Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon by Zhenglong Yang

Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon by Zhenglong Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award nga Puthaw in Disenyo sa Instalasyon Competition Category.

PuthawInstalasyon· 2025

Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon

by Zhenglong Yang

A' Design Award nga Puthaw Winner in Instalasyon Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon

Ang Emotion Protocol usa ka kinetikong instalasyon nga adunay daghang upat ka nawong nga mga ulo ni Buddha nga gitaod sa mga nagatuyok nga mekanismo. Ang matag ulo, nga giinspirar sa tradisyonal nga estatwa sa Buddhist, gisangkapan sa motor nga nagtugot niini sa pagtuyok sunod sa giprograma nga pattern. Ang sinugdanang paglihok sa mga ulo naghatag og dinamikong biswal nga pagpakita, nga nagpasiugda sa kalainan tali sa tradisyonal nga mga porma ug modernong mekaniks.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award nga Puthaw

Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon usa ka mananaog sa A' Design Award nga Puthaw, usa ka dungganon nga pag-ila nga gihatag sa maayong mga disenyo nga nakatagbo sa propesyonal ug industriyal nga mga gikinahanglan nga gipaabot gikan sa maayo ang pagkadisenyo nga mga paglalang. Ang mga mananaog sa Puthaw nagpakita og dakong kahanas, taas nga espesyalisasyon, eksperto nga pagsabot, ug mamugnaon nga abilidad sa ilang mga tiglalang. Gilauman nga ang Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon mahimong gipabilhan, gihangaan, ug gihigugma nga paglalang nga praktikal ug bag-o. Kini nga disenyo nga nakadaog og A' Design Award nga Puthaw naghiusa sa labing maayong mga praktis sa industriya ug adunay hanas nga teknikal nga mga kinaiya nga nalambigit sa kahibalo ug talento. Emotion Protocol Kinetikong Instalasyon gitahod tungod sa pagkamaabtik niini ug gidisenyo aron maghatag og mga pagpaayo sa kalidad sa kinabuhi nga makatabang sa paghimo sa kalibutan nga mas maayong dapit.

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