Designing an Interactive Sculpture about Dreams
Designing an Interactive Sculpture about Dreams
Designing an Interactive Sculpture about Dreams
A lot of my feelings and experiences have show up in my dreams. Over time, dreams have become this medium that I use to reflect on my experiences and self, to gain a better understanding of myself. I created this interactive sculpture for a gallery exhibition in New York. The physical exhibit features animated recreations of my dreams within a television, encouraging visitors interact with these dreamscapes with a remote.
I tested, gathered user feedback, & designed iteratively to create a surreal experience, designed for people to intuitively interact with. By making this work and recreating my dreams, I hope to give permanence to dreams in the physical world, and emphasize dreams as a medium of introspection.
A lot of my feelings and experiences have manifested in my dreams. Over time, dreams have become this medium that I use to reflect on my experiences and self, to gain a better understanding of myself.
I created this interactive sculpture for a gallery exhibition in New York. The physical exhibit features animated recreations of my dreams within a television sculpture, encouraging visitors interact with these dreamscapes using a remote. I tested, gathered user feedback, & designed iteratively to create a surreal experience, designed for people to intuitively interact with. By making this work and recreating my dreams, I hope to give permanence to dreams in the physical world, and emphasize dreams as a medium of introspection.
Interactive Art
Interactive Art
Interactive Art
Physical Prototyping
Physical Prototyping
Physical Prototyping
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
Designer & Researcher
Designer & Researcher
Designer & Researcher
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
4 months
4 months
4 months
SKILLS
SKILLS
Prototyping, Physical Computing, Animation, Projection Mapping, Collecting User Feedback
Prototyping, Physical Computing, Animation, Projection Mapping, Collecting User Feedback
Prototyping, Physical Computing, Animation, Projection Mapping, Collecting User Feedback
CONCEPT
CONCEPT
CONCEPT
All my dreams occur in a bedroom, the only place I can fall asleep. Naturally, I recreated this space as a canvas for my dreamscapes, selecting a few entries from my dream journal.
All my dreams occur in a bedroom, the only place I can fall asleep. Naturally, I recreated this space as a canvas for my dreamscapes, selecting a few entries from my dream journal.
All my dreams occur in a bedroom, the only place I can fall asleep. Naturally, I recreated this space as a canvas for my dreamscapes, selecting a few entries from my dream journal.
I usually record interesting dreams in my notes app, for fun 💭
I usually record interesting dreams in my notes app, for fun 💭
I usually record interesting dreams in my notes app, for fun 💭
I recreated these dreams as animations to project into a handmade bedroom ✍️
I recreated these dreams as animations to project into a handmade bedroom ✍️
I recreated these dreams as animations to project into a miniature bedroom ✍️
I chose to contain the handmade bedroom within the shell of an older television, to represent the past, retrospective nature of interpreting dreams. I also intend for this structure enable user interaction, giving visitors the chance to flip through channels and explore these dreamscapes.
I chose to contain the handmade bedroom within the shell of an older television, to represent the past, retrospective nature of interpreting dreams. I also intend for this structure enable user interaction, giving visitors the chance to flip through channels and explore these dreamscapes.
I chose to contain the handmade bedroom within the shell of an older television, to represent the past, retrospective nature of interpreting dreams. I also intend for this structure enable user interaction, giving visitors the chance to flip through channels and explore these dreamscapes.
Diagram of the exhibition setup
PROCESS OVERVIEW
PROCESS OVERVIEW
PROCESS OVERVIEW
Hollowing + removing back piece of television
Hollowing + removing back piece of television
Hollowing + removing back piece of television
Making bedroom sculpture inside television
Making bedroom sculpture inside television
Making bedroom sculpture inside television
Recreating my dreams as animations in Blender software
Recreating my dreams as animations in Blender software
Recreating my dreams as animations in Blender software
Continuing process until I created multiple animations
Continuing process until I created multiple animations
Continuing process until I created multiple animations
Setting up remote <> channel interaction
Setting up remote <> channel interaction
Setting up remote <> channel interaction
Diagram of the exhibition setup; animations are projected onto translucent fabric + circuit is behind pedestal
Exhibition setup; animations are projected onto translucent fabric + circuit is behind pedestal
Exhibition setup; animations are projected onto translucent fabric + circuit is behind pedestal
PHOTOS OF WORK
PHOTOS OF WORK
PHOTOS OF WORK
FIRST EXHIBITION: COLLECTING FEEDBACK + OBSERVATIONS
FIRST EXHIBITION: COLLECTING FEEDBACK
FIRST EXHIBITION: COLLECTING FEEDBACK + OBSERVATIONS
I exhibited this work @ theBLANC gallery in New York. During this exhibition, I talked to visitors to get their thoughts on it and observed their interaction with the work.
How did the exhibition design influence visitors' actions & perception of the work? Did they use the remote to flip channels? How long did they stay with the work?
I exhibited this work @ theBLANC gallery in New York. During this exhibition, I talked to visitors to get their thoughts on it and observed their interaction with the work.
How did the exhibition design influence visitors' actions & perception of the work? Did they use the remote to flip channels? How long did they stay with the work?
I exhibited this work @ theBLANC gallery in New York. During this exhibition, I talked to visitors to get their thoughts on it and observed their interaction with the work.
How did the exhibition design influence visitors' actions & perception of the work? Did they use the remote to flip channels? How long did they stay with the work?
GOAL: INCREASE INTERACTION + INVITE VISITORS TO STAY LONGER
GOAL: INCREASE INTERACTION + INVITE VISITORS TO STAY LONGER
GOAL: INCREASE INTERACTION + INVITE VISITORS TO STAY LONGER
During the first exhibition, I noticed things like the work's position, low pedestal height, and lighting, affected visitor interaction. For the second exhibition, I adjusted exhibition setup to invite visitors to stay for a while longer, to create a slower, more introspective atmosphere + encourage use of the remote.
During the first exhibition, I noticed things like the work's position, low pedestal height, and lighting, affected visitor interaction. For the second exhibition, I adjusted exhibition setup to invite visitors to stay for a while longer, to create a slower, more introspective atmosphere + encourage use of the remote.
During the first exhibition, I noticed things like the work's position, low pedestal height, and lighting, affected visitor interaction. For the second exhibition, I adjusted exhibition setup to invite visitors to stay for a while longer, to create a slower, more introspective atmosphere + encourage use of the remote.
Current Set Up: TV + remote placed on pedestal.
Current Set Up: TV + remote placed on pedestal.
🙇 Most visitors stood + bent down to peer into the tv.
⏱️ Did not stay as long as I hoped - most people stayed with the work for around 1 minute or less.
⏭️ Around half of the visitors used the remote to flip the channels. Most visitors became aware that they could use it after seeing other people use it first.
Current Set Up: TV + remote placed on pedestal.
🙇 Most visitors stood + bent down to peer into the tv.
⏱️ Did not stay as long as I hoped - most people stayed with the work for around 1 minute or less.
⏭️ Around half of the visitors used the remote to flip the channels. Most visitors became aware that they could use it after seeing other people use it first.
✅ Revised Set Up: TV placed on pedestal / Dim lighting / Seat provided / Remote placed under lamp.
✅ Revised Set Up: TV placed on pedestal / Dim lighting / Seat provided / Remote placed under lamp.
☺️ Most visitors sat down comfortably to view work.
⏱️ Most people stayed with the work for a few minutes!
⏭️ Around 75% of visitors used the remote to flip the channels, with many visitors telling me that they enjoyed being able to explore the different scenes.
✅ Revised Set Up: TV placed on pedestal / Dim lighting / Seat provided / Remote placed under lamp.
☺️ Most visitors sat down comfortably to view work.
⏱️ Most people stayed with the work for a few minutes!
⏭️ Around 75% of visitors used the remote to flip the channels, with many visitors telling me that they enjoyed being able to explore the different scenes.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
This piece was really fun to create - I discovered more about the themes I’m interested in, and really enjoyed creating a piece with different physical materials + digital mediums.
I received a lot of support and feedback sessions from my peers and professors for this project, and feel incredibly grateful to have been part of this community for four years <3 Special thanks to Allison, David, Phil, Blair, Tian, Noah & Priyanka.
This piece was really fun to create - I discovered more about the themes I’m interested in, and really enjoyed creating a piece with different physical materials + digital mediums.
I received a lot of support and feedback sessions from my peers and professors for this project, and feel incredibly grateful to have been part of this community for four years <3 Special thanks to Allison, David, Phil, Blair, Tian, Noah & Priyanka.
This piece was really fun to create - I discovered more about the themes I’m interested in, and really enjoyed creating a piece with different physical materials + digital mediums.
I received a lot of support and feedback sessions from my peers and professors for this project, and feel incredibly grateful to have been part of this community for four years <3 Special thanks to Allison, David, Phil, Blair, Tian, Noah & Priyanka.
⭐️ HEAR HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THIS PIECE…
⭐️ HEAR HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THIS PIECE…
⭐️ HEAR HOW PEOPLE FELT ABOUT THIS PIECE…
"This work really stood out to me when I first entered the room, it reminds me of Pipilotti Rist's work."
"This work really stood out to me when I first entered the room, it reminds me of Pipilotti Rist's work."
Sebastian S.
Art Sales Manager @ Christie's | Exhibition Attendee
Sebastian S.
Art Sales Manager @ Christie's | Exhibition Attendee
Sebastian S.
Art Sales Manager @ Christie's | Exhibition Attendee
"It feels like I'm looking into another world. Looking into it reminds me of my favorite pastime of looking into apartment windows while wandering around the city.
"It feels like I'm looking into another world. Looking into it reminds me of my favorite pastime of looking into apartment windows while wandering around the city.
Exhibition Visitor @ theBLANC gallery
Exhibition Visitor @ theBLANC gallery
Exhibition Visitor @ theBLANC gallery
