Dislocated Utility 2026: Zurich Washroom Art Exhibit

Exploring what happens when contemporary design is removed from standard white-cube settings, Dislocated Utility: Objects out of Place offers a site-specific group exhibition inside a former SBB workers washroom in Zurich, Switzerland. Curated by Paulina Reséndiz and Natascha Madeiski during Zurich Design Weeks 2026, the showcase examines the boundaries between design, art, and craft through material practices.

The venue itself was originally built to serve SBB workers and their families who lacked private indoor bathrooms. Rather than creating a neutral white-box environment, the exhibition preserves the historical spatial structure. Individual cabins, washing areas, original tiles, and plumbing fixtures remain fully visible and form an integral part of the artistic presentation.

The exhibition unites 25 artists, designers, and craft-oriented practitioners, including creators like Dimitri Bähler, Monika Schori, Iris Schwarz, Charles Job, Jochen Holz, Thea Kuta, GRRRR, and Pierre Bögli. Their works span furniture, lighting, ceramics, glass, and textiles, creating unexpected dialogues when placed within the raw architecture of the former industrial washroom.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

By positioning contemporary objects directly within the existing architecture, the exhibition investigates how physical surroundings shape our perception of utility, material, and form. Highlights include Jochen Holz’s neon lamp installed inside a bathtub and bathroom carpets created by Thea Kuta and GRRRR, alongside porcelain lamps and glassware by other participating talents.