COMFORT ZONE is an urgent and thought-provoking spatial installation designed to challenge our perceptions of warmth and comfort in the context of our evolving climate. The installation delves into the unsustainable duality of energy production and consumption that’s pushing our planet to the brink.

The installation reacts ingeniously to the presence of moving entities in the space, enveloping them in the gentle glow of infrared light. This red warmth, however, isn’t just a comfort; it’s a multi-sensorial reminder of the climate crisis we face. The intensity of this warmth fluctuates in response to meteorological data, symbolising the rollercoaster ride of renewable energy availability. This dynamic interaction isn’t just an art form; it’s a confrontation with our reliance on a planet in peril. It’s an interactive discomfort zone, where personal comfort wrestles with the harsh reality of dwindling energy resources.

COMFORT ZONE introduces an alternative approach to space heating. Rather than heedlessly heating entire rooms, it selectively warms the areas where warmth is truly needed and, crucially, only to the extent that our fragile environment can sustain. This challenges our conventional understanding of space and compels us to rethink it as a tangible yet immaterial comfort zone—a zone defined by necessity and bound by possibility.

For the exhibition I created a live data dashboard that visualizes current weather and energy information on the one hand and power consumption on the other hand, to convey their interdependency in this installation.