How it began
‘Elephant was being exhibited alongside Mother Elephant and Father Elephant at the first Ayyam exhibition in Beirut. Gordon Campbell Gray was at the opening and fell in love with it, insisting that he have it for the opening of his hotel four days later. He bought it on the spot!’

The work
‘I think people are attracted to it because of the simplicity of its lines and the colourful, lacquered mother-of-pearl buttons covering its body. I’ve seen elephants in the circus and in South Africa, and their size is really impressive. I think that’s why this one is so cute – because it’s so small.’

Why it suits the hotel
‘The Smarties-type buttons are constantly shining, suiting the sober, brownish background and forming a great contrast with the wood. Also, because it’s positioned in the lobby on the way to the elevator, it becomes a great story for kids. The pastry team has even started making elephant-shaped Smarties cookies to leave in the rooms of guests with children.’

The importance of showing art outside of art galleries
‘The aim of my architecture, planning and design studio, Atelier Hapsitus, is to make cities dream. By placing works of art in public spaces, we allow them to be connected to the social network of the city, intermingling with the memories of the place and allowing the citizens to dream.’ What owner Gordon Campbell Gray has to say about art in hotels ‘I think art is exciting in any situation, and since the whole purpose of a hotel is to make the guest not only feel welcome but also excited, art has a big part to play. It is just another layer of detail which contributes to making the guest have the best experience.’

While you’re there
Check out the artwork by David Reimondo in Gordon’s Café. It’s made entirely of toast!