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Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция by Zhenglong Yang

Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция by Zhenglong Yang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Железная премия A' Design Award in Дизайн инсталляций Competition Category.


ЖелезнаяИнсталляция· 2025

Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция

by Zhenglong Yang

Железная премия A' Design Award Winner in Инсталляция Category

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The Design

About Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция

Emotion Protocol — кинетическая инсталляция, включающая множество четырехликих голов Будды, установленных на вращающихся механизмах. Каждая голова, вдохновленная традиционной буддийской скульптурой, оснащена двигателем, позволяющим ей вращаться по запрограммированной схеме. Синхронизированное движение голов создает динамичное визуальное представление, подчеркивая контраст между традиционными формами и современной механикой.

The Recognition

About the Железная премия A' Design Award

Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция — лауреат Железной премии A' Design Award, престижного признания, присуждаемого хорошим проектам, которые отвечают профессиональным и промышленным требованиям, ожидаемым от хорошо продуманных творений. Обладатели Железной премии демонстрируют большое мастерство, высокую специализацию, экспертное понимание и творческие способности их авторов. Ожидается, что Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция станет высокоценимым, вызывающим восхищение и дорогим сердцу творением, практичным и инновационным. Этот проект, получивший Железную премию A' Design Award, интегрирует лучшие отраслевые практики и обладает компетентными техническими характеристиками, сочетающимися с ноу-хау и талантом. Благодаря основательности Emotion Protocol Кинетическая инсталляция заслуживает уважения и создан для того, чтобы улучшать качество жизни, помогая сделать мир лучше.

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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