Animism

ADORNO invites you to ponder: what if furniture could speak? We talk about pieces as if they’re alive as if they’re people – the sofa goes well with the rug, the lamp has a lot of character, and so on – yet rarely do we entertain the notion that they might truly possess life. While such musings may seem reminiscent of childish fables, throughout nearly all of human history, the animist perspective – that everything, from rocks to rivers, is alive – was the only perspective. Now, the realm of science is steadily expanding the definition of life, challenging our ability to delineate between what is sentient and what is not, beings and things, subjects and objects. Organized as a banquet of design, this exhibition features eight chairs seated around a dinner table set with curated treasures, ranging from crafted cutlery to hand-blown glasses. Throughout the room pieces are breathing with life; sassy vases are wearing jewelry, thoughtful mirrors redirect, humble tapestries hang, lamps are singing silently, and cabinets are dancing, all engaging in a profound dialogue stretching beyond materials, colors, and culture. Animism invites visitors to engage with these pieces as fellow guests at a gathering. Engage them in conversation, learn their preferences, and befriend them. The exhibition hints at a path toward a sustainable future rooted in the wisdom of the past. By dissolving boundaries between the animate and inanimate we redefine our relationship to the material world. We envision a future where objects aren’t just commodities to acquire and dispose of but beings that we can know, befriend, and even fall in love with. Animism is an invitation to experience the world with wonder and reverence and to care for the objects that share our lives as if they were our kin.