As part of the X-mas Series, the Heidi Horten Collection invites contemporary artists each year to design a seasonal Christmas installation. Following contributions by Manfred Erjautz (2022) and Tillman Kaiser (2023), the museum is presenting *Blue Lips (Kiss-mas)* by Maruša Sagadin for this year’s Christmas: a sculpture that takes the form of an oversized, plum-shaped Christmas tree ornament. The work deals with the concept of adornment in the broadest sense, including the adornment of the human body. When viewed from a certain angle, the form can also be recognized as a pair of lips that—as the title suggests—are colored blue.

The blue lips can be seen as a reference to the side effects of winter temperatures or to human coldness, or—as a techno-futuristic makeup look—as a statement challenging normative beauty ideals. Drawing on the potential of language, Sagadin introduces another twist that instantly transforms “X-mas” into “Kiss-mas.” The lips appear as a reference to the cultural practice of kissing—and thus as an expression of friendly or romantic connection—which brings interpersonal closeness into focus.