The Aesthetics of Disgust

‘The revolting object exerts a certain “macabre attraction” over the subject, leading to a peculiar absorption in the object and lending a magnetism to this aversion.’

Aurel Kolnai

The power of disgust affects us in every aspect of our life. Disgust shocks, entertains and sears itself into memory.

By introducing the aesthetics of disgust as a tool for design, one can intensify the user and object relationship through creating paradoxical emotions, going beyond practicality and functionality.