CARPET HANGER/ TRZEPAK Carpet hanger is a wired H-shaped structure made out of four welded tubes, originally designed for the purpose of beating the dust out of rugs. “In Poland it is called trzepak (a noun from the word trzepać, „to beat”; the beater itself is called trzepaczka)” Since the 1990s, it is very rare to see anyone using a trzepak for its prime function.” Unwittingly, it became a ‘multifunctional urban furniture, get together points, informal spaces for social gatherings in Poland.” During communism and early post-communism years due to “the lack of decent public spaces for outdoor communal activities”, young people begun using carpet hangers as a centre of social activities. “Trzepak” (tscheh-pak), turned out to be a great alternative for a bench, swing, playground, and even a football pitch. “You could do flips on the lower bar, or use it as a football goal, or a volleyball net. Finally, it was the base for all kinds of hide-and-seek or paper chase games, and a common meeting point for all the kids on the block.” Once inspiring and motivating to play, now, carpet hangers are gradually disappearing supplanted by vacuum cleaners and plastic playground devices. “Trzepak” seems to be becoming a symbol, reminder of the past, rather than an actual default meeting place. Back in the day, people would sit or stand or swing on them, but what is most important, they interacted with one another. I’m curious to explore if that’s going to happen again and Trzepak will be reinvented by its “new” users.
Carpet hangers are no longer used, not by the present generation of youngsters, therefore the installation was designed to explore how people behave when put into a public space brought from completely different reality. By setting up the space almost taken from the times of PRL Poland, I want to ensure that the essence of the “trzepak” will be exactly the same as formerly, the location, its surroundings. I want to explore whether the simplicity of trzepak and its indeterminacy will be sufficient to engage and encourage action in youth of today’s generation. The project is thus also about the change in people, difference in attitudes, reactions and behaviors. I thought it would be interesting to see if something so simple, seemingly unattractive, common and boring can “really” be an invitation to play? Will it bring on the same behaviors and habits as it used to with our parents and grandparents, can it be restored? Will it activate imagination and inspire? Maybe it will be given a completely new meaning and function? “To entertain” or “to play” is not Trzepak’s actual function. People have given it to this object, and it was due to them being playful, innovative and engaging that trzepak became such an important place to gather around. Its simple form was constantly inspiring people to search for new uses and play with them. In this case, it is people who interact with the installation, not the opposite. Trzepak is not entertaining itself but becomes playable in relation with people. Trzepak is a perfect invitation to play because of its openness for interpretation and variety and universality of undetermined uses. It will be interesting to see if it is able to draw the attention of young generation that has plenty of more entertaining alternatives to “play” with.