Artist Aidan Walbækken decorating QT Wellington's new graffiti room. Photo / Supplied
Artist Aidan Walbækken decorating QT Wellington's new graffiti room. Photo / Supplied
The Banksy exhibition has arrived in Wellington, and with it, a graffiti-themed stay at QT Wellington, writes Katrina Bennett
When one thinks of Wellington one thinks creative, edgy, eclectic and political. One thinks windy and cultured with a generous serving of suit-and-tied public servants.
It’s diverse and it’s colourful, attracting those wanting to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo.
It’s a place that unsurprisingly provides the perfect backdrop for an exhibition by English street artist and political activist Banksy.
The Art of Banksy exhibition opened at Tākina, Wellington’s new exhibition centre, last week. It’s the largest collection of authentic works by the artist and is running for seven weeks throughout the summer.
To celebrate, QT Wellington has put together a package to make the most of the attraction and bring the street art inside. It includes a night in the hotel’s new graffiti room, two tickets to the exhibition, two cocktails and breakfast.
For us, it was a staycation, a chance to recharge amid end-of-year madness and a welcome break from the kids. To be honest, a night in a hotel room with a decent sleep was inviting enough.
What I didn’t expect was the weekend to rekindle my fondness for Wellington and remind me why we chose it as a place to set down roots.
It’s been a tough year for the capital with endless headlines about public sector job cuts, business closures and council ineptitude.
It’s easy to buy into the narrative about a city “dying”, but beneath that facade there’s a city still absolutely buzzing with delectable food, colourful characters and inspiring art.
It seemed too perfect that on our arrival at QT Wellington the president of one of NZ’s main political parties was seated in the Gallery Lounge. A perfect illustration of how in this city politics and art really do mingle and mix.
Childless and fancy-free we started our escape with a drink.
For the duration of the exhibition, a special Art of the Spirits menu is on offer, serving up three cocktails inspired by both Banksy and Wellington. We ordered all three.
Our mutual favourite had to be The Mural Next Door, a cocktail made from lime, frangelico, blue curacao, tonic water and, surprisingly, crushed cashew nuts. It’s inspired by the well-known Shark Wall mural nearby.
The Golden Mile - love it or hate it - is a brilliant take on one of the city’s most contentious transport projects, and the Q Tease a flirty (and beautiful) take on a martini.
The Art of Spirits cocktails at QT Wellington. Photo / Supplied
It was our first stay at QT Wellington despite having lived in the city for some 15 years. Getting to our room on the hotel’s “iconic” Gallery 4 level took some time as we wandered around taking in the quirky and captivating art adorning the walls.
The beehives and accompanying buzzing, a personal favourite.
As a special treat for guests, Wellington artist Aidan Walbækken has decorated a new “graffiti room” where art lovers can stay to maximise their Banksy experience.
He’s described it as a room where people can be “totally immersed in art” and he’s not wrong. As soon as you walk in it is loud, bright, energising and fun.
A large balcony provides a sweeping view of Wellington’s waterfront, and the bathroom is the epitome of luxury with a rain shower, freestanding bath and Dyson hair dryer.
Situated on Tory St, the hotel sits right in the heart of Wellington’s entertainment district. We made the most of our night in the city with dinner out and more cocktail sampling, enjoying the best of the capital’s hospitality industry.
QT Wellington's new Graffiti room is bright, loud and fun. Photo / Supplied
Luckily the room comes with breakfast, meaning sore heads from over-indulgence be damned. A long, lazy stint in the Hippopotamus restaurant had us refuelled and caffeinated, ready to hit the exhibition.
For any fan of Banksy, the exhibition delivers a wondrous walk through his career, enhanced by an energising soundtrack featuring the likes of Blur, Portishead, Massive Attack and The Chemical Brothers. It’s a full experience.
But even for those who aren’t familiar with, or don’t particularly like his art, it’s topical and it’s relevant with pieces challenging perspectives on the likes of the war in Gaza, sexuality and consumerism.
Inspired and re-energised - as much by the music as the art - we headed back to QT for a special Graffi-Tea High Tea.
In a tribute to all that is beautiful, delicious and rebellious, Chef Antoine Collet has taken graffiti and street art and transformed them into three tiers of delectable bites.
Macarons and white chocolate éclairs with a splash of paint sit alongside crab cakes and salmon gravlax.
The pièce de resistance – Tatin Pomme d’Amour with spiced apple and caramel mousse - is Collet’s take on Banksy’s Girl with Balloon.
There are five accompanying teas to sample, our favourite being the outrageously good lemon sorbet.
The Graffi-Tea High Tea is a feast for the senses. Photo / Supplied
QT Wellington’s General Manager Colin McClean says they’re trying to bring some of Banksy’s “rebellious energy” into the hotel with this package and create something unique for guests that encapsulates everything they stand for – art, unexpected experiences and quirky luxury.
From our experience, they’ve more than delivered.
Our short stay took us back to the edgy streets of London and Belfast where our relationship first started, to the bars and restaurants we used to frequent before parenthood settled us down, to the hedonism and activism of our youth.
It filled our tummies, our minds, our hearts and our souls and brought Wellington’s charm back into focus.
DETAILS
Graffiti Room package includes one night stay for two, two tickets to the exhibition, two cocktails and breakfast - available until January 19. Cost: $550 per night
