Choosing art for success

Lisa Fabian, artist
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By Lisa Fabian

Whether you are moving to a new location, refurbishing a current facility, opening a hotel or simply upgrading offices, artwork completes and personalises a space. Everybody knows this but, quite often, not enough importance is placed on those pieces that adorn our walls and corners. The outcome can be disappointing, to say the least.

Art, whether it be a fabulous sculpture or an impressive painting on the wall, has far more power than many people may think. Properly chosen artwork reflects a company’s personality and projects an immediate impression of success.

If your office has tasteful, well chosen art, your business instantly conveys sophistication.

Your artwork is speaking volumes about you and your business. You are also providing a pleasant environment for your employees, which in turn leads to better productivity.

The absence of art on corporate walls could suggest that a business is temporary, or perhaps so young that it is inexperienced; while ugly, outdated art suggests a lack of interest or, worse still, failure. Successful corporations enjoy beautiful design and style. An office without a thoughtful and appropriate art collection would be unthinkable.

We all know that whether it is a home or a commercial space being designed, the artwork is left until the end of the project. There is not much point having a great abstract piece on the wall if the room has no bed or there are no window treatments. Unfortunately, by this time the budget has been eaten away and designers are left with the bare minimum with which to finish the project.

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It is for this very reason that artwork is so powerful. If indeed there are impressive, tasteful pieces in the boardrooms, corridors and foyers, the viewer subconsciously believes that the business or home they are visiting had enough money left over to really finish the job properly. It is perceived that they must be doing very well. They are a success. It is not unlike the difference between a bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling and an ornate chandelier. They both do the same job but each sends a different message.

As an artist, I like to think that the artwork chosen in any project is the most important aspect of design and decoration, as it does convey so very much. Recently, I stayed in a very lavish hotel in the UAE. It was just beautiful; all of it – with the exception of the artwork. The corridors were lined with framed prints. Only three designs were used and repeated throughout the corridors over and over, and those same designs were also used in the rooms. To make it worse, each print was buckling and the mounts were crooked. This was still a five-star hotel but it had lost its panache. Obviously the budget was tight or the owner had run out of money. At least, that is the perception such ‘art’ conveys!

The art scene in Dubai is growing rapidly, with a great many local artists exhibiting their work in galleries and fairs.  Construction around Dubai, both in the residential and commercial sectors, gives Dubai’s artists a great opportunity to get some fabulous artwork seen.

Savvy designers working here have a plethora of choices, whether it be traditional originals on canvas, or ultra-modern originals on Plexiglas for a polished look. A classical design or an extravagant abstract completes the experience when visiting completed projects, making Dubai a city to remember.

Whatever the project, the artwork chosen will reflect a company’s sophistication and success, so please don’t overlook it, or leave it until the very
last minute!

Lisa Fabian is a Dubai-based artist whose work can be found in private residences around the world, offices and residences in the UAE and exclusive showrooms around Dubai. For further information, visit www.lisafabianart.com.

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