Light Art Installation(光影裝置), 2019

 

 

Similar to the development from traditional wall-based windows to ergonomic building fenestration in contemporary architecture, this installation includes a self-developed soft translucent membrane as window curtain that generates a fluid compound-vision. Like the octopus skin that can collect light rays from different directions of its surroundings, and achieve a camouflage effect.

 

Glass windows in the city is usually transparent and people tend to assume that the views with or without the windows are the same. However, window can be also see as a medium or interface- something in between that mediates the experience of the subject. It is part of the boundary isolated the physical space inside a building with the outside space, while connects the inside-outside space mainly through light and eye-vision. Windows also provide some levels of civil inattention, people usually feel more protected and safe to observe the outside through a window and this psychological settings makes seeing through a window more inviting and tempting.

 

The character “窓” in the Chinese title is a synonym of  “窗”and a Japanese Kanji (Mado), this captures the concept of windows are initial linked to the human body and soul, as “eye’s door”, while reciprocally, eyes are called “the windows of soul”. It indicates the impacts of the city fenestration can be significant to individual and collective mentality, by accomplishing a mediated relation between one’s urban shelters with the outside environment.

 

With the principle of camera obscura, it is a soft plastic membrane with double layers. There are many mini-bumps on one layer in opaque material, each mini-bump has 1-5 small pinholes on it, while another layer is translucent. The mini-bumps protrude away from the smooth translucent layer, and the pinholes are scattered randomly on the bumps. When using it as curtain, the image of the window view will be introduced on the translucent layer in the form of multiple inverted rear-projections.  Since the double-layer curtain membrane is made in soft material, it can be bended, the distance and angle between the two layers can vary in a subtle sense, upon a physical alternation (e.g. wind/users triggered movement), the multiple mini-image projections would change accordingly in a fluid movement. The bending angle will also influence the scene images captured by each pinhole. Besides, for any close-up movement behind this curtain, the shadow direction of such movement will be in opposite movement direction of it in the inverted real projection.

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This project employed the principle of camera obscura in the micro-scale, aims to provide extra pleasure for audience in appreciating window views. This creative interface with self-developed structure will function as a playful and educational medium to further empower the architectural fenestration in the city. This soft-membrane with its self-developed optical structure, brings new visions to appreciate nature and release tension in urban life. 

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