happiness is round as a ball | 2016, 2017
... SOMETIMES IT HITS THE POODLE DOG
The interactive exhibition is full of rolling and bouncing objects. Everything is in motion. Marbles and balls collide with memories, cultural-historical aspects, sensory impressions, and physical properties. When does roundness make us happy, and why isn't happiness angular? In search of answers, the exhibition looks into the tube rather than the box, emphasizing a playful and participatory approach to the topic. Visitors complete the exhibition through their presence and interaction, experiencing a surprising, funny, and absurd journey through a rounder world.
Stories ABOUT Science
Physics, gravity, chain reactions, or probability calculations. Gumball machines, Christmas baubles, planetary constellations, philosophizing pufferfish, and bubbling jellyfish. Is there such a thing as round Dadaism, or what does language on planet 13xPI have to do with mathematics?
Viewers experience all these phenomena, regardless of whether they graduated from school a while ago or still have a long way to go. The objects awaken or create memories and serve as a platform for stories and quotes about round and spherical things.
Concept: Jens Burde, Vanessa Valk, Julia Nothelfer (MUKS)
Artistic direction: Jens Burde, Vanessa Valk, Julia Nothelfer (MUKS)
Ideas and implementation by: Jens Burde, Vanessa Valk, Dr. Oliver Labs, Katja von Puttkamer,
Christian Mielert, Konrad Wiemann, Johanna Kaudewitz, and the team at the Museum of Culture
and Spiel Riehen (MUKS) as well as the team from the Mitmachausstellung Ingelheim (MIMA) association
e.V.)
The project was funded by the Ministry of Science, Further Education, and Culture.
Rhineland-Palatinate, from the Mainz Bingen Cultural Foundation
With thanks to the municipality of Riehen, the municipality of Ingelheim, the Sparkasse bank, and the
Volksbank and the many companies that supported us with advice, assistance, and materials.