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British artist Alexander donates artworks to fund plastic recycling facility in Maldives

British artist Alexander James Hamilton has donated a unique collection of artworks to fully fund a plastic recycling facility in the Maldives.
The community-led plastic recycling facility will be established in the northern Noonu atoll in mid 2018.
The facility will recycle PET clear plastics and HDPE plastic used on local islands in the Maldives into useful materials such as building bricks for housing and other useful items. It has the capacity to convert 200kg of plastic per day into objects.
World-leading luxury resort operator Soneva will provide a base for the installation of the first facility in the Maldives adjacent to its Soneva Jani resort in the Noonu atoll. The resort group will also incentivise an intelligent use of the facility amongst its team and the local community as part of its ongoing recycling and community outreach programme.
In order to fund the infrastructure of the facility, Alexander has donated 20 illuminated PhotoGrams. Each of Alexander’s 20 unique studio proofs are from the series ‘Textures & texts from the shoreline’, in the illuminated frame they measure 40.5 x 34.5 x 5 cm, and can be shipped globally.
They are available on silent auction starting now at £2,000 [excluding VAT if applicable and delivery]. To bid on a work of art, please write to Lucy@DistilEnnui.com with the title of the artwork, your maximum bid, along with your name and address. All bids will be transferred and executed on May 25.

British artist Alexander.
Alexander, who has been diving the Maldives and exploring its fragile lands since the late 80s, creates meticulously crafted sculptural scenes; using studio made props, breeding butterflies, growing period specific flowers, hand making the dress and 24 carat gold halo.
In October, Alexander relocated to the Maldives to continue working on a project he started 30 years ago; that of creating installations and interventions underwater and on land, exploring the polarity within this disappearing landscape.
“Currently, there are no tangible facilities for recycling plastic on the remote islands of the Maldives, or indeed creating fresh water on local islands; everything is brought across by sea in plastic bottles. A double edged sword for them – having to bring the product in but having no way of dealing with the packaging once there. There is also, of course, a mass of plastic pollution arriving on their shores from the ocean currents,” Alexander says.
“By offering a community-based facility, should a local want to build a house, they would be able to construct it using recycled waste materials. The collected plastic bottles, packaging and other materials processed by the residents to create sustainable replacement planks and building bricks. This could inspire island cleanup and community projects for the ongoing collection of waste. In this way, transforming garbage into valuable materials would change the plastic lifecycle from destruction to construction.”

Aerial view of Soneva Jani, the newest property of Soneva. PHOTO/ SONEVA
Soneva, which has recently started recycling plastic, runs two resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani.
Established in 1995, Soneva Fushi is the original Soneva. The No News, No Shoes blueprint for all desert island barefoot luxury hideaways is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. Soneva Fushi inspires the imagination with 65 spacious beachfront villas, ranging in size from one to nine bedrooms, hidden amongst dense foliage.
The iconic resort has bagged several international awards for eco-friendly tourism and green initiatives, including the 2017 Green Hotelier Award for the Asia Pacific region and the Sustainable Hotel Award by the Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) as well as a spot in the Gold List compiled by Condé Nast Traveler China as the Best Hotel in the Maldives and amongst the best resorts in the world in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2017.
Opened in December 2016, Soneva Jani is Soneva’s newest property and its second resort in the Maldives.
Soneva Jani encompasses a collection of 24 overwater villas and one island villa set in a 5.6 kilometre private lagoon located in the northern Noonu atoll. The resort spans five islands surrounded by pure white beaches, covered in rich tropical vegetation, offering the ultimate in privacy and luxury.
Each of the resort’s multilevel water villas has its own private pool and a retractable roof that allows guests to sleep beneath the stars. Many villas also have slides that transport guests directly from the top level into the lagoon below. Other hotel highlights include a spa, an observatory — home to the largest telescope in the Indian Ocean — and an outdoor cinema.
Since its opening, Soneva Jani has created a lot of buzz amongst luxury travellers with its exciting features such as the retractable roofs and the water slides. It has been named the Best Over-the-Top Luxury hotel of the year by Jetsetter.com, the best new resort in the world by CNN, and the Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort in South Asia and Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort in Maldives.
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Angsana Velavaru weaves wellbeing into World Wellness Weekend celebrations

