Context

‍Overview

"A & B" is a interactive space installation, inspired by my grandfather's experience with Alzheimer's, forgetting everyone he loved. In a shared memory, when one party has forgotten, the existence, interpretation, and reinterpretation of that memory create a sense of uncertainty and confusion. This project aims to immerse individuals in an experience that simulates cognitive deterioration in patients with Alzheimer's. During the exhibition, the artwork served as a bridge, facilitating communication between the audience and the patients, as well as those around them.

Concept

Randomly generated story scripts

The multisensory experience space I created involved the audience wearing headphones to hear randomly generated narratives illustrating the space (sourced from webcams capturing spatial layout), while simultaneously, they received instructions to alter the spatial layout, creating a  interaction cycle.

‍Disparities of interpretation‍

A single instruction can be interpreted in various ways. For instance, if a voice says, "Set the alarm clock to 11:11," two different stories may follow. In one, "I won't speak to you again until the day, November 11th, I die." In another, "Thank you for being in my life; this is the 1111th day we've spent together." The same action can have completely different meanings. As a result, audience members might leave with their own understanding, notice differences in how others react, or only realize distinctions during a second experience. This range of interpretations creates a unique and diverse experience for the audience.

Design Process

Integrated programming, spatial and script design.

Each component was intricately interconnected, forming a cohesive whole.

Ideating

Programming

Script and behavior testing

Script design required careful planning, taking factors like text length, the time users needed to complete tasks post-instructions, and how characters' actions and reactions contributed to the overall narrative impact into consideration.

Spatial iteration

Based on the test results, I adjusted the placement distance and selection of objects. Additionally, the space was ultimately presented in a construction site style, providing the audience with a sense of the construction process, symbolizing the state of memories and relationships being built.

Final Design

"A & B" - Repetition and memory decay rate‍

The repetitive interactive behaviors of the audience also contributed to the evolution of the space. There was no distinction between subject and object; instead, they blended together in this chaos. During the two-week exhibition period, the walls began to fill with graffiti, the carpet started to deteriorate from foot traffic, and sporadic clock alarm sounds intermittently disrupted the tranquility of the exhibition space.

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