When it comes to locations in which to stay in a design hotel, Rome is considered one of the best an art-loving traveller can aim for. This is because, at its heart, an establishment like this is intimately linked to the art world, and the Italian capital offers enough of a cultural and artistic scene to justify choosing it as a destination to visit.

In fact, the city has, since time immemorial, been linked to a wealth of art and culture that makes it one of the first names to spring to mind when listing the world’s main hubs for these two fields. As such, for those wanting to experience the merits of a design hotel, Rome is a very worthwhile destination.

The Ancient Influence

Art history in the Italian capital started literally millennia ago, with the famous ancient Roman society. Known for their enlightened and culture-centric approach (rivalled only, in those days, by ancient Greece), the inhabitants of the city in the B.C. and early A.D. periods laid the groundwork for a lot of what the present-day metropolis has to offer in terms of art and culture.

In fact, any tourist who takes even the most cursory tour of the city will no doubt come across several examples of the type of art that made it famous. Remnants of ancient civilisation remain scattered a bit all over the place, whether inside dedicated museums or in plain sight. One needs look no further than the Coliseum – a well-preserved and well-deserved highlight of the Roman cultural tour – to find an example of the kind of mark the ancient peoples left in the modern-day city and its art panorama.

The Enlightened Period

The other big period of the city’s art history is, of course, the Renaissance, when Italy as a whole became a hub for some of the greatest painters, sculptors and architects of the period. While not as central or active in this regard as somewhere like Venice, it nonetheless contributed significantly to the Italian art movement of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, and much like with the ancient Roman influence, its contributions to that time period are still very much visible.

Again, one needs look no further than one of the city’s major monuments to find examples of this influence. Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel, with its famous ceiling by Michelangelo and frescoes from artists such as Botticelli, is a perfect encapsulation of Renaissance-period Italian art, and showcases all that period had to offer in terms of painting and architecture. Anyone seeking to make a connection between the traditional art and the city’s modern scene will find this world-famous chapel to be an excellent starting point.

It is clear, then, that for those wanting to explore art and culture and stay in a design hotel, Rome is the best possible hub in which to be. The Italian capital offers so much by way of art history that no traveller could ever be starved for inspiration.

The culture of Asia

There is a rich cultural heritage in Asia, with numerous ethnicities, countries as well as religions that all shape the human civilization in that part of the world. Music, cuisine, literature, sports and literature shape Asian culture, as well as philosophy and major religions such as Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism.

There are over 600 languages that are spoken in Asia, such that the language is widely classified into families. Major families include Japanese spoken in Japan, Sino-Tibetan which includes Taiwanese, Wu, Tibetan and Cantonese. These languages have been passed down generations through literature such as the 1001 Arabian nights.

The various ethnic groups of Asian descent, all have varying cultures, shaped by the climate, topography as well as technological advances. One of the unique cultures of Asia is shared religion. In East Asia, countries such as Japan, north and South Korea, Taiwan and China have the same religions, which are Taoism and Buddhism, due to their proximity to each other. Other countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India also have large populations of Buddhists, with Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism also practiced widely.

Martial arts is a distinctive aspect of Asian culture that has been widely appreciated worldwide, thanks to its great health benefits to the body, as well as being popularized by superstar performers such as Jet Li, Bruce Lee And Jackie Chan. Styles of martial arts such as karate from Japan, Taekwondo from Korea and the Chinese kung Fu are an important aspect of Asian culture.

Tea is very important in Asian culture, from China, Malaysia to India. It is a huge part of Asian ceremonies. The art of folding paper, also known as origami, is also a part of Asian culture that is common in Japan and china.

Asian art

Asian art is very rich and diverse, being influenced by the various cultures in this massive region. The Asian peoples value their art a lot since it is a way of preserving their culture and traditions in the face of westernization propagated by years of colonization and modernity. Asian art includes wonderful works of literature like the 1001 Arabian nights. China has also contributed heavily to Asian art, with classical poems and works of art. Other notable works of art include Japanese literature like the haiku form of poetry as well as Persian culture.

