Crying Machine
Interactive Audio-Visual Sculpture in a Reactive Space
With hearing impairment and autistic masking, I move through the world in constant sensory defense.
Crying Machine lets you approach that shell. The closer you come, the more it pulls back,
exposing how withdrawal becomes a necessary form of protection.
Medium
2-channel video, stereo sound, Metal sculpture, sensors, PVC tubes, Acrylic Sheets, Aluminum Foil, voiles, muslim Fabrics, Ultrasonic Sensors, Servo Motors, PLA filaments, Light Strips, approx.10'×10'×6
Duration
1'30"
Tools
Touch Designer, Ableton, Arduino IDE, Metal Welding, Plasma Cutting, Laser Cutting, 3D Printing
Keywords
Responsive environments, Interactive Media Design, Kinetic Installations, Curatorial Practices
Date
December 2024
Crying Machine Final Shots
Idle State
In its idle state, the sculpture maintains strength through repetition and control. Triangular metal spines snap open and shut with factory-like precision. Twelve spinning tops whirs continuously along the path, sustaining a routine that feels stable and safe, so long as nothing interrupts it.
Welded Metal, Acrylic Mesh, PVC Tubing, Aluminum Foil, Mechanically-driven Components
Triggered State
As a viewer approaches, the sculpture shifts from restraint to defense. Light sharpens, sound thickens, and exposed silicone organs: heart and eyes, glow through red-stained fiber. Rooted in autistic hypersensitivity, crying becomes a boundary: proximity triggers retreat, and the closer one comes, the more the system pulls back.
Silicone Heart and Eyeball Elements, Polyester Fiber, Red-Dyed Fabric, LED Light Strips