As part of Carsten Höller: Decision, the Hayward Gallery’s new exhibition which opened this week, visitors are invited to book a night in the artist’s Two Roaming Beds (Grey), a pair of robotic beds that roam the gallery while you sleep.
The exclusive overnight stay for one or two persons, will provide guests with out of hours access to the gallery and the opportunity to immerse themselves in Carsten Höller’s many experimental environments in his new exhibition Decision. Overnight visitors will enter the gallery through Höller’s Decision Corridors, taking them on a twisting and unexpected route from the world outside the gallery to the topsy-turvy world within. Unusual experiences in the exhibition include taking a flying spin over the sculpture terrace on Two Flying Machines, activating the large-scale Flying Mushrooms mobile and taking a ride down one of the giant slides that hug the side of the building.
During the night, the overnight guests will sleep in Höller’s special beds. Entitled Two Roaming Beds (Grey), these two robotic beds will make their way independently around the lower galleries in slow motion (0.7 metres a minute) which, according to Höller ‘introduces a moment of uncertainty’ where the sleepers can no longer be sure that the place that they go to sleep in will be the same place where they wake up.
The beds are programmed to move in relationship to one another using a range of navigational systems. While a laser on the front of each of the beds sweeps the floor, searching for obstacles as it moves, radio beacons set in the gallery’s ceiling help the beds determine their relationship to one another and their position within the gallery. Although Höller’s twin beds appear to move in tandem, one bed in fact controls the movements of the other. This relationship is reversed each time that the bed that is currently in control – or leading their ‘dance’ – encounters an obstacle in the gallery.
This is a brilliant opportunity to have your own exclusive Night in the Museum. The beds are very soft and comfy – I sat on one to test it!
Update: The June dates have already sold out but more booking dates will be released soon so keep an eye on the website below.
To spend a night in the Hayward Gallery’s Carsten Höller: Decision exhibition, please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/carstenholler
Beds are bookable for one or two persons from Monday through to Saturday for the duration of the exhibition (10th June – 6th September 2015) with June dates going on sale on Wednesday 3 June.
Price: £300 per night (price includes both beds)
Terms and conditions apply
Hayward Gallery
Southbank Centre
Belvedere Road
London, SE1 8XX
The London Art File 