The Art Institute of Chicago just married the museum experience of modern art to the Internet age. To promote its upcoming show of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings and drawings of his bedroom, the museum is offering people the chance to spend the night in a replica, booked through Airbnb, a popular online alternative to finding hotel stays. The cost? $10 a night. To help get the word out on the unusual pairing, the museum is posting live through Instagram and sharing on its Facebook page:
"artinstitutechi: Spending the night in a Van Gogh painting is cool of course, but the #vangoghbnb has an added amenity: the Chicago skyline."
.
Art Institute of Chicago's re-creation of Van Gogh's bedroom. Image via Airbnb
.
The exhibition “Van Gogh’s Bedrooms” opens February 20 and runs through May 10, 2016. The show features all three paintings Van Gogh made of his bedroom in Arles, made from 1888 to 1889. This is the first time in North America all three versions of The Bedroom are being exhibited together, according to the museum, and offer "...a pioneering and in-depth study of their making and meaning to Van Gogh in his relentless quest for home."
The room for rent is a recreation based on The Bedroom, including strange perspectives of the room, wicker chairs, blue walls and vessels for washing up. According to the museum, the “digitally enhanced reconstruction of his bedroom allows viewers the chance to experience his state of mind and the physical reality of the space that so inspired him, while other enriching digital components bring to light significant recent scientific research on the three Bedroom paintings.”
The recreation of the Van Gogh bedroom is located in the museum but bookable through Airbnb. The description on Airbnb boasts: "This room will make you feel like you're living in a painting. It's decorated in a Post-Impressionist style, reminiscent of Southern France and times gone by. Its furniture, bright colors, and artwork will give you the experience of a lifetime."
By way of excuse (or apology) for giving up his room to renters, the owner proclaims online: "I'm charging $10 for no other reason than that I need to buy paint. However, I will be happy to provide you with tickets to my exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago."
.
Art Institute of Chicago's re-creation of Van Gogh's bedroom. Image via Airbnb
.
Art Institute of Chicago's re-creation of Van Gogh's bedroom. Image via Airbnb
.
Art Institute of Chicago's re-creation of Van Gogh's bedroom. Image via Airbnb
.
In addition to the three paintings of his Yellow House bedroom, the exhibition includes 36 works by Vincent van Gogh that explore his repeated use of home as a motif as haven, creative chamber and physical reality, according to the museum. The digitally enhanced reconstruction of Van Gogh's bedroom allows viewers the chance to experience his state of mind and the space that inspired him.
________________________________
BASIC FACTS: To rent the replication of Van Gogh's Arles bedroom click here for the Airbnb listing.
The exhibition "Van Gogh's Bedrooms" opens on February 20 and remains on view through May 10, 2016. The Art Institute of Chicago is located at 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603. www.artic.edu.
________________________________
Copyright 2016 Hamptons Art Hub LLC. All rights reserved.