Guerilla vanilla
You are and always will be vanilla, just like everyone else - but you do you, honey.
With vanilla often being used as a default flavour, "being vanilla" has become synonymous with "being plain". Why do people mock both plainness and those who are different than usual? Why does the right amount individuality play a large role in western society? The work "Vanilla Guerilla" criticizes the worlds obsession with uniqueness and individuality. It ridicules the compulsion to be unique, which has become a vanilla social concept in itself. After all, if everyone aims to be unique, what is unique about being unique? Can embracing one’s vanilla side be a controversial and therefore individualistic statement? Participate in Guerilla Vanilla and allow yourself to be tricked into being, well, just yourself, whatever that may mean to you. The images and video below provide an impression of the work.
When entering the room, a large white box and a red carpet are visible. The pedestals exhibit regular household products containing vanilla.
The box will only open up to vanilla people, as no doorknob is attached.
A Leiden University sign tells that the next part of the experience contains interactive elements and that disinfecting is therefore mandatory. The disinfection contains a vanilla smell, by disinfecting your hands the door will automatically open.
The text "Your hands smell vanilla. Push the button to be unique" and a small red button is visible when entering the room. The text indicates that your hands smell boring.
A small red button is visible, however there is no button there to push. The button is a hologram.
After leaving the box, you will be confronted with the text surrounded by small peepholes. Through the peepholes you see the person who entered the room after you trying to push the red button. A set of strings is projected behind the person, as if he/she is manipulated by a puppet master.
This project was carried out together with Ingrid Weerts and Ásbjörn Erlingsson.