Happiness Made Visible: Soneva Partners with Swedish Artist to Turn the Maldives' Most Dreamy Water Slide into Art!
Maybe on our next trip, we can try letting go of our ideas of a perfect vacation and reconnect with that self who just wants to run straight up to a water slide and play!
If joy could take physical form, what shape would it be? For many, picturing a luxury resort in the Maldives brings to mind turquoise waters, overwater villas, and dreamlike views that make you want to book a flight immediately. But for luxury resort brand Soneva, a truly unforgettable travel experience isn’t complete without the simple, childlike mood of just having fun. Soneva recently teamed up with contemporary Swedish artist Jacob Felländer to turn the brand’s signature water slide into an art installation titled “Joy Takes Form.” Bringing a Maldivian vacation fantasy to Stockholm, Sweden, the project makes you rethink things: luxury doesn’t always have to be so serious.
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From the Maldives to Stockholm: How a water slide became an art installation
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Long before water slides became popular features at luxury resorts in the Maldives, Soneva had already incorporated this playful design into its overwater villas. Rather than blindly chasing refinement and prestige, the brand believes the moments that make you laugh out loud and temporarily forget your daily worries are the memories truly worth keeping.
This time, Soneva invited Swedish artist Jacob Felländer to reimagine its classic slide into a contemporary sculpture titled “Joy Takes Form.” Unveiled on September 23 in Stockholm’s Slakthusområdet meatpacking district, the fluid, curving structure adds an unexpected lightness and playfulness to the original industrial space. Even without the sunshine and seawater of the Indian Ocean, the slide takes on a new form to carry forward that desirable vacation mood.
One slide, three materials: Joy holds the past, present, and future
Look closely at the installation, and you’ll find that Jacob Felländer didn’t just move a water slide into an exhibition space. Instead, he used three different materials to turn it into a journey of time and emotion. The first section is presented in weathered metal, evoking moments that accumulate over time and slowly turn into memories. Next, the slide extends into a bright mirror finish, capturing the unfolding present through the reflection of light and the surrounding environment. The final section stretches forward in a lighter form, symbolizing a future yet to come, full of imagination. Tracing past, present, and future through a single sweeping curve, the three materials add a layer of romantic meaning to the piece: joy doesn’t just belong to a single moment, but to the beauty of what we have experienced, what we are feeling now, and what is still worth looking forward to.
More than an art exhibition: Even the dinner is filled with Maldivian vacation fantasies
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Beyond the art installation, Soneva also brought the unique features of its three island resorts to the opening dinner. Swedish chefs Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman were invited to craft a sensory experience combining taste and imagination, inspired by earth, water, and air. The “Earth” course echoes the lush tropical jungle of Soneva Fushi; “Water” calls to mind the clear ocean scenery of Soneva Jani; and “Air” captures the secluded tranquility of Soneva Secret. Finally, a playful “Whimsy” course ends the night, ensuring the entire dinner—from the food to the atmosphere—carries the core spirit of this artistic collaboration.
This is exactly the “Bare Luxury” concept Soneva has always championed: true luxury isn’t necessarily about owning more, but knowing how to leave space for curiosity, freedom, and genuine human connection. For those interested in the piece, “Joy Takes Form” will be on display at Slakthusområdet in Stockholm until December 31, 2026. Jacob Felländer is also scheduled to visit Soneva Fushi in the Maldives from November 12 to 24, inviting travelers to personally explore the joy of creation through art workshops.
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