Getting into jail is probably every person's nightmare, but what if someone told you, you are already living in a cage? What if you are already bound by the norms of society and its hypocritical ways of life? That's exactly what you'll realize in this swanky makeshift prison cell that you can rent for just a dollar per night.
Miao Jiaxin, a Shanghai-born performing artist in Brooklyn, has reportedly turned his studio apartment in Bushwick into a makeshift prison cell, complete with jail bars and is offering it for $1 per night. A $100 refundable security deposit is applicable.
The 6-by-6 feet prison cell has a small cot, a toilet bowl and a sink inside the bars, while there is a table with cabinets outside the cell and a separate completely-covered bathroom as well.
Jiaxin was advertising the "cage" on Airbnb.com first, but it has been moved to Facebook.
However, just like every other rental agreement, the tenant must comply with certain terms and conditions. According to the Facebook advertisement, these are the rules you must follow:
1. The prison cell will be monitored 24/7 via surveillance cameras.
2. The tenant must "stay in the cage from 9:00am to 12pm (3 hours) everyday" and that is MANDATORY! A two-day stay is a must.
3. In those three hours, you will not be allowed access to the internet or electronic devices. You will not be allowed to talk to anyone or even sleep. Any kind of art, books or activity is prohibited in those three hours.
4. The tenant's activity in the cell will be recorded and a live-stream section will soon be up on its Facebook page.
5. The key of the cage will be given to the tenant so they can lock and unlock themselves on their own. Also, it is a "ONE" person accommodation only.
6. Any violation of the terms and conditions will cost you the refundable deposit fee of $100!
Matthew Silver, another performing artist modeled to advertise the cage. Check out the video below:
Jiaxin told the New York Daily News that the prison cell was both an art piece and an accommodation. However, he added that the purpose for this project was to give people a taste of how life really feels in the New York City.
"It's not for fun. It's for an experience. More like a psychological New York City experience," Jiaxin told the publication.
Jiaxin is famous for his bold but insightful acts. He once set a pile of his hair on fire while on a Skype call with his parents in Shanghai. He said it reflected his alienation that he felt after he first moved to New York City in 2006.
The advertisement has already caught people's attention and many are willing to experience the cage.
"Between dominatrixes, S&M and fans of the series Oz, the potential crowd to draw from could be huge!" a comment on Curbed's feature read.
