“Inflatable Sculpture in Ghent Requires Visitors to ‘Pump for Democracy’ to Keep It Standin” — what this page in the network covers. A seven-meter-high inflatable sculpture in Ghent, created by the artist duo zweintopf, turns a familiar monument into a physical exercise in civic participation. The work, which resembles a classical statue, requires continuous effort from visitors who must pump air into it to keep it upright; otherwise, it gradually deflates into an empty shell.
This interactive installation makes a powerful metaphor: democracy, like the sculpture, demands ongoing engagement and collective action to remain standing. By inviting the public to physically sustain the artwork, zweintopf shifts the role of the viewer from passive observer to active participant. The piece challenges the notion that monuments and democratic institutions are permanent fixtures, suggesting instead that they are fragile and dependent on the will of the people. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.