User:Nan Wang/reading, writing and research methodologies

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'Social phobia Interactive installation'

Social phobia is an interactive installation, which as a robotic object without any practical functions. I tried to make it look like a cell shape creature or unicellular organism, And put it in a total passive condition in which it was not able to move but to be approached and manipulated by people. I extracted and amplified my personal feelings and planted the character into this interactive installation, which is the anxiety and fear of the approach of strangers. The body of this robot was made of white cloth and stuffed with cutton fibre, rubber pipes and red balloons.It’s nerves system was built by sensors, air pumps and electronic timers. The balloon was inflated once the air pump was activated when someone is close enough to the infrared detector. the balloons started to reacte as ancious breath, inhaling and exhaling. At the same time, the electronic timer controlled the volume of air to prevent frequent explosions of those red balloons. But still it was facing the danger of self-destruction through its own fear.

I hand sewed all the cloth together and fill it will cotton to created the body part of this work. Use rubber pipes connect air pump to those balloons. Connect the sensors to air pump as a commend power switch and use electronic timer to concorl the volume of air and rhyme of timing in order to create the “breathing” illusion.

I am amazed by all kinds of imperfection、flaws、defect and mistake. Most people consider those words represent weakness or try to avoid them. However somehow I always find it very inspired. I always could find huge visual and psychological power when I try to amplify certain defect. In this work I try to extract and amplify some weakness from myself in order to create something not only carry anxiety but also make the viewer stressed when its anxiety reach certain point. The approach of viewers causing the anxious reaction of the installation, when it about to explose, most viewers chose to step away.This kind of psychological dynamic between the viewers and the artwork is the most interesting part of every interactive work.

The intention of this project is to experiment the possibility of extract my anxiety and amplified it to the installation and seek for the physical and psychological feedback from viewers. As far as the interaction part being the most important element of this work.The project could be consider succeeded. However the shape and the materials I chose to construct the installation failed my expectation of reaching the standard of very organic cell like physical appearance.

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'Self-regeneration Interactive installation with moving images and sound'

This work was constructed as a 1.4 x 2 x 4 cubic meter white wooden tunnel. The tunnel only have one entrence, at the end of the tunnel is a 1.4 x 2 squar meter projection screen projected with a computer and projecter placed behind the screen.A stereo system with 8 sound speakers；14 Infrared sensors fixed inside the tunnel on interior side-wall, connected to the computer. In this work I tried to integrated sound & moving images, virtual space, physical space and interaction into one overall immersive environment. The end of the tunnel is a projection screen which allow me to use moving images to built a virtual space.The virtual space is an expansion based on the physical tunnel installation, eight life size figures of myself live in the virtual space.Those figures are mirror image of my thoughts , physical activities and behaviors which repeat each different moment with high speed.The video was created based on the size of the tunnel space the figures was base on the life size of myself. When audiences enter into the tunnel, while audiences come closer to the virtual space, those eight figures will be destroyed one by one. Those figures will be regenerated later when the audiences leave the tunnel. As long as this interaction continues, those figures will be infinitely killed and regenerated.The audio system of this installation used eight sound producers playing individual sound track. Each sound track content heart beats, sound effect when those figures shattered, and some background noises.

Self-regeneration is my graduation project. Most of my previous works are focus on my inner world or inspired by my own memory and personl experience. However in my graduation project, I try to expend the context of the concept of my work. I attempted to built a tunnel between the real physical world and my inner world, trying to explore the association and interaction between these two worlds. How others or outside imformation affects my thoughts and my personalities. I built a virtual space , eight life size figures live in the virtual space in a fragile status. These figures actually represent different character which are extracted from myself. They carry my confusion, my fear, my anxiety, my ideals. They could be eassily destroied and rebuilt, as a reflaction of my metabolism for mental or spirtual status.

The video was shot in front of green screen. The background is replaced For further Editing. Animated images and the virtual background were created with 3Dmax and adobe Aftereffects. The audio system of this installation used eight sound producers playing individual sound track as heart beats and sound effects when those figures shattered. The final video were reorganized and programmed in Adobe Flash. 14 Infrared sensors were used to Connect to one USB device then connect the USB device to the computer so that those sensors will be able to control the keyboard of computer in order to sent command to flash project to play different videos. I built an immersive enviroment, which combined space, moving images, sound and interaction which help me to deliver the idea and information I wanted to express. As long as this project being interacted with one person each time. It could consider succeeded. I try to avoid too many people enter the tunnel at the same time by building a tunnel only could confortable fit for one person to walk in each time. But actually most of the time, viewers chose not to following the rules. So the interaction of this project become really chaotic. The images of my figure randomly killed by multiple people at the same time. Which is not my original intention. However for me, as long as this project attract people to participate. It’s not a huge failure. Still ,it was interesting to saw my project changed by viewers angist my intention.