2023

auf Anfrage zugänglich

Haus für Kinder in der Albert-Camus-Straße 24, 81248 München

44 Objekte aus engobierter und mit Acrylfarbe handkolorierter Keramik, Größen variabel zwischen 7 cm und 65 cm

Architecture: ALN | Architekturbüro Leinhäupl + Neuber GmbH, Landshut

Landscape architecture: Gruenhoch4, München

Photos: Malte Wandel

Text: Julia Anna Wittmann

Green peas hop, climb, and jump over the door frame. With eyes wide open, mouths formed into an awed “O,” and hands waving in the air, the curious vegetable makes its way through the daycare center, where all kinds of fruits and vegetables populate the walls. A sour-looking yellow lemon crosses its arms across its chest. Its eyebrows are critically furrowed, its lips curled. A dynamic red radish follows a rounded raspberry, two sleeping purple eggplants cuddle up together, a smiling shallot knits its brows together.

In the newly built daycare center, the Haus für Kinder on Albert Camus Strasse in Freiham, colorful fruits and vegetables with expressive faces have only recently been cavorting across the walls. The anthropomorphic victuals were realized by the Berlin-based artist Nigin Beck. Her work, “Fruits and Vegetables“, teaches the center’s young charges something about non-verbal interaction, while also honing their awareness of healthy foods. The ceramics modeled by the artist have a sculptural surface texture and display traces of the handiwork done. Altogether, Beck made forty-four individual ceramic objects for four cloakrooms and waiting areas, each distinguished by a different color. The fruits and vegetables are separated into the color groups green, yellow, red, and purple, and attached to the light wooden walls as if they were reliefs. Raised eyebrows, astonished looks, or pursed lips—facial expressions often betray our feelings and intentions faster than words do.

The important ability to interpret non-verbal communication not only contributes to social development, but also enables effective interpersonal communication. After just a few weeks, newborns are able to recognize facial expressions, and up to the age of five years, they continue to develop an increasing sensibility for various emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, and surprise. Nigin Beck’s work “Fruits and Vegetables“ serves as an entertaining and educational opportunity to learn emotional intelligence and social abilities. At the same time, positive emotions are associated with the healthy foods that many children disdain. The colorful ceramics accompany visitors, big and small, to the daycare center, and they keep watch as the children learn, laugh, and play.