September 24th - October 4th, 2015
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At the current time of overload, hurry and scurry, rivalry and interpersonal alienation it seems that we are in want of genuine connection and attention. Human behaviour is marked by the paradox of a profound split between introversion and the need to belong. Fear of the real world and intense dwelling in the virtual lead to obliviousness to real communications and ways of how to renew it, how to take part.
Hugging Sculpture is an interactive sculpture that is started off by a person hugging it and pressing it with their body, or even leaning on in. The device responds to pressure by returning the hug and starting to vibrate.
Hugging a device and not a person is part of virtual communication. But still, this unfeeling object does belong to material reality and can contribute to the opening and display of real feelings and thoughts instead of hiding them. It can help real communication and reduce self-enclosure and introversion. A harmless and innocent game with a sculpture thus opens up the way to making our feelings and needs conscious. The idea that Hugging Sculpture is designed as a product that could be put on somewhere in business premises and that employees could use it to balance their emotional needs is a partially comical and cynical commentary on today’s society.

production: uradisamARTLAB