Little Nest
An installation for the playground at the Bessonnitsa Festival
Little Nest
Kaluga Region, Russia
Area: 6 m²
An art installation for children at the “Insomnia” Festival 2026
Kaluga Region, Russia
Area: 6 m²
An art installation for children at the “Insomnia” Festival 2026
In the festival’s children’s play area, there is a large nest made of flexible, gently curved branches. It looks as if a huge fairy-tale bird has just flown away from it. The nest embodies the universal archetype of home, a cocoon, and protection—a place you want to return to, where you’re welcome, where you can take refuge from the hustle and bustle and feel completely safe. It’s a real playhouse, full of tactile discoveries. A child can climb inside the nest, as well as crawl under it through special “entrances” beneath the base to hide or explore the secret space below. The entire structure is mounted on a sturdy wooden platform with support beams painted a bright red—this color adds a playful element to the structure, serves as a visual anchor, and signals: here, you can make noise, hide, touch things, and just be yourself. The red beams contrast with the nest’s natural brown-and-green color palette, emphasizing the boundary between the bird’s “wild” shelter and the man-made, safe world of children’s play. Inside the nest, little secrets await the child: the soft glow of warm light, the sound of a heartbeat, and the occasional cries of birds from outside. The cocoon-nest becomes a personal space for children, where they can retreat, take shelter from the festival noise, recharge, or simply sit in silence, feeling the hustle and bustle around them fade away. We offer our guests the value of a quiet sanctuary right in the heart of the festivities: a reminder that even at a noisy festival, everyone has the right to a moment of solitude, warmth, and a safe “cocoon” where they can take a breath and feel at home again.
