modified social benches l u by jeppe hein at beaufort04

‘modified social benches l-u’ by jeppe hein, 2012 all images courtesy the artist and beaufort04

jeppe hein: modified social benches l-u beaufort04, de haan wenduine, belgium on now until september 30th, 2012

jeppe hein has installed a selection of his ‘modified social benches l-u’ by the seaside in de haan wenduine, belgium. the danish artist has created a playful interpretation of an entirely average seating implement. the ordinary outdoor, public benches have had their seats redefined by hein, as the space in which one would typically rest has been altered to a state upon which the viewer may not normally recline. the artist developed these works to evoke from the viewer an unexpected response from communication with an expected object. each of the pieces have been situated on the the dyke of de haan, their natural placement by the seaside follows the pedestrian path, bringing to the space an interactive element to which the site’s regular passersby did not expect to see.

‘modified social benches l-u’ is on show in de haan wenduine, belgium as part of the 2012 edition of beaufort04: fourth triennial of contemporary art by the sea.

the planks of this modified bench seat rise separately of one another, creating a lower rectangular space in the center and two raised pedestal formations on either side

an upside down ‘V’ shaped bench evokes a child-like fascination with an altered every-day object

the center of the bench’s seat has been removed

left: the center plank from a modified bench seat curls tightly into itself right: two benches, facing towards the water, divide the attention of the sea side visitor between the crashing waves and augmented seating

by the christianaplein, two visitors rest upon a modified bench

the upside down ‘V’ shaped bench is utilized by a seaside passerby

the ‘W’ shaped bench cradles two seaside visitors

each seat of the bench units have been altered in a unique manner

installation view of the modified social benches tracing the edge of the pedestrian path