My presentation is about a Taiwanese light artist that creates amazing artwork out of simple materials. The reason he drew my attention was because his gallery showcase at the worcester art museum in 2017. Here is the link for the youtube video. It is fascinating to see how he turned simple recycled materials into various deep sea lifeforms, giving a ‘second life’ to the artifacts.

His main technics involves using plastic bags mimicking ocean creatures from tentacles to plankton, LED lights with circuitry design patterns that interact with surroundings, circulatory system of tubes filled with glowing liquid, and fans that provide lifeforms with their organic breath.

Another interesting project involves collection of eyes… digitally. Huang would invite participants to his studio and have them wear the eye recording helmet he made. Afterwards he saves each person’s eye footage and store the screens behind water bottles, creating an illusion of ‘digital eyeball collection’.

But why does he record people’s eye, you may ask. Functionally, they are just like switches. Huang glues some light sensor closeup to the screen and using it to control light, fan activation, motor, video and etc. The idea is when the dark pupil “looks” at the sensor, the sensor activates. Thus Huang is able to control actuations digitally by rolling eyes or just a blink. He made turntable that moves alone with eye roll, an digital eye that “watches” TV, and sea creatures that breaths with the blink of an eye.

I’m really fascinated by Huang’s artwork, and started to think about the essential concepts throughout all his creations. In a TEDtalk, Huang said that he really enjoys creating magical artwork out of simply materials. It is always amazing to see the chemical reaction of one’s creativity and everyday objects. Huang combined complicated circuity with mundane, mass produced objects and created remarkable lifeforms, provoking the question of originality of life in today’s virtual and digital existence. Moreover, the integration of modern technology with seemingly low-tech recaptures people’s creativity in early days of technology, inspiring people to experiment various possibilities.