From Non-Places to Meaning Spaces

 

Why True Wall Art Still Matters in a World of Transience

We live in a world of motion — constant scrolling, frequent moves, temporary homes. As cities expand and lives grow more flexible, our surroundings often become anonymous by design.

French anthropologist Marc Augé called these environments non-places — spaces we pass through, use, or rent, but never truly inhabit. Think: airports, supermarkets, hotel lobbies. But also… the white-walled rental apartment you just moved into.

These are spaces built for function, not feeling.

They hold us — but they don’t reflect us.

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🏠 Can a Rental Apartment Be a Non-Place?

Yes. And very often, it is.

Even a beautifully staged rental, with all the “right” furniture and perfectly hung frames, can feel emotionally sterile. Everything is replaceable. Everything is safe. You could be anywhere — and that’s the problem.

But a non-place isn’t a final sentence.

It’s just a blank — waiting to be filled.

With the right choices, even the most generic apartment can become a space of identity and presence.

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🖼️ Why Mass-Produced Art Doesn’t Help

 

Chain stores like IKEA, Jysk, and H&M Home offer endless aisles of “art” — neutral prints, abstract canvases, grayscale photographs. But these objects don’t solve the problem of non-place.

They’re designed for every wall, which means they belong to no one in particular.

They say: “Don’t offend. Don’t stand out. Don’t speak too loudly.”

But real art does speak.

It reflects emotion, tension, thought. It says something about the person who chose it.

And that’s exactly what mass-produced pieces cannot offer — a sense of self.

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🎨 Olshbau: Reclaiming Space Through Art

 

At Olshbau, we make art that interrupts blankness.

Bold. Geometric. Modernist. Every piece is handcrafted from plywood and paper, painted with sharp colors and strict form. No two works are alike.

They are:

• Objects with texture and weight

• Rooted in the visual languages of Bauhaus and Suprematism

• Made to claim space — not decorate it

Whether it’s a jagged horn, a floating triangle, or a circle that demands your eye — our sculptures are meant to pause the scroll and mark the wall.

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🌍 From Non-Place to Place

When you choose a piece of real art — something not made to please everyone — you begin to say:

“This space is mine. I live here. I matter here.”

Even in a short-term rental or furnished flat, just one strong object can change the room’s role — from use to belonging. From passive to personal.

You don’t need to renovate.

You just need to choose with intention.

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🛍️ Turn Your Wall Into a Statement

Explore our latest collection at Olshbau.art.

Whether you’re rooted or just passing through, our wall sculptures offer a chance to create presence — bold, real, and uniquely yours.