Why Booking A Room At This Hotel Is Impossible

Modern art often defies expectations and plays with perceptions, and one striking example is Hotel EastLink. Situated beside a motorway outside Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Hotel EastLink is a seemingly ordinary high-rise hotel.

However, this building is not what it appears to be. It's an elaborate piece of art that has puzzled and intrigued motorists for nearly two decades.

At first glance, Hotel EastLink appears to be a high-rise hotel, a notion reinforced by its imposing size and the prominent "HOTEL" sign at its top. Standing 20 meters tall, 12 meters wide, and 5 meters thick, it indeed mimics the dimensions of a typical high-rise structure.

However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that this is not a functioning hotel but an elaborate sculpture created by artist Callum Morton.

Morton's design is intentional in its aim to deceive. The sculpture's realistic appearance, with illuminated windows that give the impression of occupied rooms at night, has led many to mistakenly believe it is a genuine hotel.

The confusion is compounded by the sculpture's location in a barren field along the EastLink toll road in Melbourne’s Dandenong neighborhood, further isolating it from any factual context of a typical hotel.

Despite its impressive size, Hotel EastLink's proper function is purely ornamental. It does not offer rooms or services, and the building cannot be entered. Instead, it is a testament to the power of artistic illusion and the impact of visual trickery. Morton's work invites viewers to question their assumptions and perceptions about familiar structures.

Hotel EastLink, positioned by a motorway on Melbourne’s outskirts, resembles a hotel but is a sculpture.

“Motorists will view it from the car as an actual hotel and perhaps, over time, as a strangely de-scaled prop that has escaped a theme park or film set,” artist Callum Morton described the concept of this project.

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Callum Morton, born in Montreal in 1965, studied architecture, urban planning, and fine art. He completed an MA in Sculpture at RMIT in 1999.

Over the years, Morton has taught at various institutions, including the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, the University of Melbourne, and the Victorian College of the Arts.

His work has been showcased in solo exhibitions at venues such as the Santa Monica Museum of Art (1999), the National Gallery of Victoria @ Federation Square (2003), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney (2003), Gimpel Fils in London (2004), and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (2005).

Art installations like Hotel EastLink challenge our perceptions in profound ways. Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a renowned relationship therapist, emphasizes that such works engage the public by creating a sense of curiosity and wonder. She states, "Art has the power to disrupt our habitual ways of seeing, inviting us to explore deeper meanings and connections." This disruption is crucial in a world where we often overlook the extraordinary in the everyday.

The hotel, created by Canadian artist Callum Morton, was revealed in 2007.

"I think it’s kind of interesting how putting something in a space that is slightly beguiling or a little bit strange changes the way people think about art or practice,” Callum Morton said about his one-of-a-kind artwork.

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"Eastlink Tollway FAKE Hotel Art Piece – Getting a Drone Up Close! "

Almost twenty years after it was first installed, Hotel EastLink still fascinates and surprises people. It's a great example of how art can mix with everyday life to create moments that make us think and wonder.

Morton's work isn't just about how it looks; it also gets people talking about what they see and what it means. Hotel EastLink shows how art can challenge our views and engage our minds, making it a notable part of Melbourne’s art scene.

While Hotel EastLink may appear as a functional structure, its lack of services highlights a larger conversation about the role of art in urban spaces. Urban planner and designer Jan Gehl advocates for integrating art to enhance public engagement.

He suggests, "public art can transform ordinary places into extraordinary experiences," making them more inviting and interactive. To improve urban design, cities could incorporate similar artistic elements to stimulate conversation and community involvement, ultimately enriching the environment.

Building Healthier Patterns

As we explore the intriguing phenomenon of Hotel EastLink, it's essential to recognize that art serves as a mirror reflecting societal values and perceptions. By engaging with such installations, we not only challenge our understanding of space but also foster community dialogue.

Experts like Dr. Alexandra Solomon emphasize the importance of community involvement in art, stating that it can create shared experiences that enhance social connections. Embracing art in urban environments can lead to meaningful interactions that transform how we perceive our surroundings and each other.