Six Standout Pieces from COMO Le Beauvallon’s Art Collection
CELEBRATING WORKS THAT DEFINE THE SPIRIT OF OUR BELLE ÉPOQUE PALACE
Over 300 works forms a rich tapestry of contemporary art, shaped by Chinese philosophical traditions and a cross-cultural perspective connecting the Riviera’s artistic heritage with Asian culture. Here we share six standout pieces.
At COMO Le Beauvallon, the art collection unfolds less like a formal exhibition and more like a lived-in narrative — a carefully assembled body of works brought together over time. Drawing on contemporary Chinese and Southeast Asian practices, and layered with references to the French Riviera’s artistic past, it reflects a quiet dialogue between cultures, philosophies and eras.
Dripping You & Me
Zheng Lu, Stainless steel installation, 650 x 600 x 500 cm, 2014
This monumental installation, encountered within the relaxed flow of the Riviera Salon, pays tribute to the celebrated French poet Paul Géraldy, who spent an extended period at COMO Le Beauvallon in the 1920s, writing some of his best-known works from his fourth-floor room. In this sculpture, Zheng Lu immortalises Géraldy’s most famous poem, Toi et Moi — an exploration of the nuanced connection between lovers. Lu’s calligraphic stainless steel design is engraved with Géraldy’s words, representing the fluidity of his poetry in elegant, water-like contours.
Never Ending Painting
Tan Khoon Yong, Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm, 2014
Situated along the corridor linking the Riviera Salon and the Churchill Room, Tan Khoon Yong’s series of ‘unfinished’ paintings embodies the concept of art as a living process. Selected visitors are invited to leave their fingerprints on the canvases, actively shaping their evolution. Each mark becomes part of a participatory narrative exploring harmony, continuity, composure, growth and acceptance.
Powermen – Quest of Mankind
Ren Lei, Stainless steel sculptures, Various dimensions, 2014
Displayed in the Churchill Salon, Ren Lei’s Powermen series captures humanity’s pursuit of achievement through eight sculptures, each representing a key virtue: vision, enlightenment, effort, activity, success, achievement, courage, and endurance. Collectively, the works emphasise the balance between mental and physical strength, portraying perseverance and discipline as essential to human transformation.
The Elements
Ren Zhe, Stainless steel sculptures, Various dimensions, 2014
Positioned at the hotel’s entrance, Ren Zhe’s The Elements series offers an immediate introduction to the philosophical underpinnings of the collection. Rooted in Confucian philosophy, the works link the five classical elements — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — to moral virtues: endurance, benevolence, wisdom, ambition and loyalty. Ren Zhe’s martial-arts-inspired sculptures transform abstract philosophical concepts into dynamic physical forms. Positioned throughout COMO Le Beauvallon’s grounds, the series forms a contemplative dialogue between humanity, nature, and the ethical values embedded in classical Chinese thought.
Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion
Toyo Ito, 2002
Set just steps from the shoreline in front of Beauvallon Sur Mer by Yannick Alléno, the 2002 Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito. At first appearing as a complex pattern, on closer inspection, the pavilion derives from an expanding and rotating cube, representing infinitely repeated motion. From the inside of the pavilion, its windows look like sails overlooking the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
The Red East
Liu Ruowang, Bronze sculpture, 520 x 340 x 180 cm, 2014
Located on the edge of the Riviera Terrace, Liu Ruowang’s massive bronze captures the vitality, courage and resilience of China’s people. The figure’s striking red face evokes energy and determination, while the traditional depiction of the farmer represents loyalty and sacrifice. The work is a poignant commentary on the enduring human spirit and the cycles of history, reflecting both individual and collective narratives in China’s social fabric.
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