Kissmiklos Transforms a Public Restroom in Budapest into a Neo-Pop Art Gallery

Detailed Information
Project Name	POP&ROLL	Posted in	Interior Design, Art	Location	6 Dorottya utca Budapest 1051 Hungary

When we think of public art, we usually picture monumental sculptures, expansive murals and digital projections but what rarely comes to mind are public restrooms. Enter Hungarian designer and visual artist Miklós Kiss, a.k.a. kissmiklos, whose latest project, POP&ROLL Art Toilet, transforms the mundane experience of a public restroom into an immersive, phantasmagorical encounter. Located in the heart of Budapest, the Art Toilet fuses functionality with art and design, featuring 20 distinctive toilets that serve as a canvas for more than 100 of kissmiklos' artworks.

Inspired by the interiors of Budapest's Eastern European spas and swimming pools, and the gaming world of the 80s and 90s, the Art Toilet is whimsically designed down to the smallest detail in the artist’s signature Neo-pop aesthetic which kissmiklos describes as a "Gesamtkunstwerk", a total work of art. Swathed in vibrant candy hues and populated by a posse of cheeky figures, from pooping unicorns, rainbow-farting flying pigs, and peeing Teletubbies to the artist's signature “emograms” (smiley faces made up of jumbled letters that spell a word expressing an emotion, thought or concept), the space begs to be shared on IG stories and Tik Tok videos all the while poking fun at our social media-obsessed culture of curated perfection and instant gratification. Along with the adjoining Art Shop and Art Gallery, kissmiklos’ POP&ROLL project demonstrates that contemporary art can be insightful as much as fun.

Visitors stepping inside the Art Toilet are greeted by a painting of a giant mouth holding an MDMA-like emogram spelling the word LIKE. Cheekily titled “GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY LIKE,” kissmiklos’ artwork sets the tone for the artist’s playful critique of social media. A flight of stairs leads down to a ‘locker room’ lined with display vitrines that contain 106 artworks. One section showcases a series of discarded stuffed animals that Kissmiklos has given a new identity, with the word LOST across their emogram-styled faces; another features a series of colourfully painted water guns, with yet more emograms in a third section spelling words like TABOO, OOPS, NICE, PEE and NERVOUS.

Divided into blue-coloured boys' and pink-coloured girls' sections, each of the 20 toilets sports its own unique design. Mosaic tiling in some toilets conjures the pixelated aesthetic of 1980s and 90s video games, but instead of popular figures like Pac-Man, Mario and Donkey Kong, poop emojis and rubber ducks take centre stage. In other cubicles, swarms of “Goldenroaches,” another of kissmiklos’ signature motifs, make for an unsettling yet playful décor, while mirror-clad cubicles offer the opportunity for self-reflection.

Most brazen of all are the cubicles that are ‘occupied’ by life-size sculptures of peeing or pooping 18th-century-attired figures. Apparently unperturbed by the glass doors, the porcelain figures had the common courtesy to place DO NOT DISTURB signs, where observant visitors will also read that ART IS AN UNWELCOMING SOCIETY. With a treasure trove of such cheeky details, plus a lo-fi electronic soundtrack inspired by 80s and 90s video games and a curated selection of scents, the Art Toilet offers a multisensory experience unlike any other public restroom – needless to say, it’s also a magnet for selfies.

Offering an exclusive collection of artworks, prints and unique artist-designed merchandise by Kissmiklos and other artists, the adjoining Art Shop may be more subdued in design than the dreamlike restrooms, yet it doesn’t fail to impress thanks to a giant toy monkey whose arms and legs transform into armchairs for visitors to rest on. On the walls, thousands of ‘Likes’ enhance the décor’s playfulness while commenting on the value and impact of social affirmation.

POP&ROLL Art Shop. Photography by Daniel Herendi.

Rounding up the POP&ROLL project is the Art Gallery, a space dedicated to showcasing emerging and established artists. Its inaugural "POP BY" exhibition back in March, showcased new work by Kissmiklos along with older pieces, functioning as a little teaser to the POP&ROLL Art Toilet and Art Shop. The space is currently hosting an artistic dialogue between photographer Eszter Sarah and glass artist Dóra Varga, curated by Kissmiklos. Whether viewing, browsing, or even relieving oneself in POP&ROLL, there’s no denying that kissmiklos’ mission to make art accessible, enjoyable and ultimately an integral part of everyday life is brilliantly realized.

Whether viewing, browsing, or even relieving oneself in POP&ROLL, there’s no denying that kissmiklos’ mission to make art accessible, enjoyable and ultimately an integral part of everyday life is brilliantly realized.