Asian art has been influenced by religion, the materials available for shaping their art on as well as history and modernity. Asian art covers pottery, ink painting, as well as manga, which are the modern Japanese cartoons that have proven to be widely popular in all parts of the world. Examples are Ruruoni Kenshin, as well as samurai jack. Ceramics as well as sculptures of Buddha are notable examples of how Asians choose to express themselves using art.

Asia also has unique styles of architecture, inspired by the Islamic and Buddhist religions, as well as traditional ways of building houses. Notable examples of Asian architecture include the Buddhist temples of china, the Great Wall of China as well as Islamic mosques of Pakistan and India.

In a nutshell, art and culture in Asia is as rich and beautiful as in any other part of the world. Indeed, the diversity and large population of the continent means that it is extremely diverse and rich.

Western people often ask, “Isn’t all Asian home decor about the same?” The shortest answer is simply, “Absolutely not!” The traditional school of thought in Japanese home decoration has been influenced by its own unique culture. As you may already know, Japan sees the focus of home decor to rest upon spatial matters. This is why shoji screens are often used in the Japanese household. The correct use of space is the implied purpose in this tradition. It is helpful to know a few facts about Japan’s collective art, its long history, its unique society, and its distinctive culture to better appreciate their viewpoint on Asian home decor.

Generally speaking, Japanese art covers a wide range of styles which would include media as well. Ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, and ink painting on silk and paper are all important parts of the traditions dating back thousands of years. These art forms, needless to say, also have a very long history. They were evident from the beginnings of human habitation in Japan which is roughly dated in the 10th millennium B.C. They have remained constant to the present.

Historically, Japan has been subject to sudden invasions of new and foreign ideas. These invasions were followed by long periods of time when there was little contact with the outside world. These facts in Japan’s art world reflect similar political and social realities. So, over the course of time, Japanese people developed the skillful ability to assimilate certain foreign elements from outside cultures. However, they were careful to ensure that these foreign elements were a distinct complement to their own aesthetic preferences. Japan has always been very insistent about keeping foreign influence in their art and society to a minimum.

The earliest complex art in Japan was produced in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. There was a definite connection to Buddhism in this trend as well. In the 9th century the Japanese began to turn away from China and to develop more indigenous kinds of art expression. In this period secular arts became more and more important to Japan. However, until the latter 15th century both religious and secular art forms continued to flourish. It was after the Onin War (1467-1477) that Japan entered a period of political disruption which consequently deeply influenced their social and economic systems. This disruption’s effect lasted for more than a century.

Since Japan began to limit foreign influence early in its history, China’s art trends were allowed to have only a limited effect on its art and culture. The Chinese influence is still evident because of China’s age and even longer history. However, Japan successfully created its own identity and has maintained it in a disciplined way over time. Painting is considered to be the preferred artistic expression. In Japan, painting is practiced by both amateurs and professionals. Ceramics of the Japanese variety are considered to be among the finest in the whole world. This is equally true of the earliest artifacts known in their culture. Japan seems to have always taken great pride in the way their art was crafted… and how. So in the related field of architecture Japan prefers natural materials along with an interaction of interior and exterior space. The way this interaction is designed displays the distinctly “Japanese” origin.

The result for today, as far as the society of Japan is concerned, is that their nations rivals all other modern countries in its contributions to modern art. Japan can rightfully boast of its added contributions to modern fashion and architecture. Their unique creations have a profoundly modern, global, and even multi-cultural appeal. All of these accomplishments have come about because Japan has always known “who” it is and “where” it has come from. Modern home decoration products are plentiful on the internet market today. Japanese Haiku designs offer an excellent collection of platform beds, shoji screens, rice paper lamps, and silk scrolls. Japanese garden fountains are genuinely attractive in any Asian home. Tatami floor mats, meditation gongs/chimes, cotton kimonos, hanging scrolls, and tapestry are all more options to create a truly Japanese culture in your home no matter where you live.

So it is obvious that the manner one would go about decorating with a Japanese intent would be unlike other Asian schemes at crucial points. It would be wise to learn about all the options in Japanese decor since the choices, products, and services are very plentiful in the crowded, internet world. Wishing you the very best of luck!