Anyone who has ever paid rent in this city knows that space in London comes at a shocking premium. And it’s no different for art galleries, so a project next year is taking an unusual approach by staging an exhibition in an actual Airbnb apartment.
‘New cosy 1 bed home | Shoreditch | Long Stays’ is named after the apartment’s online listing, and ‘aims to explore the commodification of the domestic and its impact on social and economic networks.’ The group show – which includes artists Jonathan Monk, Arthur Marie and Gretchen Lawrence – is full of work about alienation, the uncanny and the emotional, societal impact of living in temporary housing.
As cities around Europe fight against the impact of tourism and endlessly rising rents, this exploration of domesticity and alienation feels entirely prescient. The exhibition will be free to visit. But you may have to pay a cleaning fee.