The Peninsula Bangkok Presents an Afternoon Tea that Combines Art Thai Mythology and AR

This summer, The Peninsula Bangkok transforms the traditional Peninsula Afternoon Tea into a playful, transcendental art experience. The Art and Augmented Reality Afternoon Tea invites guests to share exquisite seasonal cuisines by Executive Pastry Chef Nicolas Pelloie while visually interacting with hyper-real adaptations of ancient legends by Thai designer and illustrator Pichaya Osothcharoenpol (also known as Pichaya O).

Served daily at The Lobby until 12 August 2019, Art and Augmented Reality Afternoon Tea guests will be welcomed with an enchanting menu card featuring surreal flowers designed by Pichaya O. While waiting for their tea tray to be served, guests can use AR-enhanced technology to scan the menu and watch in awe as the floral tapestry magically blossoms and flourishes in front of their eyes. The intricate detail and vivid colour contrasts are hallmarks of Pichaya O’s hand-drawn designs, and the augmented reality elements that she incorporates bring alive the unique essence of each flower.

An immersive wonderland of augmented art inspired by ancient philosophies will enthrall guests as the Afternoon Tea is served. The teapot is placed on an animated coaster meticulously hand-drawn by Pichaya O depicting the fabled lion Kraisorn Singha. Guests can interact with this powerful legend of Thai mythology, as the AR technology results in numerous lions parading around the teapot while blessing the aromatic tea. Meanwhile, scanning the tea tray releases graceful Kinnaris, half-bird, half-woman creatures who gently circle the table clasping a French macaron in their hands.

Art and Augmented Reality Afternoon Tea is curated in partnership with Thai designer and illustrator Pichaya O, who is the current Artist in Residence at The Peninsula Bangkok. Born into a conservative Thai-Chinese family, Pichaya O regularly escaped into a fantasy world as a child whenever she held a pencil or paintbrush in hand. Her imagination was stimulated by voraciously reading books, with her career as an artist shaped by a passion for reading and drawing as a child. A skilled artist who works exclusively by hand, Pichaya O believes that her pioneering experiments with interactive technology makes each artwork personally accessible. By creating unique art experiences that transcend gender, age and nationality, Pichaya O wants guests to draw their own interpretations and opinions of her Thai-inspired art.

While marveling at the mystical Thai characters brought to life around the table, family guests can share a seasonal Afternoon Tea filled with playful culinary inspirations. A Tomato Macaron with crab rillettes and tomato jelly provides a savoury twist on the classic French pastry, and the delectable Chocolate Sable with foam ganache is crafted using a chocolate blend exclusively produced for the hotel by French chocolatier Valrhona. Authentic delights also include raisin scones with homemade raspberry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream, and a tropical lychee cheesecake.

The Art and Augmented Reality Afternoon Tea at The Lobby continues to position The Peninsula Bangkok at the forefront of Thailand’s thriving contemporary arts scene, and provides a platform to nurture creative local and international talent. In 2017, the Lobby presented Afternoon Tea concerts by the student musicians from College of Music at Mahidol University. The Peninsula Bangkok was an official partner and host venue for the inaugural Bangkok Art Biennale in 2018, and collaborated with Thai artist, illustrator and fashion designer Phannapast Taychamaythakool to produce a series of imaginative illustrations and an elemental logo to celebrate the hotel’s 20^th anniversary.

In 2019, The Peninsula Bangkok introduced its Artist in Residence programme, which welcomes four emerging artists each year to live and work at the hotel, and display their original works for guests to enjoy. In addition, Afternoon Tea guests became the first spectators worldwide to enjoy a live art performance called KNIT by boundary-pushing Thai video artist Kawita Vatanajyangkur.

The Peninsula Bangkok will continue to curate innovative artistic events and experiences that stimulate the imagination and inspire pleasure among guests while relaxing in a luxurious urban resort beside the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok’s majestic River of Kings.

The Peninsula Bangkok’s Art and Augmented Reality Afternoon Tea (Triple “A” Experience) is served daily at The Lobby until 12 August, priced at THB 1,600++ for two people.

About Pichaya O

A graduate of Raffles International College, Thai designer and illustrator Pichaya Osothcharoenpol (also known as Pichaya O) later earned an MSC at Thammasat University. Skillfully combining hand-drawn and digital techniques, her intricate and colourful tapestries and designs have recently been inventively layered with augmented reality. Pichaya’s work has been exhibited at leading art and design shows, and in 2017 she received Thailand’s prestigious DEmark Award. She has collaborated with several international brands, including Central Group, Line and Toyota, and is a brand ambassador for the Galaxy Tab S4 smartphone. In 2017, she was one of 16 artists to participate in Art for the Future, a programme that helps children to realise their dreams through art. Between May and July 2019, Pichaya O became the second artist to live and work at The Peninsula Bangkok as the part of the hotel’s groundbreaking Artist in Residence programme.

About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)

Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of tourism and leisure, club management and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Bangkok, and The Peninsula Manila. Projects under development include The Peninsula London, The Peninsula Istanbul and The Peninsula Yangon. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and St. John’s Building in Hong Kong; The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and 21 avenue Kléber in Paris, France. The clubs and services portfolio of the Group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong; Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand; Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong.