Fourteenth day links is an interactive installation and book project inspired by my communication struggles with my father and the i mpact of socio economic and cultural changes on how we connect with others. The installation features gears that visitors can stop by applying pressure, symbolizing the social, economic, and cultural pressures people face. The project also includes a book documenting a 14-day communication experiment with my father, exploring emotional barriers. Through this, I aim to encourage reflection on how to express emotions better and seek support.
Inspiration
I find that my communication with my father is always full of misunderstandings. Sometimes I could feel my father's concern for me, but I felt that I could not accept the way my father expressed his emotions, which made our relationship delicate.
Research
Interview
Father and I Disorder
Emotional Expression Disorder
found out that my father had an emotional expression disorder through our daily communication. So, I researched the reasons for the development of emotional disorders, except for pathology.
Communication Experiment 1
wanted to interview others to see if they faced similar issues with emotional expression in intimate relationships.
My family and seldom express our love in words, but we can feel it through each other's behaviour.
1. Impact of economic development
With my boyfriend, I often struggle to express my feelings, leading to conflict and avoidance.
My parents' critical way of speaking embarrassed me and shaped me to be like them.
My father blamed me a lot when he talked to me, and maybe it was his way of showing emotion, but it frustrated me.
Conclusion
80% of people experience emotional difficulties, and 60% face communication barriers in intimate relationships, leading to misunderstandings that affect their mood.
Economic development has led people to focus on survival, hiding emotions and relying more on rational thinking.
2. Influence of the cultural context
Influence of the famil
eople's family upbringing can greatly influence their
Chinese culture emphasi collectivism, often neglecting inner aspects of the self, such as emotions and opinions.
Father s upbringing
did a month long experiment to record my interactions with my father. During the fourteen days, I noticed that felt closer to him when chatting online. However, unlike the detachment of offline emotional expression, online intimacy felt unreal to me, leading me to ambivalence.
In today's fragmented world, people use emoticons instead of words, making emotional expression superficial and worsening barriers. .Impact of fragmented
I interviewed my father about his upbringing and learnt about the impact of various factors in his time on the expression of emotions
Communication Experiment 2
My father and I had two in-depth face-toface communications to discuss recent events and challenges at work and school. These exchanges eased the emotional barriers between us to some extent. However, at other times, my father still tended to close off his emotions and not express them voluntarily.
Conclusion
Social, family and economic factors have a profound impact on people with dysphoria, and communication alone is not enough to make a radical change; continuous communication and more support are needed to improve dysphoria.
Concept Design
I wanted to recreate the economic, social and familial factors that affect people with dysphoria in China, and to lead people to think about how to help them better express their emotions and get support.
Sketch
Use light bars and an emotional roulette wheel to symbolise the emotionally expressive person. When the machine answers, the light turns red, reflecting the human body's response.
Final plan
Based on the experiment, the silk element was removed. The turning gears symbolize emotional expression when unaffected.
Placing an object on the tray stops the gears, symbolizing the halt of emotional expression under external influence
Visual Design&Interactive process
The flower symbolizes emotional openness. When the gear turns, it opens when it stops, it closes.
The gears symbolize emotional expression in dysphoria; when turning, emotions function normally; when stopped, emotional expression is inhibited or stagnant.
Blooming flowers symbolize emotional expression, communication, and openness.
When closed, it symbolizes emotional hiding, repression, and closure.
Placing an object on the tray stops the gear, symbolizing the halt of emotional expression under external influence.
I have selected objects that resonate with the emotions of Chinese people in the 1970s, symbolising the impact of childhood, economics and collectivism on emotional expression.
Chinese children wear red scarves to school. It's a symbol of collectivism.
Many young people in China take out decades-long loans to buy a house before marriage.
Many children in China keep locked diaries and hesitate to share their true feelings with their parents.
Chinese students are so busy with schoolwork.
In 1970s China, parents would hit children who misbehaved.
Acrylic objects Pallets
Acrylic objects
Pallets
Each light sensor controls a servo.
If the sensor value exceeds the threshold, the servo stops.
4.Testing
Book Design
The book records my conversations with my father while explaining the work to the viewers.Keywords from each conversation were selected, and letters were designed through the corresponding sound waves of my father's speech.
Book Shooting
The letters are designed and reorganized through the sound waves to form sentences, which are based on the keywords that my father says to me every day. Pictures are from my father's facial features as he speaks, and his voice and expression form the expression of his emotions.
The book uses the size of a cell phone to express the change in communication.
CLCF
The project is about critical thinking about what the world would be like if, one day, Artificial Intelligence breaks free from human control and creates a higher level of civilization than humans. I envisioned a world where the super AI emerges and becomes a superior species to humans. They keep humans as pets, and humans can decide what kind of pets they become. Through the project, I hope to provoke people's thoughts about whether they will enjoy such a life.
Ins piration
As people develop artificial intelligence, I find that artificial intelligence is gradually becoming more and more capable of replacing humans in some fields. Aerial work robots are used to replace workers in dangerous jobs. In China's Midea Science and Technology Park, the entire production line uses 12 Kuka robots, and the working time efficiency is increased by more than 30%. The production line can run 24 hours a day. Can it really change people's way of life?
