North Malé Atoll, Maldives, October 28, 2025 – The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands announces a landmark residency bringing together two cultural icons – acclaimed Chinese performance artist and photographer, Liu Bolin known as The Invisible Man, and Maison Ruinart, the first established Champagne house and a pioneer of artistic collaboration since the 19th century. From November 27–30, guests will be invited to witness a series of exclusive performances, exhibited artworks, curated Ruinart Champagne tastings, and immersive dining experiences, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldivian archipelago.

Liu Bolin, celebrated for his thought-provoking camouflage installations, a comment on man's relationship to his surroundings, addressing issues of environment and cultural identity, will stage a live artistic performance on the shores of the Fari Islands. In this new work, and in continuation of Bolin's creative partnership with Maison Ruinart, the event highlights both The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Island's and Ruinart's long-standing dialogue between nature, culture, and craftsmanship.

A Living Canvas by the Ocean

The program opens on November 27 at the resort's design masterpiece EAU Bar in a show-stopping Ruinart takeover featuring a spectacular custom made Ruinart bar, and two large-scale artworks from the Ruinart commission by Liu Bolin in 2018. The opening night will invite guests to witness Bolin's performance in an intimate live rehearsal — a prelude to his defining performance on the November 30 - while enjoying a 'Ruinart Hour' Champagne reception with creatively paired canapés.

An immersive exhibition of 10 artworks including Bolin's Reveal the Invisible series will open at The Estate, the resort's signature private villa, where he will host an intimate talk and provide guests with the opportunity to join a creative workshop.

Curated Tastings & Spectacular Gastronomic Dining Experiences

Across three days, the landmark partnership will present a sequence of Ruinart champagne-led tastings and culinary pairings through an art lens:

• November 28 – As the sun sets, the resort's Beach Shack restaurant will host an exclusive tasting with prestigious cuvees such as Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 & 2013, followed by a Ruinart Artist Dinner with artistic plating echoing Bolin's camouflage works. Paired menu highlights will include; Fine De Claire Oyster, salted cucumber and Oscietra caviar amuse-bouche, with a Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, locally caught Maldivian octopus, roasted cauliflower purée and passion fruit reduction, with a Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010, and Sea Bass and Japanese Sea Urchin with Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009.
  
  
• November 29 – Guests will join Liu Bolin at The Estate in a hands-on workshop, followed by a Ruinart Rosé and Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009 tasting. The evening continues at the resort's Summer Pavilion, presenting an exceptional pairing of Cantonese-focused dishes with Ruinart Champagnes. Guests can expect Chaozhou cured abalone & sea cucumber with Ruinart Blanc de Blancs, Hong Kong style typhoon shelter king crab with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2013, and the 'Big Red Robe' soft serve and crème brûlée with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010.
  
  
• November 30 – A reflective dialogue with Liu Bolin, including a book signing and showcase of iconic works, precedes the final Ruinart tasting exploring Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 & Dom Ruinart Rosé 2009. The series concludes with Bolin's live painted performance during the resort's daily Defining Moment ritual at EAU Bar, immortalised in a photographic artwork to be featured in the artist's future exhibitions.

An Oceanic First

Shaped by the ocean forces, wind and waves, in an elegant setting of outstanding architectural merit, EAU Bar marks the most memorable location to witness Liu Bolin's artistry in his final performance. As the sun sets, the resort's Defining Moment, a daily sundown ritual of Maldivian Bodu Beru drums and flaming ceremony sets the scene. Against the Indian Ocean's infinite expanse of sea and sky, the artist will stage his iconic act of disappearance, his body live-painted to merge with the dramatic natural vistas. This fleeting performance at sunset, a dialogue between man, nature, and art, embodies Bolin's signature message on the fragility of environment, leaving guests suspended in a moment where the boundaries between landscape and humanity dissolve.

“The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands has always stood as a destination for transformative experiences,” says Oscar Postma, General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands. “Welcoming Liu Bolin and Maison Ruinart to our shores elevates this vision, uniting contemporary art, cultural dialogue, and exceptional gastronomy in one of the world's most awe-inspiring natural settings.”

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives and for real-time updates follow the resort on Instagram and Facebook.

Notes to Editors:

Ruinart Art Dinners will be available to 30 guests, priced at 980 USD per person. Ruinart tastings are available to 12 guests and priced at 215 USD per person.

Download images here.

