Tendrils
Interactive Wearable Art (2009-2010)
Artists: Thecla Shiphorst and Jinsil Seo
Concept
tendrils is an interactive kinetic garment that responds to collective touch. tendrils is a metaphor for the particles, filaments and networks that combine to create our collective selves, the interstitial signals that flow within our bodies, enacting Merleau-Ponty’s notion of the flesh of the world. Like a tidal-pool, tendrils reflects the movement and visual patterns as an eco-system of small movement and senses in which we touch something of the self within an elemental architecture.
The tendrils garment is reminiscent of an active and intelligent skin that responds by shivering, quivering, sighing, and alighting. These skin like responses are actuated by a series of small, interconnected motors and light that reflect the inner energy and nervous system of the garment. Based on biological cellular structures that alter their structural form as a response to touch, tendrils subtle movements reflect its ecological connection to our larger movements as a whole.
Images
Videos: Tendrils 2.0
Videos: Tendrils 1.0
Videos: Tendrils Prototype
Design Teams
Phase One
Thecla Schiphorst – artist; concept, design and direction
Jinsil Seo – collaborative artist; garment design and construction
Norman Ja ff – hardware and software engineering mentor
Sang Mah – creative technical and project management
Meta Vaughan – lead garment design and construction
Lisa Guo – garment design and construction
Moein Sabouhiyan – project manager and web design
Yigit (Matt) Karakilic – usability design and analysis
Kyle Sakai – software engineering design and implementation
Kyle Jung – sensor & motor implementation
Michael Chang – sensor & motor implementation and video documentation
Phase Two
Thecla Schiphorst – artist; concept, design and direction
Jinsil Seo – collaborative artist; garment design and construction
Norman Ja ff – hardware and software engineering mentor
Maxine Kim
CJ Wee
Jack Chen
Justin Sy
Stephanie