Research
I did an interesting experiment. I went out with my cell phone, and found that it could help me do a lot of things, such as planning routes, recommending nearby restaurants, etc. could rely on it without thinking by myself. AI has changed the way we live. Talk to people and keep them company.
The AI reminds me to focus on my health, monitors my physical condition and offers advice. Real-time translation to solve language communication problems Plan travel routes for people.
AI facilitates my traveling and shopping and can even talk with me. feel that AI can help me with many tasks that I find troublesome, so I trust it a lot.
The feeling of Being a Pet Experiments
Questionnaire
At the same time, I'm inspired by my pet cat, who relies on me for food and entertainment without the stress of school and work. I tried to look at humans from the perspective of a pet, and I realized that handing over all the jobs I don't want to do to an AI doesn't seem like a bad option.
Are humans willing to survive as pets? I hope to find out what people think through the questionnaire.
The questionnaire results showed that most people are aware of the existence of AI.
More than half of the people want to be kept by AI like a pet.
People don't believe AI will replace humans.
Nearly half of the people believe that AI can
I took my sister as a test subject and let her live like a pet for a week, and during that time, satisfied all her wishes for food, entertainment and so on.
At the end of the experiment, I asked her how she felt, and she said that she enjoyed the time very much, and that she would like to be bred by an AI in the future.
Conclusion
Half of the people want to be kept by AI as pets.
I found that the number of people who support and oppose is almost the same, which shows that it is difficult for humans to make decisions on this issue. I hope that through this presentation, everyone will pay attention to the potential consequences of the development of artificial intelligence.
I imagined a world controlled by AI where humans lose control of the planet, which inspired me to wonder if we can treat AI as our masters and live a carefree life as humans let AI do more work that they don't want to do.
Artist Research
Inspired by Black Mirror, where the protagonist is immersed in a tech-dominated world, imagined a space where humans, like pets confined to a room, are cared for by AI in a controlled environment.
Design Concept
I created a futurebased virtual brand called "CLCF," short for cosy, love, comfortable, and free. CLCF allows humans to live like pets, cared for by AI, and experience warmth and love in a cozy, free space.
I designed the next five themed suites based on field research into the animals' lifestyles and living environments.
Conclusion
Personalized Experience: Each suite should provide an immersive experience based on the specific animal it imitates, allowing users to fully embrace "pet life."
Comfort and Functionality: Ensure each themed space is both comfortable and functional for relaxation and enjoyment.
Technology and Innovation: As a futuristic brand, incorporate advanced technologies like virtual reality and AI interactions to enhance the user experience.
A lively and exploratory space that mimics a rodent. Contains multiple climbing facilities and small spaces for users to explore and discover.
High ceilings and open spaces, with birdcage-shaped furniture, suspended pieces, and swing chairs for added authenticity.
The space features seawater elements and streamlined furniture to capture the fluidity of water, with transparent decorations giving the sensation of floating.
Low furniture and open space allow users to mimic lizard movements, while stones, branches, and plants evoke a natural habitat.
Birds
Saurian
Cat murine Fish
Cats
The space features multiple platforms and hidden corners, mimicking a cat’s climbing and hiding habits, with ‘cat tree’-styled furniture for resting and climbing.
The per fect prison
https://vimeo.com/881365295?share=copy
I designed an online “Perfect Prison,” inspired by the plight of holy women in India who were once forced into temple servitude, stripped of freedom and rights due to low social status. While we aren’t physically confined, our minds are often trapped in a similar prison. Each virtual room symbolizes societal constraints on women, especially those deemed “imperfect.” Through interactive experiences, I hope viewers can connect with the struggles faced by modern women.
Inspiration
Field research
2. have observed in shopping malls that 95 per cent of the number of people who look in the mirror in shopping malls are women, which implies that women are more concerned about maintaining their appearance and image.
The male gaze objectifies women, shaping their bodies to fit male desires and reinforcing victimization as beauty.
The motherhood penalty refers to the workplace disadvantages that working mothers face, such as lower pay and competence bias.
Society imposes excessive expectations on married women, blaming them for family duties and limiting
Design Concept
The Panopticon, conceived by Jeremy Bentham, allowed guards to observe prisoners without their knowledge. Similarly, women often experience a kind of surveillance, where they are objectified and constantly watched. This
Irigaray,
Hélène Cixous
Visual design
I designed the graphics with bright colors to express that society is brainwashing females that what they do is correct and even favorable.
Game rule
Players select levels representing "cells" in a panopticon for women: the kitchen for family guilt, the mirror for body shaming, and the office desk with a breast pump for the motherhood penalty.
Illustration & Website and game interface
In the game, players click on Barbies to upload their photos, which the system then grades, highlighting society's strict standards and biases regarding women's appearance.
In the game, players can change the channels, but what's shown on the TV remains females' bodies that are stared at. It means females are under the male gaze all the time.
In the game, players balance family tasks and hobbies, aiming to fill a progress bar that never fully reaches red, symbolizing women's endless sacrifice of personal interests for family duties.
