Shibboleth by Doris Salcedo is a chasm in the floor of the Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. The word refers to a custom or linguistic identifier that serves as a litmus test for belonging to a group; if you do not know the custom or cannot say the word, then you are obviously not part of the group. The installation is about the dangers encountered when crossing borders and when people find themselves in situations of racial hatred. It represents a deep division and the immigrant who is never welcome. This piece is meant to be intrusive and to serve as a reminder of disruption rather than an attack. When the show ends, the piece will be filled in, but a scar will remain. There is a short video on the website where Salcedo, who is extremely well-spoken, describes her work. (And note comment that follows …)

Artist: Doris Salcedo
+ tate.org.uk

San Francisco’s Hotel des Arts is a boutique hotel that doesn’t just hang art on its walls, the art IS the walls. Of its 56 rooms, 36 have been painted by a variety of local talent, including underground and emerging artists (room by Punkadelik pictured above). Hotel des Arts offers not plasma television screens nor Frette linens, but instead the experience of sleeping within a mural. Each of the painted rooms is by a different artist, so the styles vary enormously. In addition to the permanent art work, Hotel des Arts is also home to a gallery featuring the work of happening San Francisco artists. Today happens to be the unveiling of the ten most recently painted rooms at what the Hotel is calling a “loud, fun event”: Painted Rooms - Hot Summer Night. Enjoy.

Artists: various
+ sfhoteldesarts.com

Barcelona has always been a city proud of its appearance and architecture, not to mention its abundance of artistic energy, so it is not surprising that the graffiti, or street art, of Barcelona is a respected medium. This art form is not at all Catalan in nature, of course, but was imported from the US taggers of the 1980s to become n important expression of street cool. Barcelona walls are a blend of traditional tags and stencil art, attracting a mix of international graffiti stars who appreciate the creative vibe of the city, as well as Barcelona’s lenient attitude towards an in-your-face public art movement.

Artist: unknown
+ bcngraffiti.com

How often do we long to be part of the hoopla surrounding great exhibitions that are thousands of miles away from home? While the Nomadic Museum that currently houses Gregory Colbert’s Ashes and Snow may not be able to drop as many calling cards as we’d like it to, this is a travelling exhibit idea whose time has come. This 45 000 square foot temporary structure, designed by Shigeru Ban, is made of 148 stacked shipping containers on Pier 54 in Manhattan. Subsequent stops for the Nomadic Museum will be Los Angeles and then on to the Vatican.

Architect: Shigeru Ban
Artist: Gregory Colbert
+ ashesandsnow.org