Imagine getting ready for a bath — but the tap just coughs and splutters. No water?! Aj Vana Be consists of 32 bathtubs. Together, they hold roughly the same amount of water that one person in Uppsala uses in a month. How much do you use yourself? The idea that water could ever run out in Uppsala feels almost unthinkable — and we want it to stay that way. But around the world, water is becoming an increasingly complex issue. Headlines about water shortages are now appearing even here in Sweden. Uppsala is growing, and more people will need to share our water. That’s why we all need to do our part — to take care of our most vital resource.
Czech artist Benedikt Tolar works at the intersection of art, design, and social commentary. With a playful yet serious eye, he often uses everyday objects – the kind we barely notice – and gives them new meaning. By placing the familiar in unexpected contexts, he raises questions about resources, consumption, and what we truly value. In Aj vana be, bathtubs become a powerful symbol of our relationship with water – the most fundamental resource of all. The piece reminds us that change begins by seeing the ordinary in a new light.
Akademiförvaltning • Akademiska Hus & Uppsala Universitet • Atrium Ljungberg • Bolander & Co • Bonnier Fastigheter • Castellum • Cytiva • Kulturlyftet x Uppsala Kommun • SH Bygg, sten och anläggning x Uppsala Stadsmission • Thermo Fisher • Uppsala kommun • Uppsala Vatten
Bertil & Britt Svenssons Stiftelse för Belysningsteknik • Cube of Art • Lindvalls Kaffe • MLT • Scandic • Vasakronan
