Liminal C ycles

Developing audiovisual interaction systems for sculptural installations at Miami Art Week 2024 through collaboration with Crafting Plastics.

View of outside exhibition setup, the three floral object standing front right, the car model further in the background. — © Steve Benisty

Liminal Cycles

Invited by Crafting Plastics, an innovative Slovak design studio, Lucy Li and I collaborated on the development and integration of sensory units into The Steering Wheel — a sculptural work designed and fabricated by Crafting Plastics to engage visitors at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami during Miami Art Week 2024. Presented within the exhibition Liminal Cycles, curated by Lexus, the project explored the future of mobility through regenerative materials and embodied, sensory modes of interaction and transportation.

The floral interactive sculpture against stark light. Closeup of the organic and porous surface of the sculpture.

Tangible Futures

The three objects we contributed to, referenced both the futuristic aesthetic of yoke steering wheels, as well as the natural beauty of flower petals. In the installation they were used as a point of interaction and dialogue between visitors of the ICA Miami and the “breathing car” — a 3D-printed model of a visionary Lexus vehicle, made from “Nuatan” bioplastic, Crafting Plastics' very own sustainable thermoplastic material.

A visitor's hand interacting with the scultpure, which is glwing. The Car model in the Background. — © Steve Benisty

The general goal of the show was to communicate the emotional and sensorial aspects of mobility, circular systems and moments of transition experienced in our shift towards greener and more immersive forms of transportation. This is where Lucy Li and I stepped in to conceptualise, envision and build the interactive elements accompanying the main piece.

Functionality

Our contribution focused on the design and integration of interactive systems into three sculptural objects developed by Crafting Plastics. These components enabled direct feedback and exchange between the breathing car and visitors. The car model reacted to people approaching and interacting physically with the sculptures—subtly altering its breathing rhythm and soundscape. We aimed on an approach that supported a genuine sense of immersion and responsiveness within the installation.

The three interactive pieces seen from a top-down perspective. — © Steve Benisty

The Hidden Hardware

To make the steering wheels susceptible to peoples’ proximity and touch, we implemented capacitive sensors. Like the touch sensors in modern touch screens, but multitudes more sensitive. They can register minute changes in the electromagnetic field surrounding them. Each steering wheel had an inlaid copper wire that was acting as the capacitive sensor. This setup enabled the entire exhibition to respond to the visitors in a smooth manner by quantifying proximity as well as touch.

Behind the scenes of physical prototype on a desk, glowing with warm light. Behind the scenes of setting up the sculptures, Leo Mühlfeld and Lucy Li working on the base.

The installation’s feedback consisted of change in lighting of the steering wheel, organic remodulation of the soundscape as well as the “Breathing Car” adapting its movement by receviing our proximity data via radio link. By enabling interaction with the steering wheels in these physical and organic ways, we were able to capture the main premises of Lexus' vision for mobility, making it tangible, engaging and effective within an exhibition context.

Credits

Design & Lead: Crafting Plastics Studio for Lexus at Miami Art Week 2024 Electronics & Code: Lucy Li, Leo Mühlfeld. Integration: Mario Coufal (CPS), Juraj Olejár (CPS), Lucy Li, Leo Mühlfeld