– The resort collaborates with the renowned Greek artist for the design of its Fan, an artefact at the intersection of two of the world’s most intriguing cultures
A timeless emblem of the Orient, fans hold a special place in Asian culture, representing elegance and discrete luxury through beauty that gradually reveals itself as fans open up. Inspired by this wonderful connection, the Mandarin Oriental Group has chosen the fan as its symbol, employing it as a vehicle to convey its special hospitality philosophy, a manifestation that unfurls within each Mandarin Oriental destination across the globe and opens up a world of experiences for every guest, enriched by the local colours, flavours and traditions of every magical destination.
The Group’s well-recognised ‘fan’ logo was created in the mid-1980s in Hong Kong by internationally recognized design house, Pentagram, who were tasked with researching symbols that embodied luxury, elegance, and comfort. Classically simple, visually elegant, and indisputably a part of the Orient, the eleven-bladed fan ties together each hotel into the single identity of the luxury hotel group. The logo is a registered trademark internationally and is respected within the tourism industry as one of the world’s most highly recognised logos.
In addition to the registered trademark logo for the Group, all Mandarin Oriental hotels are encouraged to find their own unique fan to reflect the individuality of their property. Each hotel’s fan is sensitively linked to the environment in which it resides, taking into account the exclusive attributes of the culture in each location. Colours, designs and prints are carefully chosen in collaboration with local artists, historians, and graphics experts. Originality also plays a key role in determining the desired fan for each hotel.
THE FAN OF MANDARIN ORIENTAL, COSTA NAVARINO
A timeless emblem of the Orient, the Fan holds a special place in the heart of every Mandarin Oriental hotel across the globe. With its elegance and discrete luxury taking centre stage, in addition to being a distinctive artefact, the Fan is transformed into a unique symbol, manifesting the soul of the Group’s legendary hospitality.
Designed by internationally acclaimed Greek artist, Dimitris Papaioannou, the Fan of Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, the first Mandarin Oriental destination in Greece, clearly reflects the resort’s identity. An identity that acts as a bridge between two philosophies, bringing closer together two of the world’s oldest cultures, Greek and Asian. Its design derives from abstract pictorial scenes on ancient pottery and the colours of the tranquil Messenian surroundings.
The roughness and the gestural quality of the brushstrokes found on Mycenaean vases is translated into the technique of scratching paint off transparency while the softer side of the land’s colours, especially that of olive trees is highlighted beautifully. Through acrylics applied on transparency and magic markers used on Japanese paper and then dissolved by ethanol, the beauty of Messenia is revisited through a distinctive prism which ignites the imagination.
Artist Dimitris Papaioannou was selected as the perfect creative match for Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino thanks to an illustrious resumé which spans decades and continents, much like the special legacy of every Mandarin Oriental destination across the globe.
Born in Athens in 1964 and trained under the tutelage of internationally-lauded painter Yiannis Tsarouchis before attending the Athens School of Fine Arts, Papaioannou gained popularity through the Edafos Dance Theatre. His productions have been performed in various venues, including underground theatres in Athens, Olympic stadiums across the world and international festivals. Some of his notable works include the opening and closing ceremonies of the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games, MEDEA (1993), THE GREAT TAMER (2017), and INK (2020). Papaioannou continues to create avant-garde works, including SINCE SHE, which premiered in Wuppertal, Germany in 2018, and is currently reworking INK to tour internationally in 2023-24. Papaioannou’s unique approach also secured him a nomination for the Olivier Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Dance,” in 2019, cementing Dimitris Papaioannou’s position in the worldwide Hall of artistic fame.
This Fan opens and brings to the fore all the nuances and textures of Messenia. Imposing mountainous terrains, lush, green stretches of land and, at the centre of it all, the glistening azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea and the verdant region’s most awe-inspiring coast, Costa Navarino. Omnipresent and inspiring, the sea is a constant reference point for leisure and liberty, against a beautiful Peloponnesian backdrop.
The earth and all of nature’s elements are dominant in the inspiration of Dimitris Papaioannou for the creation of the Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino Fan. Gusts of wind and marine breezes run through it, conveying the warmth of “Philoxenia”, all centered around the Messenian land, the undisputed protagonist, and its signature olive tree, from which the Fan’s base is also crafted. Intrinsically linked with the Olympic ideals, the olive tree and its fruit are internationally synonymous with Messenia. Here the sturdy tree, whose wood becomes the connecting link that fuses two worlds, lays the foundations for a special partnership and plants the seeds for a new, common course.
“In the case of Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino, we wanted to commission a fan that placed us in the heart of this vibrant, beautiful region – reflecting the scenic surroundings, the local heritage and the culture and history of the Peloponnese. We knew we wanted to work with an outstanding artist who would understand our design aesthetics and we were thrilled that Dimitris Papaioannou agreed to create this stunning and totally unique fan for our beautiful resort,” said Raul Levis, General Manager οf Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino .
True to the character of each Mandarin Oriental destination the Fan itself reveals the beauty of Messenia and its rich hues in all their glory, giving way to an artefact that is at once Messenian and globally appealing.
About Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences. Having grown from its Asian roots into a global brand, the Group now operates 36 hotels and eight residences in 24 countries and territories, with each property reflecting the Group’s oriental heritage, local culture and unique design. Mandarin Oriental has a strong pipeline of hotels and residences under development and is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.
