Hug Bag / Aswarm
3196
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Hug Bag

the art of embracing

An interactive installation designed for training in the art of embracing and the making connections between strangers.

Like a Boxing gym, but where the bags are designed to be hugged. - Walking amongst the installation, each huggable node performs like neural network of sonic, smelly, squeezable synapses.

People United 10th anniversary Kindness Commission

"The artists worked with Newington Residents to design a Kindness Investigation Sensory System (KISS) or 'Hugbag', which provided people with a sense of the power of this kindness hotspot"

- Tom Andrews Founder People United

Embrace one and it will begin to throb with a rising choral interpretation of a ’hug’, culminating in a sonic and luminary pulse, that connects across to another Node and another person, embracing another Hugbag - randomly making-a-connection between 2 audience members.

Each node features its own sonic and olfactory identity inspired by moments of kindness documented in a 6 week study about acts of kindness with the local community residents, offering an alternate lens to the negative reputation locals felt the area had been stigmatised with.

Congratulations on a lovely event, these things take a lot of work I know but it’s clear the impact the project has had on all the participants – wonderful. So impressed and I absolutely LOVE it

- Hazel Stone, Sidney Cooper Gallery

Commissioned with Newham* Big Lottery, Kent
*pinned as one of the most economically deprived neighbourhoods in England

Developed in collaboration with Chloe Osborne & Katie Frances and residents of Newham Best Fest, Kent.

Photos by: Ben Gold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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