Kandima Maldives Launches Biodiversity Exhibition to Celebrate Independence Day, Backed by UNDP
New art trail forms latest chapter of the resort's KULA Art Initiative, with a headline artist collaboration to be revealed in the coming week
Kandima Maldives has unveiled its first on-island ‘Art for Biodiversity’ Exhibition to celebrate Maldives Independence Day this weekend, and as a pilot project brought to life by the resort's long-running KULA Art Initiative, a platform dedicated to promoting Maldivian creativity and connecting local artists, craftspeople and aspiring talents with the tourism industry.
Backed by a grant from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the exhibition will unfold as an island-wide art trail throughout the summer, with an art trail for travellers to discover - featuring creations from 20+ Maldivian artists from across the atoll and globally, spanning a diverse mix of mediums from painting and digital art to installation, and styles ranging from hyper-realism to abstraction. A closing ceremony will be taking place in the latter half of September to mark the finale of the season-long showcase.
Open to artists from around the world following a global call for submissions earlier in the year, the exhibition brings together works united by themes of biodiversity, conservation and ocean ecology, and is an effort to raise awareness on the importance of sustainability through creative work and storytelling.
Weaving Art and Advocacy: Petra Maitz's Special Residency
As a sequel to the exhibition, from 21 Sept to 5 Oct, Kandima will also be hosting Austrian interdisciplinary artist Petra Maitz for a residency for the KULA Art Initiative, where she'll be hosting talks and crocheted craft workshops for guests throughout the period, and while curating a coral artwork that invites contributions from guests, local artists, resort staff and the wider community.
Petra is internationally recognised for work bridging contemporary art, science and environmental activism, most notably her long-running Lady Musgrave Reef project, which uses collaborative crocheted coral forms to spotlight marine biodiversity and coral conservation.
Bridging Conservation and Creativity
By embedding local fine art into the tourism value chain, this initiative aims to build a scalable model for biodiversity finance that:
- Elevates Maldivian Art: providing a high-visibility platform for local and emerging Maldivian artists, connecting them with an international audience and premium market
- Funds Conservation & Empowers Communities: generating revenue for local conservation, with proceeds dedicated to the Dhaalu Valla conservation area and community-led projects
- Inspires Wider Change: creating an innovative finance solution that can be replicated across the Maldives through future resort partnerships
Part of Kandima's Wider Creative Vision
Launched in 2017 when the resort first opened, KULA is an ongoing year-round programme anchored by annual returns of the KULA Art Festival and artist residencies at the KULA Art Studio, where guests can take part in painting classes and other creative sessions hosted by a rotation of resident artists. A related fund, financed by USD1 from every room night booked at the resort, supports local schools and artists through equipment, internships, scholarships and further education.
For media enquiry, please contact kandima@prm-global.plus
