about

The Red Swing Project started in February 2007 as an urban intervention within the city of Austin, Texas. The initial project idea was to anonymously hang red swings in public places and see what happens, paying particular attention to public response to this familiar object set in an unfamiliar place.

Through guerilla fundraising and in-kind retired climbing rope donations, we have hung 90 red swings worldwide.

The simple red swing remains the constant while the environmental backdrops and cultural contexts change from place to place.

Over the years, we have hung swings in USA, India, Thailand, Brasil, South Korea, France, Spain and Portugal.

The Red Swing Project now offers a ‘how-to‘ instructional video and manual, enabling anyone to join the project. We are hoping to connect swing requests with new swing hangers worldwide.

Some questions we ask ourselves:

  • Why does public reaction differ from place to place?
  • What different roles can swings play for each individual?
  • How might a swing in India look different from a swing New Orleans?
  • Why would someone cut down a simple red swing?
  • What happens to a swing when it is cut down? Where does it go?
  • Why do some swings get cut down immediately while others last for years?

Look for more swings in a city near you.


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