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By Madison Stirling
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The Beat Seat is simply a cushion designed to fit the benches of the subway station. It is a reaction to the bum- proof benches found in downtown Los Angeles that were made to make sleeping virtually impossible and sitting uncomfortable. The Beat Seat is a social critique of the way we acknowledge, or rather do not pay mind to, the homeless.
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Since coming to New York, I personally have found myself in awe of the conditions in which the homeless dwell. I have struggled to understand whether this fascination sources from compassion and a desire to help or that these people have created an identity that is such a farce and is seemingly beyond anyone’s control. I found The Beat Seat to be a solution in which my intervention is not too bold in it’s statement. The fabric treatment of the cushion is meant to feel as if it could exist in one’s home, alluding to the idea of a designed shelter for the homeless without actually constructing the structure itself. For me, it is a way to mark my acknowledgement of the homeless without condoning their way of life.
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The Beat Seat touches on the same principles influencing the work of Cambodian artist Khvay Samnang. Though it lacks the underlying humor found in Samnang’s art, The Beat Seat is a reflection of certain societal conditions in a site- specific location (New York City).