Spend a Night in Carsten Höller’s ‘Elevator Bed’

Try these unusual accommodations.

Carsten Holler, Elevator Bed (2010) Photo: Attilio Maranzano © Carsten Höller / Bildrecht Wien 2014

Headed to Vienna for a little summer getaway and find the Ringstrasse’s numerous Grand Hotels a little too crusty? How about a night at Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) instead?

Relational aesthetics champ Carsten Höller has installed his Elevator Bed (2010) in the middle of Francesca von Habsburg’s Augarten institution. Overnights can be booked through the Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom.

The stunt is part of his survey show, LEBEN, which spans both TBA21 and the Belvedere. Many of those are pulled from TBA21’s collection while others make their debut at the two Vienna shows.

The “room,” available now through January 4th, isn’t exactly a bargain. Prices range from €120 a night deals sporadically announced on Facebook to €490 a night for weekends, but guests will have the ability to roam the entire exhibition throughout the night.

That includes line-less entrance into Höller’s sensory deprivation chamber, High Psycho Tank, which allows participants to float on top of water with a high concentration of epsom salts. Another version of the piece, Super Psycho Tank was a massive hit at his 2011 New Museum blowout. Though, floater beware, some participants that time around claimed they got pretty nasty ear infections from the experience.

It’s not the first time this year that TBA21 will welcome overnight guests. From April 3≥27, Ragnar Kjartansson and a group of friends lived and performed in the space continuously for their exhibition, The Palace of the Summerland.

 


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