Relocation:
Illuminating
Memories
NYU Graduate Thesis
Sculpture
3D Modeling
Arduino
Unreal Engine
Sculpting
3D Modeling
Arduino
Unreal Engine
NYU Open Graduate Thesis Show
Description
This project is an interactive sculpture installation that operates with a digital
experience to illustrate the societal impact of phone usage on personal memories. The
sculpture is a collection of the artist’s personal belongings, presenting an amalgamation
of objects. They represent important moments of the artist’s past brought along to begin a
new chapter of their life. The black-painted sculpture of an ice cream cone silhouette
symbolizes a personal marker and a symbol of change tattooed on their body. The
audience is encouraged to use their phones as a flashlight to interact with the photocells
throughout the sculpture. When illuminating a section of the sculpture, the monitor beside
it will render a colored 3D representation corresponding to where the light hits. By
removing the option to document the art installation with mobile phones, the project
demonstrates the positives of contemporary phone usage and the barriers created by
excessive phone usage to create a conversation about the balance between technology and
in-person experiences.
Abstract
As the age of smartphones has increased the capabilities of recording and accessing digital memories, there has been an increase in screen-mediated lifestyles among teens and young adults. As a result, the digitization of memories has greatly affected the subjective quality of in-person experiences. Thus, how does smartphone usage affect memory and subjective experiences in the digital age? Through agile design and practice as research methodologies, this interactive art installation aims to prevent smartphone usage during interactions to promote physical interaction and organic experience. However, many prioritize documenting events rather than experiencing them, creating a need to balance technology and in-person experiences. This thesis sparks awareness and encourages more discussions about the impact of smartphones on humanexperiences in technologically-driven societies.
Links to Documentation
