Chindogu

Chindogu

The Japanese term “chindogu” refers to the art of creating useless ideas. Chindogus are strangely practical, utterly eccentric and designed to solve the minor problems of modern life, although they often fail miserably. There are 10 rules that a chindogu must fulfil. One of them is as follows:

„Chindogu are man-made objects that have broken free from the chains of usefulness. They represent freedom of thought and action: The freedom to challenge the suffocating historical dominance of conservative utility; the freedom to be (almost) useless.“

International Chindogu Society

This chindogu deals with proxemics, the scientific discipline of interpersonal spatial behaviour. How close people get to each other shows how familiar they are with each other. Only family members, sexual partners and close friends are allowed to enter the so-called “intimate distance” of less than 45 centimetres. The “personal distance” is between 45 and 120 centimetres and is reserved for friends and acquaintances.

In public spaces, both distances can easily be exceeded, for example in lifts or on public transport. The chindogu helps to expand personal space. When folded, it is worn like a normal scarf. When unfolded, two fans at the back blow air into the object. Within a few minutes, the wearer is enveloped in a bubble of air. Communication with the outside world is instantly interrupted, visual and acoustic stimuli are muffled, and everyday movement becomes almost impossible.