Architecture

Artists take up residence in hamster wheel-shaped "home"

Artists take up residence in hamster wheel-shaped "home"
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
View 13 Images
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The exhibit is the work of architectural artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The exhibit is the work of architectural artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
In Orbit features a large 7.6 m (25 ft) wheel constructed from wood and steel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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In Orbit features a large 7.6 m (25 ft) wheel constructed from wood and steel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
Two living units – one for each artist – are installed on the circumference of the wheel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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Two living units – one for each artist – are installed on the circumference of the wheel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
While it's obviously not going to win any prizes for practicality, the In Orbit exhibition is certainly thought-provoking and original (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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While it's obviously not going to win any prizes for practicality, the In Orbit exhibition is certainly thought-provoking and original (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The exhibit is the work of architectural artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The exhibit is the work of architectural artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
In Orbit features a large 7.6 m (25 ft) wheel constructed from wood and steel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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In Orbit features a large 7.6 m (25 ft) wheel constructed from wood and steel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
Two living units – one for each artist – are installed on the circumference of the wheel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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Two living units – one for each artist – are installed on the circumference of the wheel (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
To launch the exhibit, the pair lived on the wheel, all day every day, for 10 days (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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To launch the exhibit, the pair lived on the wheel, all day every day, for 10 days (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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The In Orbit exhibition is open until April 5 (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
To launch the exhibit, the pair lived on the wheel, all day every day, for 10 days (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
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To launch the exhibit, the pair lived on the wheel, all day every day, for 10 days (Photo: Pierogi Gallery)
View gallery - 13 images

If you've ever felt your daily routine was like being stuck on a hamster wheel, then spare a thought for architectural artists Ward Shelley and Alex Schweder. The pair actually did live in a "home" shaped like an oversized hamster wheel for some 10 days as part of their art exhibit, dubbed In Orbit.

Located in a space run by New York's Pierogi Gallery called The Boiler, In Orbit comprises a large 7.6 m (25 ft) wheel constructed from wood and steel. Two living units – one for each artist – are installed on the circumference of the wheel and to launch the exhibit, the pair lived within the structure all day, every day, for 10 days. To make the most of available space, one artist was located on the inside of the wheel and another on the outside.

Furniture and equipment such as a laptop, chairs, wardrobe and assorted amenities like a sink, toilet, and microwave are also located within the wheel. In order to access each area, the artists were required to walk in tandem to rotate it in the correct direction and remain upright.

While it's obviously not going to win any prizes for practicality, the In Orbit exhibition certainly offers food for thought. The artists are no longer resident in the wheel, but it is available to view until April 5.

Source: Pierogi Gallery via Design Boom

View gallery - 13 images
4 comments
4 comments
Anastasios Glykos
It's fun for the human hamster apart from mid-day when the toilet is at 12 o'clock.
Bob Vious
A disturbingly excellent consideration, Anastasios.
Nelson Hyde Chick
Where is HAL? This thing reminds me of the ship on 2001 a Space odyssey.
Gregg Eshelman
Toilets must be around the back sides of the two kitchen blocks.