Imprisoned 囚

Imprisoned 囚 is an interactive performance that explores the ambivalent state of self-doubt and reconciliation. The work draws inspiration from the Chinese character "囚" (imprisonment), where 人 (human) is trapped within 口 (space), creating a powerful visual metaphor for internal struggle.

Concept development and visual studies

The visual language develops from the deconstruction of the Chinese character, transforming into dynamic nets and threads that respond to the performer's presence.

Technical Implementation

The piece is powered by four main technologies:

🎥

Kinect

For motion tracking

🎨

Processing

For real-time visual generation

🔍

OpenCV

For contour detection

🎧

Wireless earbuds

For breath detection

prototyping-generative-visuals Prototyping generative visuals

Interactive visuals

The system responds to two main inputs:
1. Body motion captured through Kinect
2. Breath intensity detected through audio input These inputs dynamically affect the visual representation of entangled nets and threads.

Sound Design

The audio composition, created by Phyllis Fei, weaves together ambient soundscapes with the performer's live breathing.

Literary Reference

The performance concludes with a powerful quote from "Life, Life" by Arseny Tarkovsky: "I was, I am, and I will be" – emphasizing the eternal nature of self-reflection and existence.

Exhibition

2018, Interactive Media Fall Showcase. Group exhibition at Interactive Media, NYU Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

imprisoned-showcase Interactive Media Fall Showcase

Acknowledgement

This work was developed under the guidance of Aaron Sherwood for the course Sensors, Body, & Motion at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Tags

Roles

Collaborators

2018

performance