Mind Expanders – Haus-Rucker-Co
Monday, 11 June 2012
Mind Expander – Haus-Rucker-Co 1967
Mind Expanders I and II, made in the late 60’s, by architectural group Haus-Rucker-Co are a couple of performative-architectural sculptures allowing two enclosed bodies to entwine within them – facilitating a conjoined altered state of psychedelic comm(union). The first Mind Expander uses the group’s trademark inflatable clear plastic material in which a cybernetic fly-head balloon appears decorated with layers of reflective materials in geometric patterns.
Mind Expander II – Haus-Rucker-Co 1969
Like other works by the group, such as Environment-Transformer, these enclosures create a space for intimate introspection and hyper-awareness via sensory deprivation. It’s also a simple metaphor for the removal of oneself from consensual reality. Liberated from external distractions the user journeys inwards to generate personalised sensory impressions of their own. Taking the inflatable enclosure one step further – Haus-Rucker-Co proposed to populate the future with nomadic bubble-like houses, called Pneumacosms.
Work Gallery, London, will open an exhibition of the groups works from June through to September this year. They had this to say:
‘Haus-Rucker-Co.’s designs for inflatable structures, prosthetic devices and interventions into public spaces were also blueprints for social change and an experiential theory of architecture. Situating itself in the transitional ground between architecture, design and action art, the group was unique in its distinctive emphasis on the perceptual realm.’
