In 2008, just a few hours after Lehman Brothers collapsed, sparking the global financial crash that has defined the 21st century, a Damien Hirst auction at Sotheby's managed to gross over 200 million USD in sales, smashing all previous records by a factor of ten. Now, 13 years later, Damien Hirst has hit the headlines once again, this time by designing a new suite at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
What is the big news this time around? Two things. Firstly, his Empathy Suite is the most expensive hotel accommodation on Earth, priced at 100,000 USD a night with a two-night minimum stay. Secondly, even if you wanted to try it out, you could not, because the hotel has been temporarily shuttered due to the Covid-19 global pandemic.
Spread over two floors and spanning almost 840 square metres, the suite comes with two master bedrooms, a cantilevered Jacuzzi overlooking the strip, a private gym, 24-hour butler service, a full-time chauffeur and 10,000 USD in credit to spend on site. What is more, it is not just full of Hirst works – it is a Hirst work.
All his trademark motifs are here, including drug paraphernalia encased under the bar, colourful dots running up the columns that frame the outdoor Jacuzzi, pill cabinets in the games room, spin painting on the pool table and, of course, two bull sharks suspended in formaldehyde.
"I love what Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta have done with the Palms. It's amazing being able to work with them because they are great collectors and totally understand art," stated Hirst. "They have allowed me to create a suite in the hotel and design everything."
But it is clearly not for the faint of heart.
