Cushion Commons

In the brink of climate change, we wanted to test alternative ways of designing and producing installations. The installation consists of large soft elements that serve sitting comfortably on the floor for flexible gathering setups. In their forms, some of them more rock-like, other more animal-like, they bring something from the natural world in indoors man-made spaces. These “beings” support the bodies of the visitors as they convene to discuss, watch, play or rest. They are made our of cotton and natural dyes, because when the installation is not of service any longer, its materials can be composted, for the love of the life cycle. They are filled in with borrowed local materials. When the elements are not filled, they can be folded, becoming thus easy to travel with, reducing costs and environmental impact. In every new iteration, elements are added, removed or reshaped, to accommodate the particular spatial and program needs. The cushions were initially designed for the student forum (initiated by prof. Nora Sternfeld) at documenta fifteen in Kassel. After that, it has been shown at the “non-knowledge festival” at Harburger Bahnhof, curated by Annika Larsson in Hamburg and Now Play This festival in the Somerset House in London, curated by Sebastian Quack. When not travelling, it is part of the HFBK’s social infrastructure, and students are managing it as a commons.

Designed and created by: Benjamin Bakhshi, Luna Becker, Mia Bernecker, Lasse Bork, Elena Böttrich, Eythar Gubara, Luisa Höfer, Paulina Kindler, Heesu Kwon, Amira Mostafa, Yelyzaveta Musiienko, Kaddy Saho, Anna Stapelfeldt, Mouna Weitz, Peng Zchei, Inga Zhaivoronska, Jiemin Zhao, Cathrin Rebecca Zumhasch