Just when you thought it was safe in your hotel room...

May 11, 2005 11:51 AM

Secret Wall Tattoos "I like to think it's like panties, there's something better behind the mystery, the uncovering that's even more mesmerizing." -josh homme my fav
posted by gren (25 comments total)

That's a truly inspired idea.
posted by doctor_negative at 12:00 PM on May 11, 2005

I am making plans right now.

[this is good]
posted by exlotuseater at 12:03 PM on May 11, 2005

Anyone know more about a supposed incident where some hippie construction workers put "good vibe peace" messages inside the walls during a renovation of Richard Nixon's apartment? And when word got out he had the walls ripped out and replaced?
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:03 PM on May 11, 2005

It looks like some of those rooms are hotel rooms. Kind of an interesting idea but most of the art covering the wall art is alot better. The under art looks like graffiti more than anything else.

Some of it is pretty good though.
posted by fenriq at 12:07 PM on May 11, 2005

Great idea, great link! Thanks, gren!
posted by taz at 12:07 PM on May 11, 2005

It looks like some of those rooms are hotel rooms.

I think that's the idea. They're all public places where the art might never be noticed, but if/when it is... it'll be surprising.
posted by odinsdream at 12:10 PM on May 11, 2005

It looks like some of those rooms are hotel rooms. Kind of an interesting idea but most of the art covering the wall art is alot better. The under art looks like graffiti more than anything else.

I think that's the idea. Like a bad tattoo, underneath boring everyday clothing.
posted by angry modem at 12:14 PM on May 11, 2005

So this is just secret vandalism. Sorry but I don't really think its cool to damage other people's property for fun.
posted by fenriq at 12:14 PM on May 11, 2005

jinx
posted by angry modem at 12:14 PM on May 11, 2005

I think one of those hotel rooms is in the Phoenix in SF. Makes me want to go sneak into rooms and lift up the paintings.
posted by cali at 12:29 PM on May 11, 2005

Of course, if you really like wall art you'd probably stay at Hotel Des Artes. Those murals aren't so secret though.
posted by cali at 12:33 PM on May 11, 2005

I suppose it's better than trashing the hotel room while on tour.
posted by me3dia at 12:34 PM on May 11, 2005

Downstairs in an old house I lived in my housemate painted very detailed human sized Egyptian Gods and we called it the Cheops room and held cocktail parties there (one liquor bottle entrance fee). Now, when we moved out, some very christian acquaintances moved in but were so scared by the magickal depictions that they immediately painted over them. Trouble was, it was double layered oil paint and also the room didn't have the best drainage. Consequently, the figures underneath bled through - last I heard, they'd painted over them like 3 or 4 times without complete success. Good times..
posted by peacay at 12:45 PM on May 11, 2005

Trouble was, it was double layered oil paint and also the room didn't have the best drainage.

Best....drainage? Shudder.
posted by agregoli at 12:53 PM on May 11, 2005

"We're actually being paid to do this. It all started out in Joshua Tree at local art festivals where local artists we knew down there would do people's ranch house rooms. There's several SWTs in Rancho De La Luna."

fenriq, only copycatters will be vandals.
posted by Cassford at 12:54 PM on May 11, 2005

agregoli --- we didn't live downstairs -- just garage and party room.
posted by peacay at 1:02 PM on May 11, 2005

I like to think it's like panties, there's something better behind the mystery

Uh, yeah, well, leaving aside the judgment of "better," I think the main diff here might be found in that "something."
posted by soyjoy at 1:06 PM on May 11, 2005

Cassford, thanks for that, didn't see that on the site.

If they've got permission and are being paid then it isn't vandalism, you're quite right.

peacay, that's a really nice story, I like hearing about freaking out religious types.
posted by fenriq at 1:08 PM on May 11, 2005

Next time I'm in a hotel room, I will lift up the paintings.
posted by Termite at 1:22 PM on May 11, 2005

On a Behind The Music episode from years ago one of the guys from (I think) Fleetwood Mac said that while they were on tour he would take the paintings in the hotel rooms apart and add little figures and stuff to them, then put them all back together and rehang them. I've been looking at hotel paintings closely ever since, but from now on I will have to look behind them too.
posted by fshgrl at 1:29 PM on May 11, 2005

Josh Homme does these? I have new respect for the man. Always thought his albums were merely OK, but this is awesome.
posted by fungible at 2:01 PM on May 11, 2005

It was the word drainage that got me shuddering. I guess this was a basement then? I was expecting the word "ventilation."
posted by agregoli at 2:09 PM on May 11, 2005

i always thought they screwed down the art in hotel rooms? to prevent theft? (although God knows why anyone would want that stuff)
posted by amberglow at 2:14 PM on May 11, 2005

one can also simply hang art you have already made behind hotel room objects in similar fashion, without any actual defacement :)
posted by gren at 3:31 PM on May 11, 2005

I've occasionally enjoyed doing something similar - painting on concrete floors that are being recarpeted. While I'm not sure how well they'll survive when the carpets get taken up again, I like the idea of people finding paintings on the floor several years from now.
posted by ubersturm at 3:46 PM on May 11, 2005