Peace Sofas
A campaign to inspire people to talk together.
We found pairs of people with opposing opinions, cut their sofas in half, merged them together, and sat them down to talk.
We embedded the recording of their conversation into speakers in the sofas. They were exhibited at the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna and auctioned at the largest art auction house in Austria.
Impact
22
Free media impressions
173
Earned media value
9
People pledged to talk more with opposites
On June 18, 2018, Sunaria and Andreas walked into a room to see their own, personal sofas had been cut in half and merged with another. They had never met before. Sunaria is a former refugee, having fled Iran during the Iran/Iraq war, risking her life to finally receive asylum in Austria.
Andreas is an Austrian American who has heard of the many challenges of allowing all refugees into the country. But despite their differences, they sat down together to peacefully discuss their differences. Both came away with a greater and more compassionate understanding of the other’s side.
On June 18, 2018, Marian and Katia walked into a room to see their own, personal sofas had been cut in half and merged with another. They had never met before. Katia was worked on the cause of feminism almost all her life.
Marian is a devout Christian with a strong belief in traditional values. But despite their differences, they sat down together to peacefully discuss their differences. Both came away with a greater and more compassionate understanding of the other’s side.
On June 18, 2018, Gustavs and Karl walked into a room to see their own, personal sofas had been cut in half and merged with another. They had never met before. Gustavas has never experienced homelessness in his life and wasn’t sure if everyone who is homeless in Austria is in true need of help.
Karl knows the homeless community well. In 1996 he started Augustin, a newspaper about the streets of Vienna, sold by homeless people throughout Vienna. But despite their differences, they sat down together to peacefully discuss their differences. Both came away with a greater and more compassionate understanding of the other’s side.
On June 18, 2018, Mirjam and Andrea walked into a room to see their own, personal sofas had been cut in half and merged with another. They had never met before. Mirjam is passionate about a woman’s rights to choose an abortion.
Andrea is a devout pro-life Catholic. But despite their differences, they sat down together to peacefully discuss their differences. Both came away with a greater and more compassionate understanding of the other’s side.
Campaign Partners
”The sofa is a great place to create a dialogue between people with contradictory opinions. It’s a perfect symbol.
Dr. Christian StrasserMBA, director of MuseumsQuartier Wien
