March 2, 2019

"That's great! Love the butterflies. More butterflies. You can't have too many butterflies, that's for sure. You don't see as many butterflies in hotel rooms as you should."

That's the third-most-down-rated comment at "Artist Damien Hirst unveils the most expensive hotel suite ever at $200,000 for TWO nights...." (Daily Mail). The most up-voted comment is, "It's hideous." Yes, but that's such a flat-footed response. It really is hilariously horrible. Click for the photographs.
... Hirst's personal touch appears in nearly every aspect of the villa [i.e., the hotel suite]: from specially designed furniture and textiles that incorporate Hirst's signature spin designs, butterfly and pharmacy motifs, to large scale works of art, including a large pill cabinet filled with diamonds.
It's a place to take drugs, right? Which drugs? Maybe you can tell me. I'm just saying I can tell you don't want to be there on normal.

ADDED: The "two bull sharks suspended in formaldehyde in a white tank set into the wall of the suite" got me picturing it as a place where Donald Trump could watch television with Stormy Daniels. (Background: "Here’s the Shark Week Show Donald Trump Allegedly Watched Instead of Making a Pass at Stormy Daniels.")

39 comments:

traditionalguy said...

Sex, sex, sex. Doesn't anybody make millions of dollars anymore.

Phil 314 said...

I don’t have the $200,000. I don’t have the appreciation for the Suite and it’s “art”. I don’t want to overlook the Strip.

But I guess this is good for the economy and it’s another example of the “only in America” American Greatness.

Henry said...

LOL. That is hideous.

I prefer the Mondrian tile bathroom to the white noise marble bathroom.

MadisonMan said...

I kind of like it -- my only comment would be that I hope the marble floors are heated otherwise it might be a chilly walk in bare feet. (Even though that might feel good at times in Vegas -- but not in winter).

Also: Who needs a big bar in their hotel room? I want to get away in a hotel room, not have people come over and party. Get your own room!!

rehajm said...

Las Vegas is supposed to be over the top camp. I don't think it's that bad as Vegas hotel rooms go. Why would you want a 'tasteful' puce Bellagio Hotel room when you could have this?

If it makes you feel better Hirst might die of ALS from all formaldehyde exposure.

Henry said...

That's actually a pretty nice application of Hirst's Sharks in Formaldehyde concept.

rehajm said...

The asian whales will stay there. Sharks and medical waste will make them feel at home.

Fernandinande said...

It's a place to take drugs, right? Which drugs? Maybe you can tell me.

I bet they take wine.

JAORE said...

The greatest fool theory on steroids.

Tank said...

Looks like a fun place for a party.

alanc709 said...

Nothing says art is dead like an over-priced monstrosity.

buwaya said...

If I were to drop $200,000 on a hotel room, I'd want it to look like something out of Versailles, and come with hordes of uniformed servants and a chamber orchestra. They can play me to my rest.

But even so I don't see how anyone could justify such rates unless the thing is a package with, perhaps, the services of a Louis XV style parc aux cerfs. Which it probably is.

De gustibus.

traditionalguy said...

They take Fentanyl of course. The entire place is designed to be the waiting room for admission to Hell. The first one there wins. And at that point, what's any amount of money going to matter to you.

gspencer said...

The article states, "The Empathy Suite will be reserved exclusively for million-dollar high roller casino players."

But being a high roller casino player means you have to be down there on the floor. So only your entourage of hangers-on get to lavish themselves in the Empathy Suite, presuming emoting empathy galore for you down there on the floor, losing, losing, losing.

Mary Beth said...

Who needs a big bar in their hotel room?

Not just a big bar, a big bar filled with medical waste.

I'm guessing this won't be booked as much as it will be comped. It will be used to attract guests they want there for other reasons.

Laslo Spatula said...

From Urban Dictionary:

"sirrup is a mix beverage, which became famous trough the postmillenium hip-hop community of southern U.S.A. Sirrup consists of Codeine syrup and lemon flavored limonade. It's most famous representative is definitely Lil' Wayne, who is often seen sippin' on a styrofoam cup, filled with a purple colored liquid."

