Collaboration Under Construction

Jack and device

Collaboration Under Construction (2026)

Jack Van der Reis
wood, acrylic, stainless steel, aluminum

The Concept

In our current sociopolitical climate, our democratic systems must grapple with deepening partisan divides and a lack of communication. As individuals retreat into their own echochambers, a lack of mutual understanding takes hold. Collaboration Under Construction disrupts this pattern by transforming a recognizable childhood board game—the Labyrinth—into a “seductive frame” for civic engagement.

By removing the traditional failure states (holes) and replacing them with a jarring “under construction” zone marked by black-and-yellow hazard tape, the piece mirrors the ongoing, imperfect work of democratic life. It is a physical manifestation of the friction between individual agency and the necessity of shared effort.

The board’s divergent destinations, marked simply as “END?”, challenge the notion of a single, universally correct political outcome. Players must accept that in a functioning democracy, the goal is often ambiguous and requires constant negotiation.

How it Works
  1. The Choice: The controls are spaced so that a single user can feasibly reach both knobs to force their way through the maze alone (autocracy), but the ergonomics heavily incentivize inviting a partner to assist (democracy).
  2. The Control: One participant controls the X-axis of the board, while the other controls the Y-axis. They cannot succeed without constant verbal and physical coordination.
  3. The Disruption: Participants must navigate a ball through a landscape that is partially obstructed and “under construction,” forcing them to adapt their strategy to systemic roadblocks.
  4. The Destination: Success is reached when the ball settles in an “END?” receptacle. The participants are left to decide for themselves if the outcome was just or merely the result of a forced compromise.

If the path to civic progress is perpetually “under construction,” is an awkward partnership more effective than a solitary forced effort? Will you be satisfied with your first END point? Find out.

Jack Van der Reis (b. 2004) is studying Engineering at Harvey Mudd College and Public Policy at Claremont McKenna College. His work explores the intersection of systems engineering, modern art, and social engagement to foster more just civic processes.