Interact With Art - Modified Social Benches

This series of giant sculptures standing on the Songshou Square is the work of famous Danish Contemporary artist Jeppe Hein. Inspired by the garden benches often seen in parks, Hein redefines the meaning and relations of the act of “sitting” by changing the benches' ordinary design. Uniquely shaped, some of these benches look like small rolling hills, while others a winding river. Visitors have to alter their posture in order to sit on these benches and in so doing they’re encouraged to interact with the persons sitting next to them, prompting conversations. These modified benches transform their surroundings into places of social activity rather than rest and solitude and foster exchange between the users.

Other than inviting the viewers to interact directly with the artwork, Hein also wishes to close the gap between strangers, encouraging more physical and spiritual exchanges between the folks of modern time in a public domain.