Senior Thesis: Interactive Sculpture 

Approprate Me

A forced exploration of the exploitation of Black features through touch. 

Based on a website I’ve previously built and utilizing a mixture of sculpture, physical computing, projection mapping, animation, graphic design and video editing, this project forces the user to confront issues of cultural appropriation through physical touch. At the center of the project is a touch activated bust, with six touch sensors for each part of the face. When activated, the touch sensors project different imagery and videos along three separate canvases. The video and images projected relate to each part of the face and how I interpret them in relation to beautification and cultural appropration. Having the users engage physically with this head makes it impossible for them to hide in ignorance and provides an intimate and sometimes violent interaction, revealing something unique about each person.