Liminal Space (2024)

Liminal Space

INTERACTIVE AUDIO-VISUAL INSTALLATION
GYUMRI TECHNOLOGY CENTER (ARMENIA, 2024)

"Liminal Space" draws inspiration from internet aesthetics and memes, examining the concept of liminal spaces across three interconnected levels by blending personal reflection with the digital and physical realms.

The first layer represents the artist's personal journey. Generative graphics in this layer are derived from hand-drawn sketches made during a challenging period of emigration, when these drawings became a vital source of support. Created over the past two years, the drawings are processed through AI to integrate textures and styles inspired by the artist's nature photography from the same period. Through this installation, the artist explores the sense of instability and discovery that emerged from this difficult time. This fusion of personal creation with AI-driven manipulation highlights the tension between organic experience and digital transformation as the artist navigates new ways of living and creating.

layer 1 - personal

The second layer reflects the digital and virtual spaces that define much of modern life—spaces where we communicate, work, and learn, often disconnected from physical presence. It also speculates on the new roles we assume online and the challenges and opportunities that arise from these digital interactions.

The third layer is the physical space of the installation, which transforms based on the viewer's presence. A camera embedded in the installation detects when a viewer approaches, triggering a shift in the space from 3D to 2D, encouraging viewers to take time exploring the space and witnessing its changing behavior and imagery. This layer invites participants to step into a transitional zone, bridging personal introspection, digital interaction, and physical reality. Through this immersive experience, "Liminal Space" evokes a sense of disorientation, nostalgia, and contemplation, encouraging viewers to reflect on the transient nature of the spaces we inhabit, both online and offline.

As technical capabilities for the installation were limited, I used a simple web camera for body tracking that ensured a shift between 3D point cloud and the 2D mixture of raw hand-drawn sketches and drawings processed with AI.

I also wrote ambient background music to boost the immersive effect of the environment. You can hear fragments of the track in the videos published here.

The installation is part of exhibition "Reality Hacking" under the auspices of the Gyumri Technology Center. Curated by Ekaterina Drakunova. October 2024