and in continuation of Bolin’s creative partnership with Maison Ruinart, the event highlights both The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island’s and Ruinart’s long-standing dialogue between nature, culture, and craftsmanship.
Liu Bolin with Ruinart at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
A Living Canvas by the Ocean
The program opens on November 27 at the resort’s design masterpiece EAU Bar in a show-stopping Ruinart takeover featuring a spectacular custom made Ruinart bar, and two large-scale artworks from the Ruinart commission by Liu Bolin. The opening night will invite guests to witness Bolin’s artistry in an intimate live rehearsal — a prelude to his defining performance on November 30 – while enjoying a ‘Ruinart Hour’ Champagne reception with creatively paired canapés.
Liu Bolin with Ruinart at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
An immersive exhibition of 10 artworks including Bolin’s Reveal the Invisible series will open at The Estate, the resort’s signature private villa, where he will host a salon-style talk and provide guests with the opportunity to join a creative workshop with the artist throughout the residency.
Curated Tastings & Spectacular Gastronomic Dining Experiences
Across three days, the landmark partnership will present a sequence of champagne-led tastings and culinary pairings through an art lens:
- November 28 – As the sun sets, the resort’s Beach Shack restaurant will host an exclusive tasting of Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 & 2013, followed by a Ruinart Artist Dinner with artistic plating echoing Bolin’s camouflage works. Paired menu highlights will include; Fine De Claire Oyster, salted cucumber and Oscietra caviar amuse-bouche, with a Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Second Skin, locally caught Maldivian octopus, roasted cauliflower purée and passion fruit reduction, with a Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010, and Sea Bass and Japanese Sea Urchin with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2009.
- November 29 – Guests will join Liu Bolin at The Estate in a hands-on workshop, painting Ruinart’s eco-designed second skins, followed by a Ruinart Rosé and Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009 tasting. The evening continues at the resort’s Summer Pavilion, presenting an exceptional pairing of Cantonese-focused dishes with Ruinart Champagnes. Guests can expect Chaozhou cured abalone & sea cucumber with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Second Skin, Hong Kong style typhoon shelter king crab with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2013, and the ‘Big Red Robe’ soft serve and créme brûlée with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010.
- November 30 – A reflective dialogue with Liu Bolin, including a book signing and showcase of iconic works, precedes the final Ruinart tasting exploring Dom Ruinart 2010 & Dom Rosé 2009. The series concludes with Bolin’s live painted performance during the resort’s daily Defining Moment ritual at EAU Bar, immortalised in a photographic artwork to be featured in the artist’s future exhibitions.
An Oceanic First
Shaped by the ocean forces, wind and waves, in an elegant setting of outstanding architectural merit, EAU Bar marks the most memorable location to witness Liu Bolin’s artistry in his final performance. As the sunsets, the Defining Moment, a daily sundown ritual of Maldivian Bodu Beru drums and flaming ceremony sets the scene. Against the Indian Ocean’s infinite expanse of sea and sky, the artist will stage his iconic act of disappearance, his body live-painted to merge with the dramatic natural vistas. This fleeting performance at sunset, a dialogue between man, nature, and art, embodies Bolin’s signature message on the fragility of environment, leaving guests suspended in a moment where the boundaries between landscape and humanity dissolve.
“The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has always stood as a destination for transformative experiences,” says Oscar Postma, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. “Welcoming Liu Bolin and Maison Ruinart to our shores elevates this vision, uniting contemporary art, cultural dialogue, and exceptional gastronomy in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural settings.”
For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives
