Wanderlust

In the Language of Art

A summer collaboration between Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Christie’s London.

Wanderlust

In the Language of Art

A summer collaboration between Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Christie’s London.

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Across Jumeirah, art is never an afterthought. It informs how spaces are imagined, how experiences unfold, and how guests can connect with something deeper. This philosophy runs parallel to the role art has played across the Arab world - stepping in where language falls short, capturing heritage, memory, and emotion through line, texture, and form. Passed from hand to canvas, from generation to generation, it becomes a living archive of identity.

 

This summer, Jumeirah Carlton Tower honours that legacy through a new partnership with Christie’s London: a celebration of Arab culture and the power of art to preserve it.

 

Tucked among the elegant streets of Knightsbridge and overlooking the calm of Cadogan Gardens, the hotel is just a short walk from Christie’s on King Street - making it a fitting setting from which to experience the exhibition Marwan: A Soul in Exile.

 

On view from 16 July to 22 August, it marks the third edition of Christie’s Summer Exhibition and is dedicated to the life and work of Syrian-German artist Marwan Kassab-Bachi (1934–2016). Known simply as Marwan, his work speaks to themes of exile, identity, and emotion with rare depth. Through more than 150 works - each layered, searching, and deeply human - the exhibition offers a window into a life shaped by distance and belonging.

Kopf (Head), 1975–76 by Marwan. Image courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah.

 

To accompany the exhibition, Jumeirah Carlton Tower has created The Collector’s Stay. The experience includes a stay in one of the hotel’s stylishly appointed suites, daily breakfast, and a private tour of the exhibition led by a Christie’s expert. Guests also enjoy access to The Peak Fitness Club and Talise Spa, a light-filled wellness space with sweeping views across the London skyline, and the private Cadogan Gardens - a green oasis of English flowerbeds, trickling fountains, and pristine tennis courts. In-room amenities, curated in homage to the exhibition, complete the stay.

 

As part of the experience, guests can reserve Jumeirah’s signature afternoon tea, which has been thoughtfully reimagined for the season. Two limited edition cakes, Arabica, featuring arabica 100% coffee pastry cream, pistachio and cardamom crémeux and sesame, tahini croustillant. Diplomate Rose, which includes, pistachio and cardamom crémeux, olive oil sponge, and a vanilla whipped crème, each one more tantalising than the last.

 

Marwan_Cake

 

Inside the exhibition, Jumeirah also hosts a pop-up coffee corner, offering a space to pause and reflect over freshly brewed coffee. It’s a small gesture, rooted in hospitality and designed to complement the atmosphere of the gallery.

 

This summer, Marwan: A Soul in Exile invites guests to see differently - to observe, feel, and connect through the language of art. And at Jumeirah Carlton Tower, that experience continues through every detail: in the setting, the service, and the stories waiting to be discovered.

 

Available until 22 August 2025, The Collector’s Stay invites guests to experience the exhibition with a guided tour, curated in-room details, and time to unwind in Knightsbridge at Jumeirah Carlton Tower.

 

Photo Accreditation

Title Image

Marwan (1934–2016)Kopf (Head), 1975–76
Tempera on canvas
76¾ x 102⅜ in (195 x 260 cm)
Image courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, Sharjah
© Estate Marwan

 

Paragraph Image

Marwan (1934–2016)
Ohne Titel (Gesichtslandschaft) (Untitled (Facial Landscape)), 1975
Oil on canvas
31⅞ x 39⅜ in (81 x 100 cm)
Image courtesy of Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (DAF), Beirut
© Estate Marwan

 

 

Discover more here.