Sophie Calle: The Hotel

Sophie Calle worked as a chambermaid at the Hotel C in Venice, Italy, in 1981, and used her camera and tape recorder to document the lives of the hotel guests. She photographed the contents of closets and suitcases, examined the detritus in the rubbish bin, and eavesdropped on arguments and love-making. Her thievery is the eye of the camera, observing the details that were not meant for her or us to see. Siglio is releasing its third book authored by Calle, after The Address Book (2012) and Suite Vénitienne (2015).

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2021
Publisher: Siglio Press

In 1981, Sophie Calle embarked on a remarkable journey as a chambermaid at the Hotel C in Venice, Italy. Armed with her camera and tape recorder, she went beyond the confines of her role and delved into the lives of the hotel guests. Assigning herself to 12 rooms on the fourth floor, Calle meticulously examined the state of their bedding, books, newspapers, postcards, perfumes, cologne, traveling clothes, and costumes for Carnival. With a methodical eye, she took photographs of the contents of closets and suitcases, scrutinizing every detail, from the detritus in the rubbish bin to the toiletries neatly arranged on the washbasin.

As she explored the guests' personal belongings, Calle uncovered a wealth of information. She discovered their birth dates, blood types, diary entries, letters from loved ones, and photographs that captured their relationships and family. She even eavesdropped on intimate conversations and moments of passion. In her pursuit of knowledge, Calle was not afraid to take what was not meant for her eyes. She would retrieve a pair of shoes from the wastebasket, savor two chocolates from a neglected box of sweets, and leave behind stashes of money, pills, and jewelry. Her thievery became the subject of her camera's attention, capturing the unseen details that lay hidden from the public.

The Hotel C, which had previously been featured in the book Double Game, now finds its way into the English language in a new edition. Collaborating with the artist, Siglio has released its third book authored by Calle, following The Address Book (2012) and Suite Vénitienne (2015). Sophie Calle, born in 1953, is an internationally renowned artist whose groundbreaking works often blend conceptual art, Oulipo-like constraints, investigative methods, and the plundering of autobiography. Her work has garnered significant attention, with a retrospective organized by the Whitechapel Gallery in London in 2009, and her pieces showcased in prestigious museums worldwide.

Through her unique perspective as a chambermaid, Sophie Calle has created a profound exploration of the ordinary and extraordinary lives of the hotel guests. Her meticulous attention to detail and willingness to delve into the private realms of others have resulted in a captivating body of work that challenges our perceptions of reality and privacy. The Hotel C, now translated into English, allows a wider audience to experience the intricate world of Calle's artistic vision.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 220 x 156 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781938221293