A glance beneath the water’s surface reveals familiar sights – distant, alienated, stripped of their function. Aquascope makes this hidden world visible – directly from the shore, without getting wet. The swiveling and tilting underwater optics were designed for lakes or rivers to open up new perspectives below the waterline, similar to telescopes at mountain stations. To make small animals, plants, sediments, or invasive species such as the quagga mussel tangible. The installation plays with perception and recognition – and with the moment when both shift. The installation was specially adapted for the idyllic world of the Museum für Gestaltung’s pond, and new deposits were designed that can be explored and identified. Everyday objects, some of which can also be found in the design collection. Aquascope creates a sensory access to the underwater world – for curious minds, learners, and observers of all ages.
A project in the pond of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.