The Cullen Hotel Experience

The young Will Deague, son of Demolition Dave Deague an Australian art patron, is CEO of the Art Series Hotel Group, an innovation in the local hospitality and art scene.  The new boutique hotels, six in total, to be opened over the next two years in this country are each named in honour of an Australian artist and will feature major artwork commissioned especially for the hotel foyer by the naming artist.

“Our group is the first to name hotels after individual artists,” boasts Deaugue and added, more importantly that the aim of the project is to “bestow the artist’s style and character so thoroughly throughout each hotel to create a total art experience for guests.”

Design Federation’s Miss Pigelle visited the Art Series Hotel’s $48 million tribute to Australian artist, Adam Cullen. He of the putrefied pig skull chained to his ankle fame, or the collaboration with Chopper Reed in their devilish dabbles in children’s books notoriety or Anita Cobbey portraiture ill-repute.  Streaky, drippy, spray-painted, iridescent and crude, Cullen snatched for the Archibald prize in 2000 with his controversial David Wenham portrait which followed closely on the heels of his “Only Women Bleed” debacle.

The space itself is like your coolest friend’s uber-chic new pad, but better.  The collaborative efforts of the artist himself, in-house curator Jane O’Neill and a team of interior decorators has resulted in a high impact impression.

The vibe is funkified by lots of trendy white space, glass and mirrors, Eames-inspired furniture, ghost chairs and a powerful sense of futuristic urbanity.  The interiors might be a little same-same for the jaded, but when utilised as the canvas for Cullen’s garish, bright and organic work (which are splashed around the hotel the same way the man takes to the paintbrush) the effect is genius.   Guests are greeted at the lobby by a silver life-sized cow tattooed in black Texta scrawl, the frosted glass walls in the flawlessly designed studios are imprinted with a watermark taken from Cullen’s works (Miss Pigelle’s room had a rather sedated 2 metre donkey that seemed neither fussed by what was happening in the toilet in his left side nor the bed on his right) and huge, original framed artworks explode from every free wall and engulf you in the elevator.  In fact, each room has two unique digital prints for the private enjoyment of its occupants for the duration of their stay. The experience is immersive and to exhilarating effect.

The focal aspect of the designer building, home to 119 suites, including 38 permanent residents, is the riveting chandelier that hangs the length of the 6 storey building. Bare globes bundled together by thick, veiny red cords which drip vividly in empty space like Cullen’s typically stylistic splatters.

The concept of the boutique hotel is to capture the energetic spirit of Cullen’s work throughout every aspect of the experience.  In fact this is taken so seriously that James Sharrock, who showed me around, handed me a business card printed with his job title Guest Experience Manager. He explained that the idea was that everything, from the service, to the menu, to the vibe of the hotel, should complement the artists’ indie style. “The idea is to match and mimic the Adam Cullen style,” Sharrock explained, “which is a little grungy and individualistic.”

The spirit of grungy individuality was not lost on Miss Pigelle, a little bit Secret Lives of Us, a little bit Mall Rats, a little bit Faulty Towers.  Sharrock noted the relaxed approach to dress code, “Staff are encouraged to live by the beat of their own drum. We allow piercing and tattoos and are much more relaxed than other hotels about them being a little unshaven or scruffy.” And they are… in a good way.

“People appreciate that you can connect with an individual personality and not just your usual robot behind a service desk.”

But nothing at The Cullen bears much resemblance to your usual hotel experience. AFL stars Shane Crawford and Ben Dixon are on board as the exclusive personal trainers for corporate guests but wellness is assured with the hotel’s luxurious pillow menu. Dubbed “The Art of Sleep,” Design Federation can confirm the hotel bedding to be a poetic lullaby of feather-down taken straight from angel wings. Other special features include the authentic dumpling house adjoining the hotel along with Smart Cars and push bikes available for guest hire featuring the artist’s colourful creations.

Certainly there is a lovely sense of young professionals doing it differently and the Prahran setting suits this nicely. Though at times,  appreciating the laid back attitude to service in a hospitality venue can be trying.  It’s still early days for them, but to be fair what hotel does room service well? And doesn’t that serve Design Federation right for not heading back to The Terrace Bar & Bistro, certainly not your usual depressive lobby bar. Filled with the cool young things off the Prahran streets and guests, this trendy little alfresco hub serves up tapas and cocktails from dawn to dusk, it seemed.

This holistic approach may still be in its infancy at this point but then The Cullen only opened its doors in November last year, so with time I am sure the finer points will all be ironed out.  Perhaps these rough edges and youthful exuberance are the perfect embodiment of enfant terrible, Adam Cullen.

The artist himself frequents the hotel to work, party and run amok. He imports his arty crew to help him stir up a ruckus, and who wouldn’t through one’s weight around in a hotel named after you? After all, Paris does.  The hotel also has friendly contracts with Sony and Network 10, ensuring the hotel plays host an elite crowd of creatives.

The second, bigger  in the series, The Olsen ($80 million), is set to open its South Yarra doors in a few weeks and is slated to be the flagship of the group.  Taking its cues from John Olsen’s pastel tones and gentler subjects, this next larger flagship hotel will be a classier, more ambient experience, according to Sharrock. The Blackman is slated to open in June and the roll-out will continue with one only wondering what quirks of service and style the group will serve up with the openings of The Larwill followed by The Whitely and The Knight.  If they are able to meet the very high standard set by this first taste, the Australian art world has finally found a worthy partner to go to bed with.

The Cullen Hotel

Article By Miss Pigelle

Tags: Art Series Hotel Group, The Cullen Hotel