Who is actually controlling whom here—the body the machine, or the machine the body?

Move, push, pull, react: In “We are Gym,” body and machine become a unified system of movement. The interactive objects at the Muthesius University of Fine Arts and Design in Kiel resemble exercise equipment, but instead of building muscle, they invite visitors to explore the interplay between body, perception, and technology.

Every movement triggers a reaction from the machine, which in turn influences the next movement. This creates a cycle of action and reaction in which body, mind, and technology control one another. “We are Gym” playfully explores how machines influence our movements—and how our bodies change when we interact with them.

An interactive experiment at the intersection of the gym, design, and research: Movement is expressly encouraged!

An interactive exhibition project by the Industrial Design | Interface Design program at Muthesius University of the Arts in Kiel, in cooperation with sp ce, Muthesius, supervised and curated by Prof. Frank Jacob, Martin Fischbock, and Sven Christian Schuch

Funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) – Science Year 2026 – Medicine of the Future