The game features a tilted scale where players discard items to restore balance, yet the tilt remains, symbolizing the ongoing imbalance and societal pressures women face in balancing work and life.
Embryo Seed Company
https://vimeo.com/881348360?share=copy
I designed and constructed a virtual store that sells baby seeds as the main visual element and narrative site. Here, people can buy different types of "baby" seeds to plant and raise their babies. I used moving images and poster design as a way of publicizing the virtual store and the final outcome. Through this project, I hope to show people's monolithic perception of life and the desecration of life and to provoke people's thoughts and reflections.
Inspiration
Scientists haven't reached an agreement on whether embryos are life, but embryos, as the start of all life, should be respected, cared for, and loved, just like all other life.
A human life begins at fertilization, distinct from both the father and mother, marking the start of its unique journey.
A human being must be respected as a person from the very moment of their existence.
Conclusion
When artificially bred embryos are labeled as "commodities" to be selected, donated, or even discarded, the value and sanctity of life are ignored and forgotten. People revere lives underneath the "coat" of a living being, such as a plant or an animal, but when the "coat" is removed as lives return to the shape of embryos, people will forget their nature—the start of life.
Through this project, I hope to show people's monolithic perception of life and the desecration of life and to provoke people's thoughts and reflections.
Test tube company research
Chinese IVF companies are prohibited from offering sex selection due to legal restrictions, while overseas IVF companies provide services such as sex selection, genetic testing, and frozen sperm and egg storage.
Design
The store consists of six rooms and a square. Each room has a sensor tentacle on the outside. The tentacle rises when the store opens
The design of the store's exterior is inspired by the natural form of sperm and eggs, expressing the origin and continuation of life.
By drawing on the design elements of the amusement park facilities, the store's entertainment and playfulness are revealed.
External structure of the building
The Square
-Centre of shops
-screens, sculptures, tracks and plants
A store layout that simulates merchandise sales based on real store elements, including display cases and a central merchandise display area.
Through conveyor belt elements, the process by which life is manufactured and commercialized is simulated.
The logo is designed by combining the shape of the store with e , the first letter of the name Embryo
Color sy
Through the use of pink, purple and bluegreen, the playful and absurd atmosphere of the work is expressed, highlighting the drama and unreality
https://vimeo.com/881344615?share=copy
It's a pop up book exploring how homeless people can truly integrate into society. The chapters are designed based on Social Identity Theory to illuminate the challenging circumstances faced by individuals who are homeless in today's society. It shows readers how their lives are and encourages them to help them. T he only way
Inspirati on
While walking on high streets, I saw a lot of Individuals who are homeless sitting near stores. I felt sad for them as I noticed that they looked so poor in the bustling business center. I wondered why they became homeless.
Field Research
Why are they homeless?from?
Poverty. Diseases. Disasters. Being fostered.
Those who have long been unemployed or can't help spending too much will end up being homeless.
People who are disabled or have mental disorders will be homeless.
People who have been through natural disasters or wars will be homeless.
Young people who have been in foster families or relevant organizations are more likely to be homeless.
Interview
Through the interviews, I realized that some are refugees, while others are Italians. But they all feel alone and want to find their value and social identity.
Alessandro Age: 58 Gender: Male
am an Italian, and I have been homeless for years. I hope to find a job to change my life, but don't know where to start.
Giuseppe Age: 63 Gender: Male
I am a Romanian and a refugee. I feel so lonely and am eager to talk with someone.
SDT highlights the role of autonomy, belongingness, and competence in boosting intrinsic motivation, which fosters positive behaviors and psychological well being.
The need for control over one's behavior and goals is crucial for fostering a sense of self determination.
people need to experience a sense of belonging and attachment to others..
People need to master tasks and acquire skills, which motivates them to take actions that support their goals.
Book Content
Design concept
The research revealed that these needs of Individuals who are homeless are in line with social identity theory and self determination theory. The content of my book is designed according to social identity theory and self determination theory. hope that people will pay attention to this issue through my book, so that they can see how many stages Individuals who are homeless need to go through to integrate into the society and what kind of help they need at each stage. also named it The only way , which means that the homeless community has no other choice.
Synoposis
Social identity theory suggests that identity is shaped through categorisation, identification, and comparison, which enhance self esteem and value.
Self-determination theory Social identit y theory Autonomy comparisons analogue acknowledge Competence Relatedness
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, status and reputation of the community they identify with relative to other communities. People organise themselves into a community.
Perceive themselves as possessing the characteristics common to members of that community.
The story is about how a homeless man finds a place to eat and rest, gets a job, tries to socialize and realizes his self worth by helping others. The story has a very happy ending, and hope that through the story, people can understand the needs of the homeless people and know their hardships.
Prototype
Field Research
Outcome & Web
I displayed the book in a public space where anyone could read it. People often communicate with each other happily in such places, but for individuals who are homeless, public areas are like their homes. I hope that the "wish for homeless people to integrate into society," which is delivered in my book, will help people realize the difficult situation of homeless people. https://vimeo.com/881368280?share=copy
