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Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik by Zhenglong Yang

Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik by Zhenglong Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Besi in Reka Bentuk Pemasangan Competition Category.


BesiPemasangan· 2025

Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik

by Zhenglong Yang

A' Design Award Besi Winner in Pemasangan Category

Colors

The Design

About Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik

Emotion Protocol ialah sebuah instalasi kinetik yang menampilkan pelbagai kepala Buddha bermuka empat yang dipasang pada mekanisme berputar. Setiap kepala, yang diilhamkan daripada arca Buddha tradisional, dilengkapi dengan motor yang membolehkannya berputar mengikut corak yang diprogramkan. Pergerakan kepala yang disegerakkan menghasilkan paparan visual yang dinamik, menonjolkan kontras antara bentuk tradisional dan mekanik moden.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Besi

Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik ialah pemenang A' Design Award Besi, pengiktirafan yang berprestij yang dianugerahkan kepada reka bentuk yang baik yang memenuhi keperluan profesional dan industri yang dijangka daripada ciptaan yang direka dengan baik. Pemenang Besi menunjukkan kemahiran yang besar, kepakaran yang tinggi, kefahaman pakar dan keupayaan kreatif penciptanya. Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik diharapkan menjadi ciptaan yang sangat dihargai, dikagumi dan disayangi yang praktikal dan inovatif. Reka bentuk pemenang A' Design Award Besi ini menyepadukan amalan terbaik industri dan mempunyai ciri teknikal yang kompeten yang dikaitkan dengan kepakaran dan bakat. Emotion Protocol Instalasi Kinetik dihormati kerana ketelitiannya dan direka untuk memberikan peningkatan kualiti hidup yang membantu menjadikan dunia tempat yang lebih baik.

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

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