Camouflage, 2023
Installation for the exhibition UTOPIA at Kulturstock 3, Pischelsdorf, Eastern Styria
Printed cotton fabric, approx. 90 x 90 x 250 cm

„Camouflage“ is an installation designed as a walk-in tree trunk made of fabric, providing shelter for one person in extreme scenarios like war, blackouts, or nuclear disasters. This concept draws on the primal instinct to seek hidden sanctuaries to survive undetected during catastrophes.

Inside, the sparse facilities include one seating area and 30 QR codes linking to lifehacks from the SURVIVAL handbook for US soldiers. These codes provide tips on Shelter, Fire, Water, Basic Survival Medicine, and Lifesaving Steps. The inclusion of QR codes is ironic, highlighting the futility of digital reliance in real survival scenarios where power outages would render such resources useless. This emphasizes the importance of hands-on survival skills and creativity over mere information access.

Inspired by Hannah Wiemer‘s book „Landschaftslektüren zwischen Theater, Kunst und Krieg 1914–1945“, which explores the role of artists in military tactics during World Wars I and II, „Camouflage“ reflects on how artists created deceptive visuals like tree and tank dummies to confuse enemies. The evolution of camouflage techniques, driven by advancements in warfare technology, saw artists being formally involved in military efforts to develop these strategies.

During World War II, institutions like the New Bauhaus and the New School of Design in Chicago, led by Lazlo Moholy-Nagy, adapted their curricula to include camouflage and material research, essential for wartime needs. This adaptation highlighted the role of creative problem-solving in conflict.

„Camouflage“ serves as both a reflection on survival and a historical commentary on the intersection of art and warfare.

Link to Llifehacks: https://chibidziura.com/category/projekte_aktuell/camouflage/