Rub the Belly is a temporary multi-purpose laboratory and a climbable landscape. Thanks to its inclination you can play on it, take a nap, take part in a yoga class, see an art performance or simply contemplate the sky.
The material to realize it is a recycled rubber coming from different types of rubber such as tires of cars or electrical components. Once assembled, it is compacted in big volumes and then cut in different sizes and shapes. It is a soft material that everyone wants to touch and interact with him. Are you ready to rub?
The top of the Belly collects rainwater. Thanks to the use of gravity, the rainwater is collected in a tank at the base of the hill-shaped installation.
Native Americans were dancing to make it rain. It was an event for all the community waiting together for the rain to come. Rainwater is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It is an important natural resource necessary for the survival of all ecosystems, including humans, animals, plants and microorganisms. The collected water can then be used to irrigate the existing trees of the Maxxi square and to play in different ways. The overall idea is to reduce the use of potable water.
But why collect water during the summer? Because water is scarce during the summer in Rome. Therefore, the dry period is the best moment to test and show the importance of this resource, raising awareness among the Yap-ers who will participate in activities on the Belly. With the project Rub the Belly we can collect up to 40.000 liters of water during the Yap 2016. This summer we will dance together on the belly to make it rain!
