Idea #1 - Emotional Response Room
For my first idea, I designed an Emotional Response Room based on my reaction to the Epstein files and the public response surrounding them. After reading some of the released emails and documents, I felt a strong sense of anger, disgust, and frustration. It also feels like the topic has been pushed aside or emotionally numbed over time. I want this installation to explore that emotional cycle… how outrage can slowly turn into overwhelm and then into numbness.
I was heavily inspired by the installation work of Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell, especially their use of light and atmosphere to shape how a viewer physically experiences space.
The room would use fog and strong lighting to create a slightly claustrophobic environment. The lighting sequence would move from red (anger, chaos, exposure) into blue (sadness, emotional fatigue, numbness), followed by a blackout, and then repeated. This looping structure represents how public attention and emotional response often cycle and fade.
I am also considering projecting or painting short phrases or words into the space using opposite-color lighting. For example:
- During red lighting: phrases like “pending,” “under review,” “no comment,” and “insufficient evidence.”
- During blue lighting: phrases like “remember,” “pay attention,” and “this still matters.”
Sound and projections may also be layered to increase the sense of emotional overwhelming.
Idea #2 - Internal Anxiety / Heart Space
For my second idea, I wanted to explore something more personal by focusing on my own experiences with having a heart condition. Unlike a temporary illness, it is something that is always present, even when it is not visible. This installation would explore the constant background feeling of anxiety and physical awareness that comes with that. This idea is very similar to Project 1, “Small World.”
I was inspired by the sculptural material work of Eva Hesse and again by the atmospheric lighting environments of Olafur Eliasson. I am interested in combining soft materials such as yarn or string with fog and lighting to create a chaotic and slightly claustrophobic environment.
The yarn would hang throughout the space, creating layered visual tension and forcing the audience to physically navigate through it. A heartbeat sound would play continuously, possibly shifting tempo to reflect anxiety or irregular rhythm. Lighting would pulse subtly with the sound to reinforce the connection between the body and the environment.
This piece would focus on the idea that internal experiences, especially medical or emotional ones, can be invisible but still deeply present.
Idea #3 - Fabric Reflection Room
For my third idea, I am considering a quieter and more reflective installation space that still connects to emotional and bodily awareness. I was inspired by the immersive fabric environments created by Ann Hamilton along with the lighting and texture-based environments of Olafur Eliasson.
This installation would use hanging red fabric to surround the viewer and create a soft, enclosed environment. A beanbag chair placed in the center would encourage the viewer to sit and physically settle into the space, making the experience slower and more personal.
Fog, soft lighting, and sound would be used to create an immersive atmosphere. Depending on the final direction, the room could function either as:
- a reflective emotional space
- a symbolic internal body space connected again to heart awareness
Sound could include low ambient tones or a subtle heartbeat to reinforce the sense of presence and connection to the body.
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