Adelaide’s hotel and art gallery in one

If there’s a project that brings art and interiors together perfectly, the Minima Art Rooms is it. In the Hotel Minima, North Adelaide, large-scale murals and installations cover the walls of all 46 rooms.

Curated by Matthew Stuckey of Be Friendly, the work of 43 emerging artists from across Adelaide and Australia really is a “moment-in-time snapshot of South Australia’s emerging artist scene.” One of Matt’s biggest projects so far and as far as he knows the biggest of its kind in Australia, the project is unique; it has literally turned a hotel into one huge work of art.

It’s not your standard hotel interior by any means, and far from the minimal look the hotel had previously, so how did the project come about? In 2012, marketing manager Finn Miller decided they needed to improve the hotel’s market placement, and wanted to align their brand more with the creative sector, so asked Matt to consult in a creative way. Having wanted to work in hotels for a few years, and with lots of experience with murals and work in the public realm, it was a perfect fit for him. “I really enjoy being able to interact with the public in that form,” he says.

As a bold vision, the project began as a secret between Matt and Finn, only showing the owner after 3 rooms were complete. Thankfully, he “absolutely loved it.” With the go-ahead, they had to choose the artists. It was harder than expected, says Matt, wanting “to present a diverse range of artists – both to benefit the guests of the hotel and also to share the opportunity.” Between his creative friends and the general public though, 43 artists were picked. From “fine art painters such as Datsun Tran to street graffiti legends Kab 101 and Vans the Omega, to street artists like Peter Drew and typographers in the vein of Tristan Kerr,” it’s certainly a diverse range. However, a credit to Matt’s work and the theme of creation, there’s a sense of continuity that ties it together. This was “crucial,” says Matt, and it was all down to quality control.

So while there are rooms that won’t be to everyone’s taste, the quality of the work gives them merit nonetheless, “I don’t think there are any rooms where a guest could fault the level of finish or the artist’s effort,” says Matt.

If you want to stay at the Hotel Minima, you can see all 46 rooms here, take lucky dip (fun!) or book a specific room, subject to availability.