Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi was commissioned to create the art installation that makes today’s hottest headlines in Singapore: the Merlion Hotel. The building, a temporary five-star suit, is enclosing the tourism icon of Singapore, The Merlion – an imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish – for the duration of the Singapore Biennale 2011, which lasts from March 13 to May 11, 2011.
According to reports from Singapore, the hotel is already fully booked. The reservation hotline switched on at 10am on Monday and an hour later, by 11.12 am, all nights were fully booked, despite the relative high prices for accommodation.
Tatzu Nishi's Merlion Hotel - a temporary hotel for the Singapore Biennale 2011 - photo courtesy Desmond Foo.
The hotel is fully furnished with a double-bed, bathroom, amenities, personalised room check-in, dedicated Merlion Hotel Butler as well as breakfast at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore. All guests will also receive a delightful welcome basket – compliments of the Singapore Biennale 2011 organiser the Singapore Art Museum and The Merlion Hotel key sponsors.
The Merlion Hotel will only open for overnight guests from April 4 to May 5. The cost for accommodation was established at $150 nett per night. Daytime visitors can walk through the hotel for free to admire Tatzu Nishi’s creation. Only 32 nights were available for public booking, with the rest set aside for winners of contests held by the biennale organizers or for sponsors and the media.
The Merlion Hotel has also received generous sponsorship from corporate and government organisations. Credit Suisse AG (under its partnership with the Singapore Art Museum Credit Suisse: Innovation in Art Series), The Fullerton Heritage and the Singapore Tourism Board are Key Sponsors of The Merlion Hotel, while JPL Consultants is a Sponsor. The Urban Redevelopment Authority is a Venue Partner, while The Fullerton Hotel Singapore will have a dedicated team providing the hospitality for The Merlion Hotel to complete the luxury hotel stay experience.
The biennale is organized by the Singapore Art Museum. A full list of artists whose artworks will grace the city this year can be found here.