01 May 2025
Melbourne, Australia – 1 May, 2025 – Park Hyatt Melbourne is proud to announce the launch of its latest cultural exhibition, Under the Coolaman, a powerful celebration of Indigenous artistry and storytelling led by renowned Wathaurong artist Stan Yarramunua. The exhibition will launch on 22 May 2025 and run for eight weeks, or until sold out, transforming the hotel's lobby and foyer spaces into a vibrant, living gallery.
Taking its name from the Coolaman – a traditional Aboriginal carrying vessel often carved from wood – the exhibition pays homage to a vital cultural symbol. Used for generations by Aboriginal people to cradle, carry, and nurture, the Coolaman reflects the very essence of care, continuity, and creation. In a poetic alignment, the Coolaman also exists as a distinct architectural feature within the walls of Park Hyatt Melbourne, seamlessly connecting the building's elegant design with ancient traditions.
Curated as part of Park Hyatt's ongoing commitment to art as a brand pillar, Under the Coolaman is both an invitation and a tribute – to reflect, to gather, and to experience stories through a different lens.
Leading the exhibition is Stan Yarramunua – artist, musician, entrepreneur, and author of the memoir A Man Called Yarra. Stan's own life journey, from hardship in Swan Hill to artistic acclaim across the globe, is deeply woven into his work. His paintings speak of resilience, Country, and spirit – often rich with dot work, vibrant earth tones, and spiritual motifs drawn from Dreamtime stories and ancestral memory.
The exhibition will showcase a selection of Stan's existing works as well as new pieces, ranging from large-scale canvas works to intimate reflections of cultural identity. His pieces will be accompanied by works from a collective of supporting regional Indigenous artists, all of whom share a connection to Country and contemporary expression.
All artworks will be available for purchase, with prices ranging from $650 to $15,000, offering collectors and admirers alike the opportunity to take home a piece of living culture. In the spirit of giving back, a portion of the profits from artwork sales will be donated to chosen charities.
“Park Hyatt, including our hotel, has long championed the arts, and this exhibition embodies our passion for storytelling, place-making and creating meaningful experiences for our guests,” says, Oliver Kahf, General Manager at Park Hyatt Melbourne. “We are honoured to host Stan Yarramunua and his fellow artists as part of this important dialogue.”
Under the Coolaman is open to the public daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with rotating pieces and installations across the duration of the 8-week program. Whether you are an art enthusiast, collector, or cultural explorer, this is a rare opportunity to witness powerful Indigenous storytelling in a space where luxury and legacy meet.
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About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,350 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 78 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Dream® Hotels, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt®; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt®; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith™, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
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