“Nøtel Corporation is proud to present our new marketing suite for the Nøtel, our flagship range of zerø-star™ hotels that embody the concept of fully-automated luxury.” — Nøtel CEO Statement
Nøtel is a multimedia installation for a fictional luxury hotel brand that explores the dark humour of corporate hospitality. Produced in collaboration with writer/musician Kode9, Nøtel anticipates a highly-mobile future society where ultra-high-net-worth individuals engage in a life of perpetual mobility. By reading personal data, the company is able to offer customised accommodation at any time of the day or night. Artificial intelligence replaces human personnel in meeting guests’ every conceivable need. Surveillance via drones, facial recognition and a correspondingly comprehensive system of sensors ensure the greatest possible customer service — at the expense of privacy.
Each version of the installation adapts to the locations where it is presented. At arebyte Gallery, London (2018), it references the large-scale urban regeneration projects around the site; at Stroom den Haag, the game features advertisements of the security industries that congregate around the Hague; and at the installation within a hotel in Essen, Nøtel incorporates a virtual gallery for the hotel’s collection of new media art. The latest iteration at MMCA Korea (2023) references the museum’s location on the site of the former Seoul District Armed Forces Hospital. In the game, your health steadily decreases, and you must obtain health power-ups to keep playing. There is also a secret luxury AI care facility to explore, Nøtel Care, which provides visitors with premium medical services.
