Dosshaus: Paper-Thin Hotel

It’s almost difficult to remember life before Instagram or Facebook. There was a long time with no filters or followers, and certainly no anxiety whether the composition of your cafe latté is on brand. Even a decade ago, photographing one’s lunch for the sole purpose of showing friends and strangers would have been a strange thing to do. Not long considering how de rigueur this and more is for Millenials and all who have followed. The rapid pace of technology and innovation has revolutionized how we connect, date, communicate, and even, make a living. Exploring the impact these emerging cultures have on ourselves and how we see our place in society is the foundation behind Paper-Thin Hotel by creative duo, Dosshaus.

Artists Zoey Taylor and David Connelly are the creative force behind Dosshaus – the entity for their collaboration of work which includes painting, sculpture, fashion, performance, and now, cardboard. A medium in abundance, the two have crafted and designed hundreds of objects from cardboard, meticulously detailing items including typewriters, furniture, and even clothes. The endless supply of material has afforded Dosshaus the ability to create and supply the foundation for their next endeavor –  the duo’s debut solo exhibition: Paper-Thin Hotel. An immersive experience where guests can walk through the lobby and four hotel rooms to gather “a voyeuristic peek into the lives of the denizens of a low-rent residential hotel. Each room is a completely different environment, and the sculptures collected within suggest a narrative about its inhabitant,” explains Dosshaus.

A pair of lovers in the honeymoon suite, who upon closer inspection may have something to hide. Another room houses a traveling salesman who represents a time before e-commerce eliminated the middleman. “Room 103 implies the harried life of a traveling musician/writer, stretched out on the road in search of inspiration. This artist is forced to reside in this flophouse hotel because they can no longer support themselves with their art, a fate that has befallen countless creatives in the social media age,” says Dosshaus. A final room belongs to a  wealthy, eccentric older woman who's best years are behind her. Each of the rooms is separated by thin cardboard-covered walls, which are purposeful representations of its namesake.

Taking over the Corey Helford Gallery, Paper-Thin Hotel will have its opening reception on Saturday, April 7 from 7-11pm and will be on view through May 5th. “This is by no means a dour exhibition. Quite the opposite. The Paper-Thin Hotel is a glorious celebration of stuff. There is joy in every meticulous detail on view, and one is free to lose themselves, albeit momentarily, in a fantasy land devoid of the real-world trappings of politics, judgment, and consequence. We’re clearly enamored with the hotel dwellers we’ve created. This could be because the characters, as signified by the objects that surround them, represent different aspects of ourselves,” shares Dosshaus. As such, Taylor and Connelly will appear at set times within the installation, performing the role of one or more of the characters.

coreyhelfordgallery.com | 571 S. Anderson St. Los Angeles, CA 90033

April 7 through May 5th

Written by Ivan Navarro | Photography by Dosshaus