Just what came to mind.

I am Laslo.

Ann Althouse said...

Presumably you can stage a party there. It's like renting a hotel bar/lobby.

Its mere existence works as an ad for the whole hotel.

I assume it's comp'd to a person who's dropping an absurd amount of money gambling. But some people are very rich. There need to be things for these people to buy.

It would be spooky as hell to be there alone don't you think?

Bob Boyd said...

You know where you need drugs? Motel 6.

Amexpat said...

The thing that bothers me the most is the throw pillows on the couch. Don't like them in any setting, but can understand it in fluffy, feminine room. This aspires, without success, to be hyper masculine.

The $200,000 rack room rate is just a number they threw out for publicity. No one is going to pay that. Might make some of the whales they comp feel good.

mezzrow said...

I suspect they'd be watching the Gorilla Channel instead.

mezzrow said...

"sirrup is a mix beverage, which became famous trough the postmillenium hip-hop community of southern U.S.A. Sirrup consists of Codeine syrup and lemon flavored limonade. It's most famous representative is definitely Lil' Wayne, who is often seen sippin' on a styrofoam cup, filled with a purple colored liquid."

aka purple drank

john said...

The only drug I would need in that place is dramamine.

David Begley said...

“Retired law professor and famous blogger Ann Althouse finally has put her BFA to use with the completion of her design of the $250,000 suite overlooking the Vegas Strip.”

“The primary motif is her famous Althouse Rat Family; in color and black and white. The room comes with a map with all the individual names of the rats. For some rat names, she has used (with permission) the names of commentators from her blog community e,g. Big Mike, Bay Area Guy, Michael K and David Begley.”

“The suite primarily uses bright and pastel colors. It is also extensively landscaped by her husband Meade.”

“The suite was commissioned by the late Sheldon Adelson. During his life Mr. Aldeson was a huge fan of the Althouse blog and this project was one of his last orders.”

Karen of Texas said...

I'm still trying to process "bar filled with medical waste".

Ralph L said...

Was the fried butterfly reception in Bonfire of the Vanities?

Ralph L said...

The Daily Mail has a dozen articles on Meghan Markle's alleged $500k baby shower at a $75k a night NY hotel suite. Her friends paid the bill, but I bet they got a discount for the publicity.

gilbar said...

i don't have very much money, and $100 a night is a LOT to spend on a room for me;
But i'd be perfectly willing to pay $500 to get out of sleeping in that room.

The Good News is: in three weeks, i'll be fishing at Lee's Ferry and NOT having to stay in that room!

Omaha1 said...

Reminds me of The Gobbler, made famous by James Lileks. "a 13-seat curved bar created by the artist and filled with medical waste" Drink up LOL!

Omaha1 said...

The Gobbler

tcrosse said...

That's $200,000 plus a $75 resort fee.

Howard said...

Damian Hurst is the Thomas Kinkade for the filthy rich

The Cracker Emcee Refulgent said...

Like a deserted airport with better seating. It is hideous, and not in an interesting way.

Jon said...

Tacky.

Almost makes Trump's "taste" seem good.

And I am pro-DJT

David Begley said...

Howard nails it.

MountainMan said...

That suite would give me a headache. And I never have headaches.

Dave Begley: Brilliant comment at 9:31 AM. I enjoyed that.

Ann Althouse said...

"Ruskin’s plate contained a bed of flat green noodles carefully intertwined to create a basket weave, superimposed upon which was a flock of butterflies fashioned from pairs of mushroom slices, for the wings; pimientos, onion slices, shallots, and capers, for the bodies, eyes, and antennae."

Wolfe, Tom. The Bonfire of the Vanities . Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Kindle Edition.

rightguy said...

My bride & I attended the Palms resort several times in the past and it is overall lousy : cramped sports book, crappy food court, forgettable restaurants, and permanently locked down video poker machines. Never going back.

elkh1 said...

Yes, it is hideous.
Glad I don't have the money to show off by staying in that room.

cubanbob said...

For a helluva lot less one can stay at the Presidential Suite at the Vegas Four Seasons and without the casino and the drunks.