Table for Two Pairs Two Strangers to Have a Cup of Tea Together

Table for Two brings the juxtaposition of being surrounded by so many in a populous city but yet choosing not to interact with those around us. The interactive art installation by French artist Shani Ha of AyzART, an independent nonprofit art group, split a table in half with one sitting indoors while the other half sits outside separated by a clear glass wall. A cup of mint tea is offered to anyone who sits down, a custom in North Africa and Algerian region where Ha is originally from. The project allows for open and spontaneous interaction between two strangers and opens the door to creative communication as people try to interact with each other between the glass. At other times, people choose to look past each other while at other times, looking at one’s reflection when no one is on the other side of the table allows for deeper introspection. According to Ha, “I’m from Paris and living in New York forces me to interact with people I love the most through computer screens. I find it really fascinating to see how we can be so connected to people who are so far away and yet so disconnected from people who directly surround us.” The art installation will be on location at the corner of 7th Avenue and Carmine Street in New York until March 14.