Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация by Zhenglong Yang

Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация by Zhenglong Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Желязна награда A' Design Award in Дизайн на инсталации Competition Category.

ЖелязоИнсталации· 2025

Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация

by Zhenglong Yang

Желязна награда A' Design Award Winner in Инсталации Category

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The Design

About Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация

Emotion Protocol е кинетична инсталация, която включва множество четиролики глави на Буда, монтирани на въртящи механизми. Всяка глава, вдъхновена от традиционната будистка скулптура, е оборудвана с мотор, който й позволява да се върти по програмиран шаблон. Синхронизираното движение на главите създава динамично визуално представяне, подчертавайки контраста между традиционните форми и съвременната механика.

The Recognition

About the Желязна награда A' Design Award

Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация е носител на Желязната награда A' Design Award — престижно признание, присъждано на добри дизайни, които отговарят на професионалните и индустриалните изисквания, очаквани от добре проектирани творения. Желязните победители демонстрират голямо умение, висока специализация, експертно разбиране и творчески капацитет на своите създатели. Очаква се Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация да бъде високо ценено, възхищавано и обичано творение, което е практично и иновативно. Този дизайн, спечелил Желязната награда A' Design Award, интегрира най-добрите отраслови практики и притежава компетентни технически характеристики, свързани с ноу-хау и талант. Emotion Protocol Кинетична Инсталация се радва на уважение заради щателността си и предлага подобрения в качеството на живот, които помагат светът да стане по-добро място.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: "Emotion Protocol" juxtaposes human nature's emotional complexity with the rigid, machine-like existence imposed by societal and familial expectations. The installation represents this contrast through rotating four-faced Buddha statues driven by a mechanical system.
Dimensions & Packaging: 457.2(W), 457.2(D), 1100(H) cm
Tags: Kinetic, Installation, Buddhism, Four-face Buddha, Emotion
Production Technology: This project features 3D-printed Buddha heads crafted in resin, CNC-milled acrylic pedestals for elegant structural support, and a customized PCB(printed circuit board) for precise control of stepper motors. The algorithm, programmed and integrated into the control system, orchestrates the kinetic movements, embodying emotional narratives. Leveraging physical computing, the design merges technology and artistry, ensuring a seamless integration of hardware and conceptual intent.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was balancing the symbolic depth of the four-faced Buddha with the mechanical precision of the installation. Integrating spiritual iconography into a technological framework required extensive research into cultural narratives and emotional theory. Technical hurdles included designing custom PCBs and achieving seamless motor synchronization for dynamic storytelling. Limited resources for advanced fabrication and algorithm testing added complexity, pushing innovation in blending tradition with modern design methodologies.
Research: The four-faced Buddha symbolizes the interconnectedness of human emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. In this work, the rotating faces represent shifting emotional states, blending ancient philosophies with modern discussions on emotional suppression, societal expectations, and mechanized behavior. This reinterpretation highlights the universality of emotions, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes.
Inspiration: Inspired by the Chinese saying "joy, anger, sadness, happiness," which poetically represents human emotions, and the Buddhist four-faced Buddha statues, this piece fuses traditional symbolism with programmed mechanisms. It reflects the tension between humanity's rich emotional landscape and the societal pressures, particularly in East Asian cultures, to suppress and eliminate subjective emotions. This conflict pushes individuals into a mechanized existence, where they become tiny parts of a vast collective machine, bound by rules and protocols to meet the expectations of family and society.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2024 in New York and finished in December 2024 in New York, and was exhibited in RacketNYC in December 2024.
Operation Flow: This project invites viewers to observe rotating Buddha heads, each with four faces representing different emotions. The heads rotate in pre-programmed patterns, symbolizing shifting emotional states. The interaction is passive yet thought-provoking, viewers reflect on the emotions represented. The synchronized motion creates a mesmerizing flow, highlighting the tension between human feelings and mechanical precision, making it uniquely engaging and impactful.
Image Credits: Photo credits: Audrey Chou