Escaping reality is an innate urge within all of us—a universal need that compels us to either renew ourselves or escape our emotions. Seeking refuge in a new environment as a coping mechanism is as old as time itself.

One of the most common forms of escape is travel, and by extension, checking into a hotel. The unfamiliar setting, the scent of the room, the crisp touch of fresh linens, the flickering of random television channels, the ritual of getting dressed in front of a new mirror, ordering room service—all these sensory experiences are activated by new stimuli. For a few fleeting hours or days, the mind and body exist “elsewhere.”

A hotel room is constantly occupied, yet it remains nearly identical on every floor of the building. Even so, it undergoes a subtle transformation each time a new guest steps inside. I have always been captivated by hotel rooms—by the almost mystical aura that emerges when they are inhabited. As I walk down the suspiciously quiet corridors, curiosity overtakes me. What is happening behind those doors? Who is staying there this time? What are their habits? Do they sleep with the television on? Did they unpack their suitcase the moment they arrived, or do their clothes remain untouched inside? Are they having an affair? Did they indulge in the minibar? Will they be sad to leave, or are they counting down the moments until they return home?

Such thoughts have fascinated artists throughout history, making hotel rooms a recurring subject of artistic exploration. Edward Hopper’s famous painting Hotel Room depicts a  lonely young woman sitting on the edge of a bed, lost in thought in an anonymous hotel setting. Similarly, photographer Sophie Calle’s The Hotel: Room 47 documents hotel rooms and the traces left behind by their occupants.

Escapism presents artworks that embody or symbolize elements commonly found in hotel rooms. Textiles evoke bed linens and carpeting, while metal or reflective surfaces reference windows and mirrors. Even scent—an often imperceptible but defining feature of boutique hotels—has been incorporated into the exhibition’s curation. Finally, the artworks engage in dialogue with a carefully curated “staged corner,” simulating a hotel room furnished with collectible design objects.

Each of these elements plays a vital role in the escapist experience of visitors. Just as a hotel room awakens and renews the senses of its guests, the artworks in this exhibition will engage and activate the senses of those who explore them. 

Participating Artists:

Lisa Bravi, Alexandros Douras, Ellie Joannou, Bety Krňanská, Olga Migliaressi-Phoca, Sotiris Panousakis, Bregje Sliepenbeek, Dionysis Sotovikis, Marios Stamatis.

Curated by Theodora Koumoundourou
Drawing by Kyveli Zo
Graphics by Isobel Vassilopoulou