Bas Relief Installation by Art Space NYC

Design

Designed and created by Art Space NYC, this stunning piece of bas relief art curves elegantly behind Salamander Washington DC’s renovated front desk area. Created in six sections before being united during installation, the process originated with an initial sketch before being refined multiple times. It was then sculpted into clay before being cast into plaster held by an acrylic mold and wooden frame, designed to the same specifications of the curved wall behind the front desk.

Representation

The artwork highlights multiple elements of Washington, D.C., signifying the hotel’s location in the new heart of the nation’s capital – just steps away from the country’s most iconic monuments and attractions. Included are:

• Washington Monument
• Jefferson Memorial
• National Monument
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Additionally, the city’s famed Cherry Blossom Blooms have been incorporated, also highlighting the hotel’s garden which features these iconic trees. Finally, striking horses are included to symbolize the new and nearby U.S. Park Police Stables on the National Mall, which Salamander DC Owner Sheila Johnson helped lead the fundraising efforts to complete. According to Art Space NYC, the illustration of the horses was the most challenging and Ancient Greek horse statues were used as a guide.

Style

Bas relief is a classic technique considered by some to be as old as humanity. Bas relief or "low relief" is a sculptural technique in which the design is only slightly raised above the flattened surface. The oldest examples are known as petroglyphs and are over 30,000 years old and found on the walls of caves around the world. Bas relief was later used in the design of Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, and in the Middle Ages it was popularized by its use in churches across the European continent, often used to depict biblical figures and symbolism. This tradition carried on throughout the Renaissance where the technique was allowed to flourish. Around the 19th-century bas relief was still a prominent part of the interiors and architectural landscape of Europe. It was famously used as part of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe, which led to its use being introduced in the United States where it was used particularly to adorn American federal government buildings.

Artist

Based in Manhattan, New York, for over 20 years, Art Space NYC offers high-quality architectural art and special finishes to clients worldwide, as well as serving as a center for education and innovation. Its open studio offers custom work and workshops on a variety of subjects, including Venetian plastering and American clay. The team of classically trained artists and technicians strives to approach traditional plaster techniques with an eye for innovation and cutting-edge design. It has provided artwork for a variety of high-profile clients, including Tiffany’s, Cartier, Harrods, Ralph Lauren, The Palace Hotel in New York and The Berkeley Hotel in London. For more information, visit ArtSpaceNYC.com.