Sorry, we’re open

This work responds to the question “How to open to the public” with a phrase that’s both familiar and unsettling: “Sorry, we’re open.” Laser-cut from shiny metal and placed gently on grass, the words become both a sign and a sentiment — an ironic welcome, a reluctant invitation, and an almost subconscious apology for existing. Installed on the wall of HGK (university of art and design Basel) — a place that has always felt open and accessible to me — the billboard complicates the idea of public access. Schools are one of the few institutions that truly let you in, again and again, yet this openness comes with its own tensions. It’s not just about access; it’s about exposure. The phrase suggests that to be open is also to be vulnerable, and perhaps even to feel guilty for taking up space. This piece asks whether openness is always a good thing — and whether we can ever be truly open without also being raw, uncertain, or exposed. In a world that constantly demands presence, visibility, and accessibility, “Sorry, we’re open” reflects the uneasy edges of public life: the blur between invitation and obligation, generosity and exhaustion.