Affirmation

Affirmation
AR experience
2020

Affirmation is an augmented reality experience featuring my first cat-son, Klarg. Viewers (who have access to iOS systems) can scan the green QR code above which will direct them to a link to download Adobe Aero, where the experience is hosted. After establishing an anchor, my animation begins to play. Klarg has been rendered as a digital 3D model who jumps up to a plane with 3 different colored buttons. He uses these buttons to communicate to the viewer that he recognizes existing during a pandemic is extremely difficult and mentally/emotionally exhausting. As someone who searches for validation in our reality, I wanted to render a figment of my imagination — my cat-son talking to me — into our reality. There’s been a lot of pressure to utilize the time we have been “gifted” during this pandemic to learn new skills and be as “productive” as possible, whatever that means. Klarg is here to tell you that whatever you’re doing, even if it’s just existing, you’re doing a great job; he’s proud of you; and fuck covid.

ARWIN

Arwin
AR experience with associated album of instant photos
2020

Arwin consists of small 1.8x2.4” prints that, when scanned by the app, cue an associated video to play just above the image in augmented reality space. The viewer is invited to watch a segment reminiscent of a memory, but the video lasts only for a few seconds or minutes before looping to the beginning while the targeted image is in view. Essentially, these are random flashbulb memories: polished and vivid, but also imperfect by lack of context. There is an element of preciousness to the piece as well--the instant print, when destroyed, is gone forever, along with the ability to access the video in the app. The viewer controls the act of recall via the app, but once the print is lost, so is the memory. Arwin explores ideas related to memory, empathy, and comprehension. To access the videos, the viewer must actively scan the target image (stimulus) and wait while the app begins its recall process. The viewer has control over which memories they skip and which memories they linger upon. However, their lingering can only last as long as the video before it loops back on itself. The act of forcing association and recall is a privilege those without memory repression experience. With Arwin, not only are those moments preserved and organized, but the ability to recall is maintained by way of the app’s computing power, because the mind cannot always be trusted.