2026
Projection and Kinetic Light Installation (aluminium, PET, PETG, ASA, motors, LED, microcontroller, projection)
1750 x 1750 x 100 mm
BOUDARY presents a light travelling between the virtual and physical space. The light changes its behaviour as it crosses the border between the two worlds, wandering rather freely and swiftly in the virtual projection, while inertly and hesitantly within the physical realm. The projection serves as the spiritual extension of the kinetic light structure. When lying within the physical boundary, the speed and movement of the core are bounded by the limitations of its kinetic setup. When reaching beyond its tangible domain, its soul is transfigured into a virtual avatar, becoming untethered from its mundane apparatus. In its new state, the light attracts and interacts with the surrounding substances, travelling in the vast dimension of ethereal materials with little resistance.
By choreographing movements at the border between virtuality and physicality, the installation invites the audience to muse on the definition of the true boundary of the mechanical being. Perhaps when detached from its physical bounds, it still has the equivalent actuality, even if it is a simulacra?
This kinetic light structure as an abstract representation of a cyborg, and the moving light is its imaginary mind. Like humans and all living beings, the cyborg is bound by its physical limitations. However, through cognitive extension into the virtual world, the cyborg can “compute” and “execute” in a higher rate, echoing how a lot of apps and services nowadays utilise cloud-computing to free up the hardware requirement on the user’s device. This further mirrors how we as humans use technology to free our minds and spare the hassle of doing mental math and memorising phone numbers.
The conceptualisation of this installation builds upon ideas presented in “The Extended Mind” thesis by Andy Clark and David Chalmers. Their concept provoked me into re-evaluating the definition of our cognition, while simultaneously questioning whether decisions made with the aid of technology should be considered our own determination, whether art generated with AI should be considered our own creations, and ultimately, how this conundrum would be presented to and perceived by a mechanical being.
rev 0: 20260328, living room blinds at my home.