Body Oracle

Concept

In today's digital landscape, the nuances of body language often go unrecognized, despite comprising a significant portion of our communication. Inspired by Oracle Bone Inscriptions, one of the oldest forms of Chinese writing, "Body Oracle" proposes a transformative vocabulary for expressing complex bodily interactions. This speculative design employs AI-generated characters that encapsulate proprioceptive experiences, allowing participants to engage with their movements in novel ways.

Interactive Art Installation

The artwork will be exhibited as an interactive installation featuring a large screen and a camera system. As participants enter the installation space, their collective movements are recognized in real-time and translated into these new AI-generated characters, displayed on the screen. Participants will be prompted with suggestions like "be friendly" or "show disagreement," encouraging them to form collective movements. This process demonstrates the ambiguity in modern language while showcasing the effectiveness of the new "Body Oracle" characters in capturing the essence of body positions and reflecting intentionality.

The installation space will be designed to accommodate groups of 3-5 participants at a time. The floor will be marked with subtle positioning cues to guide participants' movements within the camera's field of view. Soft, ambient lighting will create a comfortable atmosphere for movement and interaction. The main screen, approximately 2 meters wide and 3 meters tall, will display the AI-generated characters in real-time, with animations showing the transition from human movements to symbolic representations. An additional smaller screen will provide instructions and prompts to guide participants' interactions. The installation will also include an area where visitors can view a curated selection of generated characters from previous sessions, showcasing the range and evolution of the AI-generated symbology.

Body Oracle Archive

The "Body Oracle Archive" is a system designed to document and showcase the symbols and processes generated by the "Body Oracle" interactive installation. It not only collects the generated characters from each interaction but also records participants' movement data and feedback. This archive serves to reveal the relationship between human bodily movements and the newly generated symbols, exploring how these characters convey emotions and intentions in various social contexts. By curating and displaying this archive, visitors can observe the evolution of the characters and how different participants' performances and creativity influence the outcomes. This archive not only provides valuable data for future research but also offers a space for participants and audiences to explore the evolution of bodily awareness and nonverbal communication.

Impact

"Body Oracle" seeks to cultivate a deeper understanding of bodily awareness in social contexts, bridging the gap between verbal communication and nonverbal cues. By encouraging playful exploration of movement and interaction, the installation fosters a collective awareness of our bodies in space, paving the way for innovative forms of communication in an increasingly digital world.Meanwhile, Oracle Bone Script is a milestone in Chinese history, representing a significant cultural heritage. However, due to its obscure nature, it has become a form of Chinese characters "lying" on artifacts, with very few people actively seeking to understand its charm. We hope to use interactive and creative approaches to lower the cognitive threshold, spark individual interest and creativity, and integrate Oracle Bone Script into people's lives through playful experiences.