At the occasion of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, curators Joël Benzakin and Jeanne Mouffe collaborated with Simon Friese, director of Creator Projects (Copenhagen, Denmark) to invite artist collective SUPERFLEX to create a site-specific installation.

The project, titled One Two Three Swing!, takes the form of a sculptural swing set. The swings act as a human-powered pendulum, converting potential energy into shared movement. Swings are ordinarily meant for individual use, but in this work each swing can seat three people. Those on the swing must together utilise the force of gravity, building up to the instant where falling becomes flying and everyone moves together. In this playful moment, the energy of collective movement is released. A plaque on the underside of seat suggests that if enough people are swinging together, the collective power produced might change the trajectory of the earth. Swinging from one side to the other, the device is a tangible illustration that mouvement, which is the condition for change, is only possible through coordination and unity of the forces in presence. 

Originally conceived for the Hyundai Commission 2017 in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, the installation was recreated in several locations all around the world, often with strong political significance.  

In 2019, SUPERFLEX was invited by the Real DMZ Project to install One Two Three Swing! at the Dora Observatory in South Korea, overlooking the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, marking the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Denmark and South Korea. 

Today, the work is permanently installed at Dorasan Station, within the DMZ itself. At the moment, the area is currently closed to the public.

In 2020, One Two Three Swing! was part of the exhibition Desert X AlUla, a site-responsive exhibition in Saudi Arabia taking place in the desert of AlUla, an ancient oasis home to the country’s first UNESCO world heritage site. As an exploration of desert culture, the exhibition brought together a plurality of voices, with fourteen artists from eight countries and two local co-curators - Raneem Farsi and Aya Alireza. Throughout its journey, the installation One Two Three Swing! has brought together people from all backgrounds and age, encouraging social interaction trough the shared experience of play.

In the context of The Artists’ Parliament, and in the heart of the legislative body of the European Union, the installation takes on an additional meaning, particurlarly significant in a troubled time for democracies : the artwork invites visitors to reflect on the values of cooperation, interdependence, and shared movement—fundamental to both the European Union and the global community. 

Installed in a unique circular formation, One Two Three Swing! will be a place to sit, contemplate, gather, and come face to face with others—including those you don’t necessarily agree with. It invites the audience to explore the power of play and the possibilities of collaboration, and collaboration always involved accepting friction. The shared experience offered by the work may trigger reflections on broader issues such as democracy, collective action and social connectivity. In this sense, SUPERFLEX’s swings are more than just an opportunity for play, they are an experiment in activating collective energy—energy that can perhaps be channeled to change the course of the planet and our path as a society.   

The artwork will remain on view throughout Denmark’s EU presidency, from July through December 2025. It will serve as a cultural landmark and a space for guests to come together—to play, to meet, and to reflect on the artwork and the necessity of collaborating together to create momentum, right in front of the European Parliament.