The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment (CLI), today unveiled a travelling art showcase curated in celebration of the fifth anniversary of its hospitality brand, lyf (or ‘live your freedom’). As part of its popular arts & culture brand pillar, lyf has teamed up with Singaporean contemporary artist, Jahan Loh, to create a captivating art installation titled The Door of Cosmic Dreams. Symbolising a gateway to unchartered travel experiences, the art installation reflects lyf’s ambitions to venture into new spaces and destinations, highlighting the brand’s commitment to pushing boundaries and offering innovative experiences for guests.
The travelling showcase is a first-of-its-kind by a hospitality brand, and will enable lyf to bring its unique brand story of experience-led social living to guests and arts communities around the world. The Door of Cosmic Dreams is open free to the public at its inaugural stop, at the brand’s first property in the portfolio – lyf Funan Singapore – right in the heart of the country’s Civic District.
Since its inception as a coliving brand in Singapore in 2019, lyf has evolved from a bold vision into a global leader in experience-led social living. Aligned with Ascott’s flex-hybrid business model to provide guests with greater flexibility and freedom, lyf has transformed into a multifaceted hospitality experience across diverse typologies that include coliving spaces, city hotels and resorts. The brand now spans 34 properties in 24 cities across Australia, East Asia, Europe and Southeast Asia, boasting over 6,200 units in operation and under development. This year, we will open five lyf properties with about 900 units in total, and mark the debut of the brand in three cities Cebu, Frankfurt and Penang. From 2025 to 2028, lyf will begin operations in more destinations – from resort locations like Bali and Danang to cities such as London, Glasgow, Manchester, Sydney, Paris and Ho Chi Minh City ~ Ms Serena Lim, Chief Growth Officer, Ascott
Ms Adeline Phua, Managing lyf Partner and Vice President, Business Development, Ascott, said: “lyf offers a distinctive accommodation experience designed for a social generation eager to connect within a community. By transcending traditional hospitality concepts, lyf has created a vibrant stay-work-play environment that fosters a new way of social living. As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of lyf, we are excited to partner with the talented Jahan Loh, marking the first of many collaborations with influential tastemakers to deepen our engagement with communities around the world. Mirroring lyf’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve, The Door of Cosmic Dreams art installation beautifully embodies the theme of redefining possibilities. As we embark on a new chapter for lyf, we remain dedicated to providing innovative social living experiences that meet the aspirations and evolving needs of our guests.”
The Door of Cosmic Dreams
The Door of Cosmic Dreams is the latest creation of Jahan Loh, one of Asia’s most successful street artists credited with introducing street art to galleries in both Singapore and China. He is also known for taking Singapore pop art international, and for influencing modern art practices in Taiwan.
Drawing inspiration from a quote by French author and playwright Guy de Maupassant emphasising the mysterious and boundless possibilities that lie beyond the familiar, The Door of Cosmic Dreams serves as a metaphor for a gateway to different worlds, depicting how travel, much like dreams, acts as a passage from the real world into a realm that has yet to be discovered. This parallels lyf’s ambition to explore new frontiers while continually challenging limits to offer fresh experiences for guests.
Following its first stop at lyf Funan Singapore from 15 to 26 October 2024, The Door of Cosmic Dreams will travel to lyf properties around the world, in cities such as Tokyo and Paris. Other pitstops in the pipeline include Manila and Bangkok.
The travelling art showcase is the first-of-its-kind for a hospitality brand and supports lyf’s aspirations to engage with local communities where it operates, to build up its very own lyf tribe. Further exemplifying the brand pillar of arts & culture, lyf Collingwood Melbourne features over 1.5 square kilometres of custom artwork by contemporary artist Mysterious AI, whose work has been showcased across the globe. Over in the Philippines, lyf Cebu City features one of the biggest outdoor murals in the Philippines on their façade. Designed and painted by Cebuano artist Ivan Canencia and his team, the mural pays tribute to some of the key marine icons in Cebu – the thresher shark and sardine run.
A Celebration of lyf
Commemorating the first-of-its-nature brand partnership for the lyf brand and its fifth anniversary, a series of limited-edition merchandise including apparel designed by Jahan Loh, will be available for sale at the lyf properties that are hosting the exhibition. For the latest updates, please follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/live.lyf.here/.