Reconnect Digital Installation by Atsushi Kobayashi

Iron Fine Arts and Art Installation Design · 2022

Reconnect Digital Installation

by Atsushi Kobayashi

A' Design Award 2022 Iron Winner in Fine Arts and Art Installation Design
Awarded April 15, 2022
CLIENT: Atsushi Kobayashi
Estimated Number of Design Views: 11,323
Verification code 2D40C09242 · Verify this award

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About Reconnect Digital Installation

Reconnect is a digital art installation about human communication after a period of remote living. The work combines recorded video calls with twelve LCD screens mounted in an aluminium frame with LED strips. A webcam shows the face of the visitor standing in front of the installation on the central screen, while the other screens show people speaking in recorded calls. At first each screen runs a separate call, then all screens gradually form one combined image. The installation was programmed with node based visual software and driven by a single laptop.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: People have lived remotely but it’s getting back to normal life and they start to “reconnect” in the real world. This installation is composed of “virtual” interviews and multiple displays extended into “real” space.
Post-pandemic life won't look the same for everybody but you can see bright faces and positive words in this installation.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 1000mm x Depth 1000mm x Height 2000mm
LED stripes: WS2812B
LCD screens: SHARP 5.5inch / 7.9inch LCD screen
PC: Mouse computer Next GEAR NOTE i57
Software: Derivative TouchDesigner
Tags: installation, art, contemporary, touchdesigner, contemporary art, video art, digital art
Production Technology: This installation was programmed by TouchDesigner, which is a node based visual programming language for interactive contents.
And it is composed of LCD screens, LED stripes and almi-frames. Each screens are connected to video splitter with HDMI cables.
One laptop pc handle 12 video outputs and LED data and sound.
Design Challenge: The most challenging point was how to output 12 zoom videos to LCD displays from one laptop PC.
I used 2 video splitters and programmed these videos were in-sync. At the first part, zoom calls are ongoing on each LCD screen, but gradually each screen compose one multi-display.
Project Duration: This installation had been exhibited for a joint exhibition, "Public Visuals Exhibition" in Tokyo in October 2021 for two weeks.
Operation Flow: If you stand in front of this installation, your face is shown on center screen through webacam. And zoom calls are starting and people are shown on the other screen. Even if they are zoom calls but they are ongoing on actual screens, you will feel as if you talk to people in person.
Research: Communications have changed since COVID happened. We are separated physically but on the other hand, we were able to talk virtually through zoom calls. I tried to materialize this way of communication into the real world. I asked my friends to record our zoom calls and they willingly accepted to be a part of my installation. You can hear positive words in this experience.
Inspiration: People are using zoom call and we can see each other on screen. I tried to extend this situation into real space with LCD screens.
Image Credits: Atsushi Kobayashi, All rights reserved
Patents: Atsushi Kobayashi, All rights reserved