Black and Blue

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This year’s extravaganza features a musical element with two new rooms created by artists who are musicians and DJs: ‘The Fascinator Suite’ by Lord Fascinator (Australia) and ‘Static Action’ by Heather Gabel of the band HIDE (US). 

Swedish artists Albin Wiberg and Restlessminds (Linda Emily Al-Ghussein and Fabian Olovson) have returned to re-interpret their rooms ’Nitty-Gritty’ (2013) and ’Back to the Closet’ (2016). Wiberg’s room now incorporates references to his fascination with New York City sidewalks, whilst the artist duo Restlessminds expand on their playful commentary on the queer debate.

http://lindaemmy.com/restlessminds/index.html​

http://www.albinwiberg.com​

Darek Solarski (Greenpoint) unveils his updated artwork in the main staircase: ‘The Carlton Arms’ history in approximately 8796 square inches’. In a close to miniature style painting, Solarski takes the viewer on a tour of over 100 details from artworks found in each of the 54 hotel rooms as well as quirky references to the establishment’s rich history and characters. 

The hotel’s Artbreak gallery presents ‘Fields’, a mixed media installation by Marijke Brinkhof with sound by Alex Wolkowicz. The installation will be on view until March 18th.

Lord Fascinator: Fascinator Suite

Lord Fascinator has been transforming room 14D into a physical manifestation of his subconscious. It is accompanied by a 24 hour looping soundtrack of original music that the guest can turn up or down but not alter. He describes his creative process: “I’ve engaged in several sessions with a therapist with the express intent of visualising my subconscious. Specifically, that space where ideas originate. In my case the most potent ideas tend to manifest themselves as songs and using mild hypnosis among other things we delved and kept coming to a place just after death. The death of a relationship, or of a part of myself when I’ve moved from a place or sometimes a person I’ve loved… I regularly found myself floating in the ocean, between two lands. Initially rudderless and helpless but as the sessions continued my vessel grew a sail. I could steer. Then, in a recent session, once my therapist told me the ship was my ego it dissolved and I found myself levitating in a blue haze, moving at will. This is the feeling I want to convey to the guest.”

http://www.lordfascinator.com​

Heather Gabel: Static Action

Using their hair drenched in ink, the artist has transformed 1B into a visceral display of the relationship between stillness and motion. The Rorschach-like patterns this physical process has yielded speak to balance, dissonance, control and reckless abandon. Mirrors are employed to offer guests unique yet mutable vantage points depending on their orientation within the room. Gabel elaborates: “In an effort to both define and blur the line between the conscious and the unconscious, the deliberate vs the instinctual motives for our actions, this installation serves as a lens of absolutes through which to view the power and presence of ones self in conjunction with the undeniable repercussions of our actions.”

http://www.heathergabel.com​

https://hide3.bandcamp.com​

Marijke Brinkhof: Fields

Marijke Brinkhof, an artist and set designer from Rotterdam, who designed room 14B in 2015, has returned to create an immersive environment in the hotel’s Artbreak gallery. She uses drawings and textures in a mixed media installation that deals with her transformed sense of balance and space:

“I am fascinated by movement and sound: the way I feel when my surroundings move and the way I can move with them inside, whilst remaining still. Music is not that interesting for me anymore, but sounds like birdsong or rain make me feel connected with the ground and the vastness above.” 

The installation features a soundscape by Alex Wolkowicz.

http://marijkesartdepartment.com​

http://wolkowicz.com​