Objet d’art

What does the world’s most expensive hotel room look like? Located at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, the Empathy Suite, which is perched 34 floors above the Vegas Strip, is designed by world-renowned British contemporary artist Damien Hirst and overlooks the American city’s famous boulevard. The residential masterpiece is reserved exclusively for million-dollar casino rollers for a minimum of two nights at a princely sum of US$200,000.

From bespoke indoor furniture to wall decals sporting the iconic butterfly motif from Hirst’s debut exhibition in London in 1991, the hotel room is home to six of the artist’s signature installations, each showcasing his eclectic exploration of death as a central theme. One of which is Winner/loser, a white tank with two suspended bull sharks. An installation from his most prominent series, it features animal carcasses in formaldehyde-filled tanks. Set seamlessly into the wall, the artwork is placed behind a brightly coloured pool table in the game room, greeting guests as they enter the space.

Besides these outstanding works placed in different areas of the suite, art fans will also be thrilled to find that Hirst was personally involved in designing every corner of the room with textiles that feature his signature designs. For example, 104 stone butterflies have been incorporated into the suite’s contemporary marble floor, lending a contemporary feel to its interiors.

The Empathy Suite is also equipped with two massage rooms, a private healing salt chamber, as well as an outdoor cantilevered jacuzzi with mosaic inlaid with butterflies and pill decals. As part of the stay package, guests will also be brought on an exclusive behindthe-scenes tour to view the resort’s extensive art collection, which comprises art works from icons such as Jean‑michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol.