Hotel Beestenboel by Saskia Nelissen

About "Hotel Beestenboel"

by Saskia Nelissen

About the artwork

In the warm evening light, the façade of a small hotel shines, attractively lit and full of hidden life. In front of the entrance stands a woman wearing a headscarf, just arrived. She is welcomed by the receptionist: a stately pelican who hands her a reservation letter with utmost care. Above them hover two seagulls, each with one end of a clothesline in its beak - freshly laundered clothes flutter gracefully between them.

A flamingo strides by with a shopping bag dangling from its beak, perky like a domestic servant. On the pavement beyond, a kangaroo is busy with an unwieldy hoover, imperturbably cleaning the pavement. And in front of one of the entrances, quiet but alert, a polar bear lies in wait - a silent guardian of the Hotel Bestenboel's guests.

This is a world that embraces the absurd yet feels familiar. Each animal has its task, its place, its role, and together they form a harmonious whole. The woman, the only human, doesn't seem surprised by anything. As if she knows exactly that this hotel, run by animals, is a fine residence for her. The montage is carefully constructed from many photographic elements and playfully blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Two very small elements have been added in ai.

"Hotel Beestenboel" is an ode to imagination and the unexpected comfort that sometimes awaits you outside your comfort zone.

Created by Saskia Nelissen with support from AI.