Tradition meets technology.
OperaShadows
Project Brief
Opera Shadows is an interactive installation designed to engage Gen Z, featuring user-controlled changes in color and speed of shadow casts from Beijing Opera masks.
Role
Interaction Designer, Back-end Developer
Timeline
Oct - Dec 2021
Team
Nicole Zhang,
Yao Yao
Tools
Procreate, Illustrator
LEGO® Education SPIKE™, Laser Cutting Machine
How might we design an interactive art installation that effectively introduces Gen Z to Beijing Opera？
THE PROBLEM
Peking Opera faces a critical threat of disappearing within a generation due to its rapidly declining audience, decreasing at about 5% per year.
Beijing Opera Declines 5% Annually
Gen Z: Key to Preservation
Gen Z is essential for ensuring the future relevance and preservation of Beijing Opera.
THE SOLUTION
Introducing Opera Shadows
This interactive installation merges traditional art with modern technology, allowing users to control the shadows of Beijing Opera masks.
As part of an in-class assignment, we explored the fusion of cultural heritage and digital innovation, focusing on engaging Gen Z with the rich legacy of Beijing Opera.
Bringing Beijing Opera to Life.
Colorful. Engaging. Dynamic.
Engaging Gen Z with interactive color expression.
The installation's color-based interactions engage Gen Z by offering a means for personal expression and immersive experiences, aligning with their values of individuality and digital participation.
Speed Shifts at Color's Cue.
The installation's rotation speed adjusts in response to color cues from the sensor controller. For example, red triggers an increased speed as it represents anxiety.
Light Shifts at a Button's Touch.
When the lighting button is clicked, the light's color changes, altering the installation's shadow display.
Color Shifts in Your Hands.
Visitors interact with the exhibit by using colored cellophane sheets to change backdrop color, blending visual dynamics with personal expression and cultural engagement.
THE PROCESS
Ideation
Gen Z's interest in Diptyque Carousel candles, akin to ancient Chinese Revolving Lanterns, indicates their appreciation for contemporary interpretations of traditional designs and cultural heritage.
Materials
Process
Pivots in Design
Attach masks to installation
9
Initial laser cut of masks; adjust thin gaps
1
Sketch on Procreate
2
Laser cut masks and disk
3
Test mask-light distance
4
Use screwdriver for attachment
5
Try attaching disk with rope
6
Attach cellophane sheets to masks
7
Tested code after assembling
8
THE RESULT
After presenting Opera Shadows for Tsinghua Craftsman Competition, it was selected as the Gold Medalist Winner and won $500.
In collaboration with another designer, I created Opera Shadows at Tsinghua University, China's premier institution. This first art installation, a blend of design and technical skills, was a highlight of my year there. I learned that design is flexible, with initial concepts evolving through testing and trials into effective solutions.