Russian artist Gregory Orekhov has unveiled an innovative land art installation called "SoftPower" in France, transforming the traditional concept of military sandbags into an inflatable art piece that redefines the meaning of barriers. The installation replaces the conventional heavy, sand-filled bags typically used in conflict zones and disaster response with air-filled, pillow-like structures arranged in a circular formation.
The artwork maintains the familiar visual form of stacked sandbags but fundamentally alters their material properties and symbolic meaning. Instead of sand, the bags are filled with air, removing the functional weight and defensive capabilities that characterize traditional sandbags. This material transformation shifts the installation's purpose from creating a protective barrier to establishing an enclosed yet accessible space designed for contemplation and reflection.
Photographed by Nikita Subbotin, the installation consists of inflated elements that create what Orekhov describes as "a circle of stillness in place of a barricade." The circular arrangement deliberately contrasts with the linear, defensive formations typical of military sandbag installations. Rather than blocking access or providing protection against external threats, the soft, rounded forms invite visitors to enter and experience the space as a zone of pause and introspection.
The choice to install "SoftPower" in France carries particular significance, as the project engages with the country's historical role in projecting cultural influence through non-military means. This concept aligns with the broader geopolitical notion of "soft power," which emphasizes the ability to shape international relations through cultural, intellectual, and artistic exchange rather than military force or economic coercion.
Orekhov's work operates as a temporary architectural gesture that repositions the emphasis from defense against physical threats to the preservation and promotion of cultural and intellectual values. The installation can be interpreted as a spatial study in material reinterpretation and symbolic transformation, demonstrating art's capacity to recontextualize objects associated with conflict and transform them into forms that suggest openness, concentration, and non-aggressive resilience.
By replacing the weight of sand with air, the artist creates a metaphorical shift from heaviness to lightness, from aggression to gentleness, and from exclusion to inclusion. The "SoftPower" installation ultimately challenges viewers to reconsider how familiar objects can be reimagined within cultural and artistic contexts, offering new possibilities for understanding concepts of protection, community, and peaceful coexistence.
