BATHTUB BLISS

2025

Architekturforum Zürich, Zollstrasse 115, 8005 Zürich
March 12 to April 26, 2025, curated by aka

Memories of our childhood: rooms, smells, feelings. How would you draw these experiences?
The "Architecture of Memory" exhibition brings together over 50 architects and artists from Switzerland who explore how we transform spatial memories into thoughts and art.
I had exhibited my installation "Bathtub Bliss". Here is my description: "When I heard the title of the Architecture of Memory exhibition, I spontaneously thought of the apartment where I lived with my parents and my brother from the age of 1 to 8. That was in the 1970s. A block of flats in Lucerne. 4 ½ rooms, 1st floor, small balcony. As far as the size of the apartment is concerned, my memory jumps back and forth - sometimes it's big, sometimes small. Immersed in a game, the walls opened up. When we were crying at night, however, everything was oppressively cramped.
I also only have a vague memory of the floor plan. I tried to reproduce it in drawings for this exhibition. I did so on an inflatable plastic dolphin. This dolphin refers to an episode. In contrast to the floor plan and the size of the apartment, I remember this episode very well. Perhaps also because there is a photograph of it.
Well, I was about 4 years old and took a bath in the evening. For once, together with my mom. And to my great astonishment, I was allowed to take my giant inflatable dolphin into the bath with me. That was a great moment for me. My favorite person, my favorite animal, united with me in the bathtub! A sublime moment! Incidentally, the heart in the floor plan on the dolphin indicates the bathtub.
How did we arrange ourselves in the little tub from the 60s? Well, as a sandwich. My mother at the bottom, the dolphin in the middle and me at the top.
I can remember how I felt back then very well. It was cramped and cozy. I felt safe and secure. My heart opened up ... I felt a great expanse. Yes. I felt deeply happy at that moment. And yes. I still enjoy bathing today."