NEST is a sensory spatial installation that narrates a myriad of birth stories sourced from all over the world. It invites visitors to explore childbirth embedded in the community and supported by speculative technology.

The spatial installation is an inflatable space that resembles both a cocoon and a womb. It has an amorphous shape and a variety of textures. On the walls of the design, animated stories of the speculative futures of birth-giving are mapped for visitors to contribute their narratives, aiming to influence more compassionate, inclusive birth practices globally.

NEST is more than an installation, it is a space for reflection, contemplation, and conversation. It blurs the lines between science and personal experience, between individual and collective stories. The installation becomes an instrument for initiating dialogue, welcoming people from any background to engage with new perspectives on birth, care, and the values that shape our futures.

In NEST, we showcase the digital artwork created by Amritha R. Warrier with the starter subsidy for Birth Futures and project images and stories collected in the international workshops in India and Peru. This project is part of the "Birth Futures" initiative, which addresses gaps in human-centered childbirth care by hosting speculative workshops with midwives, healthcare professionals, and young parents, using the art installation as a kick-starter for dialogue and a safe space for discussions. NEST serves as a vessel for Birth Futures’ research, transforming stories into accessible and emotionally resonant gathering places, where speculative narratives come alive and visitors are invited to participate in envisioning more compassionate birth practices in an ecosystem of care.

Ultimately, to address feedback on previous proposals, NEST focuses its energy on offering a platform where birth is not just discussed but physically and emotionally experienced, opening new pathways for dialogue, and care, and reimagining the boundaries of the human experience