A performative piece that communicates the burdens of living delusion through an animatronic mask.
eyes and mouth of the mask open revealing a degenerate face, unsettling to anyone who observes the user
mask resembles a more neutral expression communicating a delicate balance between awareness and ignorance
conveys a disconnect from the world, a purposeful and heavy choice to live in ignorance
Thumbnails and Concepts were created in reflection of creating a product that communicates the feelings of interacting with it.
With the face being the most expressive part of the body, I wanted to emphasize it. By drawing it out and extending it from the body, I was able to not only enlarge its presence but also connect it back to the feelings of tension.
The use of literal masks feeds into the idea that by hiding behind one, the user can ignore all other realities while creating this facade of their reality and identity. By ripping apart the mask to reveal different emotions, the product parallels the feelings of facing these fantasies with objective truth and living in a state of mixed reality.
The feeling of wearing this mask isn't supposed to be comfortable but the feeling of wearing a prop. Oftentimes, it's a choice to live in delusion and one has to fool oneself into believing in such reality and this product is supposed to emulate that choice and its consequences.
The DOF sensor was used to track head rotation As the sensor reads the inputs, when the head is within a certain range, the input will trigger the response of the servo motors to adjust according to the desired expression.
Mechanical prototypes were made to determine parts and ideal motion. By adjusting fixed and free axis, there are 4 moving arms using only 2 servo motors.
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facial portions of the mask were built with clay from existing paper mache masks
the frame of the mask was laser cut from 1/8 acrylic
Eyes Wide Open reflects the feeling of blissful ignorance where when the user head is faced down, the mask closes into restful “closed expression” and when the user chooses to look head on, they are scarred by the unfortunate realities. The jagged and sharp frame warn the user from looking up while the weight of the frame creeps up on the user when looking down. At the neutral state the user is “normal.” expressing a delicate balance between objectivity and delusion. The animatronic motion of the shifts in expression allude to the level control in which the user can choose which mindset to adapt.
free axis use #6 machine screws with double bolts for security
fixed axis use a square styrene tube secure with friction fit
all electronics can be accessed by sliding circuit in and out of case
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