Elk Test refers to a test that is used for testing cars ability to avoid hypothetical moose on the road.

The premise is that in Sweden (where this test is required) it is possible for a moose to jump out into the road and become a dangerous obstacle. The car needs to be able to approach the ´elk´ at a minimum of 37mph(60kph) and be able to swerve out of the way safely. The test was introduced after a managing director at SAAB was killed after his car collided with an elk.

The test became famous in October 1997 by the dramatic failure of the Mercedes A class that ended on it´s roof. The test is a particular problem for vehicles with a high centre of gravity which are more likely to have tyres leaving the road surface as the car rolls in the turn.

On the occasion of being interviewed for an article in the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, the journalist Robert Collin from the motor magazine Teknikens Värld tried to explain this test by the example of an evasion manoeuvre for an elk on the road. It was soon called “Elchtest” (elk / moose test).

Because Mercedes-Benz was forced to upgrade the A-Class, the test was important in the popularization of Stability Control.

The term „Moose test“ is also used in a more general sense to refer to any stringent test of the quality of a product.

Sandra Mann started an elk test by trying to build an life-size elk out of used empty food-packages. While paying attention to the rules of gravity she involves the visitor helping building the elk and asking them to draw sketches and share experiences about where to find elks in Finland.

The visitor is invited to test the sculpture and to make his own personal elk test.

Sandra Mann (born. 1970 in Gross-Gerau, Germany) is artist-in-residence at HIAP during spring 2008. After studying art history in Frankfurt/Main, Mann completed the Academy of Art and Design in Offenbach. Since the mid-1990s she has travelled and worked abroad and her photos have been showed in several international exhibitions. In 2006 she won i.a. the New Talents Förderkoje at Art Cologne. Her works have hung amongs others in Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt, Kunsthalle Mannheim, Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Tiroler Landesmuseum in Austria, Goethe Institute in Athens and Museo Universitario de Ciencias y Arte in Mexico City.

The exhibition is a collaboration of HIAP and Kaapelin Galleria. Sandra Mann’s exhibition IMAGINe/g of THINKING at HIAP Project Room until May 23rd.