Page 67 - Designing Ways 243

create spaces that provide a sort of escape,
a meditative feeling.”
On 25 February 2021, Black Box
opened and the exhibit also includes over
200 objects by designers from all over the
world, such as Philip Stark, Konstantin
Grcic, Jaime Hayun, Richard Hutten, and
Stefan Sagmeister. It is the first time these
pieces, which are part of the museum’s
own collection, are displayed to the
public.
Shani Hay’s installation is an evolution
of her earlier work for the Tel Aviv Crafts
and Design Biennale 2020 at the MUZA -
Eretz Israel Museum, which also featured
soft, rock-like shapes in grey tones. Nature
and animals are central to Shani Hay’s
designs, and her other projects include
bean bags and poufs in animal shapes, as
well as larger assignments for schools and
private résidences. dw
Technical Sheet
• Sarit Shani Hay, Soft Landscape, 2021
• Materials: Wood construction, foam
and Acrilan, manual and machine
sewing, felt, and New Zealand
lambswool upholstery
• In collaboration with Camira Fabrics,
UK
For many years she had created soft there was a great feeling of uncertainty and
dolls and objects using various techniques anxiety.” “Recently I’ve become interested • Date of Exhibition: February 25, 2021
- June 5, 2021
while dialoguing with ancient handicraft in the therapeutic effects of time spent in
designs. Her specialisation in design for nature, particularly on children, a feeling www.shanihay.com
children has led her to frequently engage that has enhanced due to our life under
with the reciprocal relations that soft the pandemic,” she added. “I’ve strived to
objects create in their encounter with
children and adults.”
The installation is on the second floor
of the museum, and the pieces are wood
constructions filled with foam and acrylic
and wrapped in New Zealand lambswool.
Almost as if drawing the gently-curved
shapes with a pencil, the designer made
dense stitches using a traditional craft
technique to follow the curves and
emphasize the sculptural shapes. Shani
Hay chose lambswool for its organic
quality that is warm and natural-looking
but also durable and heavy-duty. She had
planned for the pieces to be played and
lounged upon, but due to COVID-19
regulations, it is not possible for children
and adults to sit on them now.
The installation is also a commentary
on home, nature, and refuge during
the pandemic. “I started to work on the
installation a year ago when the museum
approached me,” said Shani Hay. “It was
the beginning of COVID-19 days and

dw • Issue 243 67