Inspired by Albert Camus’ quote, “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer,” this installation captures the quiet resilience of the human spirit. A single seat, surrounded by a warm, glowing yellow window, serves as a beacon of inner strength amid the cold. Light spills outward, casting vibrant colours across the floor, while scattered autumn leaves evoke both the beauty of change and the inevitability of decay. Yet, within this glass enclosure, warmth and hope persist.

In line with SUMOfc’s belief that “specialization is for insects,” this piece bridges the physical and emotional realms, merging architecture, design, and nature. The juxtaposition of the warmth inside the window and the wintry scene outside evokes the tension between vulnerability and strength, isolation and connection. It invites viewers to contemplate their own capacity for endurance, encouraging them to find warmth within themselves during life’s colder moments.

Through this visual metaphor, where magic realism intertwines with tangible elements, the piece transforms the every day into the extraordinary. The surreal mask and the ethereal glow of the setting create a sense of wonder, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. Here, resilience, collaboration, and creativity emerge as powerful forces that transcend seasons of adversity.

SUMOfc is an art collective using art to find new methods of understanding how humans influence their environment. Creating artworks that challenge participants to think beyond convention, building warm, meaningful bonds that go beyond language and culture.

SUMOfc would like to give special thanks to Akb Architects for showcasing this exhibit in the atelier’s front window and for sharing our passion for exploring the emotional symbiosis between art and design.