A bench covered in shiny pins. ‘Inner Circle’

‘Inner Circle’ , by Nadia Kaabi Lini.
At Triennial, Bruges (BE).

This immediately made me associate with the barriers that are put on beches or in hallways to prevent homelessness from sleeping, or pins on facades, to prevent pigeons from resting.

And also made me think of the inaccessibility – as a disabled person – of many public spaces.

➡️➡️ From the website:

Nadia Kaabi-Linke brings her circular installation ‘Inner Circle’ to the Burg, comprising public benches that, although beautifully shiny, are rendered inaccessible due to the addition of sharp pins. As a visitor, you are unable to sit down or relax on them, making it impossible to use the benches to meet other people. Kaabi-Linke drew inspiration from researching the plaques and signs on buildings home to exclusive clubs or associations, with the circle often used as their geometrical basis. Such signs can equally be found on Bruges’ façades.

With ‘Inner Circle’, she seeks to bring these elite groups, but also other social circles, where the line between hospitality and exclusion is often fragile, into the spotlight. Her eye-catching shimmering sculpture draws attention to what is usually hidden inside, accentuating the emptiness that remains in between.

https://www.visitbruges.be/en/bruges-triennial-2021/artists-and-architects/nadia-kaabi-linke