Completely strange but functional objects

On Tuesday 31 January, the OAI inaugurated Hisae Ikenaga's installation "Reproductions of Elements", an intervention that is part of the "Art in Situ OAI" initiative.

After Filip Markiewicz and his Klangkörper (to be installed in July 2021), it is now the turn of the artist Hisae Ikenaga to propose an artistic work that engages in dialogue with the da Vinci Forum building, the headquarters of the OAI.

Both artists were the winners of the first "Art in Situ OAI" competition, launched by the OAI in December 2020.

With this competition, the OAI wants to remind us that the regulations stipulate that 1% of the construction cost of any public work must be devoted to an artistic component. It is important that builders think about the integration of art in a construction project as early as possible.

The gesture is also intended to be a source of inspiration for private-sector clients.

Filip Markiewicz's neon lights will remain in place until 30 June 2024, while Hisae Ikenaga's installation will be visible until December 2025.

The next two editions of the competition are already planned, one in 2024 and the other in 2027, with two new winners each time.

Hisae Ikenaga's proposal is discreet, subversive and humorous. The artist has scattered throughout the building a series of elements that, at first glance, look real and useful, but on closer inspection or if we look more closely, turn out to be fake and even absurd. These are devices such as switches, information panels, a fire extinguisher, a radiator, a handrail... These elements have a functional appearance, but they are all made by the artist out of cardboard or paper mache. The way they are assembled and some of the details of their covering clearly reveal the subterfuge - the handrail fixed to the outside of the ramp, the fire extinguisher and radiator suspended in mid air, the words in Luxembourgish written on the alarm boxes...

While contrasting with the rigour and minimalism of the da Vinci Forum, this diversion of objects by the artist invites the observer to question the built environment and to be more attentive to certain constructive details.

A brochure and a film will be offered by the OAI shortly to document the whole process. Hisae Ikenaga will also give a lecture on her approach, the work and the issue of In Situ at a date to be confirmed.

More information on Art In Situ OAI I : www.ArtInSituOAI.lu