- Visual Art
- Installation
SQUEEZE, RELEASE, BREATHE
Nikkole Huss
3 July 2026 19:00–21:00
4 July 2026 12:00–21:00
5 July 2026 12:00–19:00
The 48 Stunden Neukölln 2026 Festival theme: OUT/SIDE/IN defines boundaries as permeable structures – physically and psychologically.
Huss’ kinetic installation, SQUEEZE, RELEASE, BREATHE investigates the fluctuating tension of navigating global plastic pollution. To create this installation, Huss gathered stress balls inscribed with imagery of global maps. Each stress ball was enveloped in plastic, suctioned to remove air and exhibited in various states of pressure. As a result, continents crumbled, boundaries blurred and lifelines suffocated. Plastic pollution is harming human health, damaging ecosystems and anticipated to increase at alarming rates of speed without collective intervention.
The title, SQUEEZE, RELEASE, BREATHE is a commentary on coping with the ingestion of plastic pollution and addressing the vital need for action. The first part, SQUEEZE, refers to the pressure, collapse and close quarters of plastic overload from all corners of the globe. The second half, RELEASE surrenders the weight of world plastic pollution just as a stress ball expands and contracts. The final realization or BREATHE, is the acceptance that boundaries are not areas of restriction but open spaces of possibility, positivity and hope by working together to map out a plan to reduce global plastic waste for future generations.
Huss’ kinetic installation, SQUEEZE, RELEASE, BREATHE investigates the fluctuating tension of navigating global plastic pollution. To create this installation, Huss gathered stress balls inscribed with imagery of global maps. Each stress ball was enveloped in plastic, suctioned to remove air and exhibited in various states of pressure. As a result, continents crumbled, boundaries blurred and lifelines suffocated. Plastic pollution is harming human health, damaging ecosystems and anticipated to increase at alarming rates of speed without collective intervention.
The title, SQUEEZE, RELEASE, BREATHE is a commentary on coping with the ingestion of plastic pollution and addressing the vital need for action. The first part, SQUEEZE, refers to the pressure, collapse and close quarters of plastic overload from all corners of the globe. The second half, RELEASE surrenders the weight of world plastic pollution just as a stress ball expands and contracts. The final realization or BREATHE, is the acceptance that boundaries are not areas of restriction but open spaces of possibility, positivity and hope by working together to map out a plan to reduce global plastic waste for future generations.
Biography
Nikkole Huss
Nikkole Huss is an American visual artist. She is a professor of art, art department program leader, Ferguson Art Gallery director and curator of the art collection at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, IL. While represented by Gallery UNO Projektraum Berlin, she has exhibited in Berlin Art Week, Rome Art Week, Berliner Liste, Tokyo International Art Fair, Gallery UNO in Chicago and the Civic Museum of Santa Marinella, Castello di Santa Severa in Italy. She has an M.F.A. in studio art from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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