Ovation of the Seas is the newest Quantum Class vessel from Royal Caribbean International and has a fantastic array of art for guests to feast their eyes on. The 11,000-piece, $4.5 million dollar art collection featured on Ovation of the Seas includes a 33 feet tall Panda Mum and her Baby (the ship’s mascot, akin to Gigi the Giraffe and Felicia the Bear on Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, respectively), the first moving sculpture at sea and a new collection of ‘lift art’ which are perfect for ‘selfies’. The collection, curated by London-based Peter Millard and Partners, features contemporary art from artists around the world and was inspired by the words of Chinese philosopher Confucius, who once said “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” – a perfect quote for cruise travellers. The collection is an excellent introduction for cruise passengers to appreciate contemporary art.
“The true essence of a Royal Caribbean holiday is to broaden travellers’ horizons by introducing them to new and unexpected adventures and that includes the art we feature onboard our ships,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Ovation of the Seas features unexpected and destination-inspired artwork, unique pieces and interactive art experiences that will surprise and delight our guests.”
Some of the highlights include:
Smart Art with the first moving sculpture at sea
It wouldn’t be a smart ship without smart art and the Quantum Class hallmark of high-tech pieces continues on Ovation of the Seas with ‘Sky Wave’. Created by New York-based Hypersonic and Boston-based Plebian Design, Sky Wave is the first ever kinetic moving sculpture at sea. The installation pivots and curves at different points to mirror the flow of both wind and water. Further inspiration was also taken from the ship’s movement, culminating in a piece that combines both maritime elements and engineering. Each petal in Sky Wave is made of hand-crafted fibreglass and varies in length to hone the flawless rolling sway. Located on Deck 5 in the Royal Esplanade, the eye-catching, carefully crafted art piece was commissioned specifically for Ovation of the Seas.
View up towards Sky Wave
Sky Wave
Elevator Art for Selfies
The elevator art on Quantum Class is known for selfie-taking and Ovation of the Seas is no exception. Ovation is elevating ‘selfie art’ with all-new imagery from Chinese photographer Huainan Li’s series, ‘The World of the Senses’. The compelling series features the futuristic faces of women accented in metallic hues and sporting glasses that reflect a variety of whimsical scenes. The collection of 10 pieces is sure to surprise and delight guests each time they ride from deck to deck and pack an unexpected punch when the doors open.
The Red Thread
One of the most iconic art locales on Quantum Class ships is the rotunda, which connects mid-ship’s Jamie’s Italian and Vintages. Ovation of the Seas does not disappoint as passers-by can enjoy the work of Bieli Liu, a Chinese artist who played into the natural movement of the ship with an adaptation from her ‘Lure’ series of installations. The sculpture was created to fit the rotunda location and represents an ancient Chinese legend depicting the red threads that connect Chinese children to their soulmates. A disc may be connected to another, as a pair; and a pair of disks may sprout from a single thread. The installation is designed to suspend from the ceiling forming a vibrant and energetic piece that responds to subtle air currents and movement as the red coils turn and strands of thread become entangled.
The Red Thread
The Red Thread looking towards Jamie’s Italian
Butterflies, Birds and Flowers
A great deal of the art caters to Asian tastes with a lot of birds, flowers and butterflies and serene restful and natural colours. As an example, near the Royal Theatre, artist Dominic Harris engages show-goers with an interactive piece titled ‘Flutter Wall’. The 120-inch screen showcases butterflies on a black canvas that seemingly fly away as guests walk up for a closer view. A true surprise and delight experience akin to the additional installations that travellers can enjoy onboard.
What follows is a small gallery selection of artwork and sculptures that caught our eye on our tour of Ovation of the Seas. There is so, so much more to enjoy, but we hope it serves as a taster to the wonderful collections that can be seen on board this amazing new ship.