Angsana Velavaru is marking World Wellness Weekend with a series of holistic activities designed to support physical and mental wellbeing. From 19 to 21 September, the resort is hosting three days of complimentary sessions led by its in-house yoga instructor.
Each morning begins with aqua aerobics at the Kuredhi Pool, combining gentle resistance and the movement of water to awaken the body. On 20 September, attention shifts to an evening sunset yoga session, guiding participants through a flow of movement and breath as the sun sets over the island. The programme concludes on 21 September with sunrise yoga on the beach, a practice blending pranayama and ashtanga elements in the calm of dawn.
The resort’s wellness approach extends beyond the weekend, with a range of treatments available at the award-winning Angsana Spa. Therapists draw upon traditional Asian techniques to restore balance and energy, offering treatments such as body polishes, facials, and holistic massages with natural ingredients. Guests may also take part in personalised wellness rituals designed to nurture both body and mind.
Located in South Nilandhe Atoll, Angsana Velavaru integrates wellbeing into the island experience. From yoga and spa therapies to the tranquil pace of island life, the resort provides an environment where health and renewal are at the centre of the guest experience.
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JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll marks Golden Week with special activities for all ages

JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, located in the largest lagoon of Kaafu Atoll, is set to celebrate Chinese Golden Week with a curated programme designed for multi-generational families. Taking place from 1 to 8 October 2025, the week will feature a range of culinary experiences, family activities, ocean adventures, and wellness rituals.
Dining will take centre stage with Veyo presenting a series of experiences that pay tribute to both Asian and Maldivian traditions. Highlights include an Imperial Flavours buffet dinner and the restaurant’s signature Indian Ocean Night, inspired by the coastal culture of the region. Interactive sessions such as Mini Spring Roll Making and a Dim Sum Dumpling Class for children add a participatory element. At sunset, Wahoo Beach will host a cocktail event featuring Cantonese-inspired canapés, crafted cocktails, and celebratory toasts against the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.
Golden Week activities will extend beyond dining with a variety of family-oriented experiences. At the Family by JW™ Kids Club, children will take part in Golden Coin Treasure Hunts, chopstick-inspired crafts, mask and fan decoration, and panda sand art on the beach. The Teens Club will organise a table tennis tournament, while families will gather on the shoreline for beach games. The Watersports and Dive Centre will arrange kayak races, guided snorkelling excursions to Emboodhoo Island, and half-day tours of Malé City. Winners of the kayak races will be awarded a complimentary Sea Bob experience.
Wellness will also form a significant part of the programme. Spa by JW will introduce seasonal treatments, including the Golden Citrus Renewal, which combines a 60-minute massage with a mandarin-infused scrub, and the Golden Couple Escape, which features a massage, jade stone facial, and bath ritual paired with tea or sparkling wine. A Seven Days of Well-Being programme will complement the spa offerings, with activities such as sunrise Golden Flow Yoga, Moonlit Meditation, Mat Pilates, and High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Burner sessions. Guests will also be invited to sample a seasonal herbal tea selection as part of the holistic experience.
“Our Associates are deeply passionate about creating meaningful experiences that resonate across generations,” said Srikanth Devarapalli, General Manager of JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort. “Golden Week is a time of reunion and shared moments, and we look forward to welcoming families and travellers from around the world.”
The resort comprises 80 villas, each featuring a private pool and direct access to the Indian Ocean. Guests can choose between overwater villas with lagoon access or beach pool villas surrounded by tropical greenery. Designed to accommodate couples, families, and larger gatherings, the villas provide both space and privacy.
A Full Board Package is available, inclusive of complimentary speedboat transfers. Guests may book until 10 December 2025 for stays up to 15 December 2025.
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The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo marks global wellness initiative with three-day celebration

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort has announced a series of complimentary and signature wellness experiences to mark World Wellness Weekend, scheduled for the third week of September 2025. The programme is designed around Westin’s five Pillars of Well-Being — Feel Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well, Move Well, and Play Well — encouraging guests to restore, move, and connect in the natural surroundings of the Maldives.
The activities commence on Friday, 19 September, with a game of water volleyball, combining light-hearted competition with physical activity under the Maldivian sun. As evening falls, the practice of Yoga Nidra will be held, guiding participants into a state of conscious rest and restoration.
On Saturday, 20 September, the agenda features Craft Your Glow, a workshop where guests create body scrubs using natural ingredients and tropical botanicals. The day continues with runWestin, an invigorating sunset beach run that highlights the benefits of movement and outdoor exercise.
The programme concludes on Sunday, 21 September, with Sunrise Yoga at the resort’s Yoga Pavilion. This gentle morning practice harmonises breath and movement, offering a balanced start to the day. Later, a Massage Workshop will provide guided techniques for easing tension in the head, neck, and shoulders, offering couples and individuals alike skills they can apply beyond their stay.
Situated in Baa Atoll, the Maldives’ first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort integrates its well-being philosophy across the guest experience. The resort positions World Wellness Weekend as more than a schedule of events, presenting it instead as an opportunity to embrace mindful living, movement, and rest.
Guests considering a stay may also opt for the ‘Earn, Eat, Enjoy; package, which includes breakfast for two adults and two children, a resort credit of USD 70, and a range of complimentary wellness activities to enhance their island experience.
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