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About The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands
The property is ideally located at Fari Islands, in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives, a 45-minute journey by speedboat or a 10-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport. The resort, designed by Kerry Hill Architects, is shaped by the Maldivian sun and shored by the Indian Ocean, featuring a series of 100 interconnected villas, with its design-masterpiece Ocean Villas hovering over a turquoise lagoon. With white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons and coral reefs, the destination is abundant with marine life.

Guest villas at The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, range in size from one to four bedrooms, with legendary service refined by an Aris Meeha (butler). The property offers a choice of outstanding culinary venues under Executive Chef Pedro Samper, serving an array of international and local cuisines, alongside a full suite of fitness and recreational facilities. The signature Ritz-Carlton Spa introduces Bamford to the region, while the resort's Naturalists lead its sustainability initiatives. In addition, the Visiting Hero program brings leading scientists, conservationists, and environmental educators to engage with guests, the local community, and the Ladies and Gentlemen.

The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands forms part of an archipelago that features three world-class hospitality brands inclusive of The Ritz-Carlton. Guests have access to a picturesque Fari Marina – the archipelago's communal beating heart. Built around a vibrant Beach Club, Fari Marina features charming boutiques and a handpicked selection of dining options.

For more information, visit ritzcarlton.com/Maldives, and for real-time updates, follow the resort on Instagram and Facebook.  

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC

Delivering the Gold Standard in service in coveted destinations around the world, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC currently operates more than 120 hotels in over 35 countries and territories. From iconic urban destinations to stretches of paradise in untouched corners of the earth, The Ritz-Carlton offers the opportunity for true discovery and transformative escapes that stay with guests long after they depart. Committed to thoughtful innovation, The Ritz-Carlton encompasses two groundbreaking brand extensions, Ritz-Carlton Reserve and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a collection of rare estates set apart from the world, where personalized care and cultural immersion are paramount. The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection translates the brand's legendary service and hospitality for sea, reimagining the ultra-luxury cruising category. For more information or reservations, visit the company website at www.ritzcarlton.com, for the latest company updates, visit news.marriott.com and to join the live conversation, use #RCMemories and follow along on Facebook, X, and Instagram. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR). The Ritz-Carlton is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com. The Ritz-Carlton is committed to supporting the destinations where it operates through Community Footprints, the company's social and environmental responsibility program.  

About Maison Ruinart

Ruinart's enlightened vision is one that extends towards its past, present and future. Ruinart has already made concrete commitment.

Born in the Age of Enlightenment, a time of ideas, connection and culture, Maison Ruinart was founded in 1729 as the first House of Champagne. The Maison's winemakers are true masters of Chardonnay. Acting in harmony with nature, they cultivate and define the signature House style: elegantly simple, pleasant to drink cuvées of aromatic freshness, reflecting the grapes' balanced luminosity.

Believing in the power of art to transform, to connect and to enlighten, Ruinart curates elevated cultural experiences. Through the lens of art and creation, the Maison fosters a deeper understanding of our links with one another and with nature, thus cultivating the joys of living in a more harmonious world. In the recent years, significant artists from many countries have created artworks inspired by Ruinart as part of its “Conversations with Nature” global art series, among them are Tomas Saraceno (Argentina), Andrea Bowers (USA), Georgia Russell (Scotland), Jaume Plensa (Spain), Eva Jospin (France), Erwin Olaf (The Netherlands), Liu Bolin (China), Vik Muniz (Brazil), David Horvitz (USA) and David Shrigley (England).

About Liu Bolin

Better known as The Invisible Man in media circles, Liu Bolin discusses the social concerns of his home country through his artistic practice, most prominently through his 'camouflage' installations. Traversing mediums such as performance, photography, Liu Bolin dissects the tense relationship between the individual and society by 'disappearing' into environments which are sites of contention and criticism.

His “Hiding in the City” series has been displayed in numerous museums and institutions across the globe. His artistic commitment began in the 1990s as China was recovering from the devastating effects of the Cultural Revolution, with its economic development on the upswing and the stabilization of its political situation. Liu's photographs and sculptures have been exhibited in many museums and institutions worldwide. He has collaborated with prominent artists including Kenny Scharf, JR, Jon Bon Jovi, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Fernando Botero, Carlos Cruz-Diez and Annie Leibovitz. Due to the particularity of urban camouflage techniques and color diversity created by Liu Bolin, many international brands have paid attention to it.