The years of the coronavirus pandemic familiarised us with a new world of things: vaccine ampoules, disinfectant vials, disposable gloves and FFP2 masks. Our coexistence was regulated by law but also voluntarily limited to a few contact persons: for many, life took place at home. Living in a box. For almost everyone, this was very stressful and lonely, while some people found the prescribed closeness enriching.
In the midst of this situation, the end of which seemed completely unforeseeable, we called on international designers and artists to take part in ‘Living in a Box – Collection of Artefacts’ in April 2021. All 25 exhibits are available in this online gallery.
‘None of my colleagues had a plan for their professional future. Trade fairs were completely cancelled, companies were busy with other things than product development. I still remember very well my first phone call to promote our project. I immediately had Sebastian Bergne on the phone. He was – like me in our office in Berlin-Mitte – alone in his studio in London. I hadn’t known him personally before and had always missed him. Suddenly we were able to make time for each other. In 2023, at the first trade fair after the pandemic, we met for the first time. There was a similar telephone conversation with Godefroy de Virieu in Paris at that time; he did not ultimately make a contribution; our connection began in times of separation and has remained to this day.’
Dominik Harborth