About the Project
Medium:
Interactive Digital Art Experience
• Unity Games Engine executable file running on Android Tablet
• Motion capture camera (Kinect)
• Artist/audience performance/participation
• Monitor to show the application
Venue: Oriel Gallery, Antrim Castle Gardens, Downstairs Gallery
Date Exhibited: January – March 2023
Description:
This work explored perceptions of the human body through participation and performance in the real world and digital space.
I set up an interactive installation so that the participant/performer moving in front of the motion capture camera saw a digital artist mannequin version of themselves in the shared gallery space.
Artist mannequins suggest the embodiment of artists’ perception of the human body. Used as a means of improving and refining the drawing or painting of figures, they are never intended as a substitute for working from the human body.
Taking this a step further and converting a physical artist mannequin into digital avatar format, while creating an environment where the avatar responds to the actual real-time movement of the human body, we see, perceive, and identify with the avatars, changing perceptions of human existence, visibility, and identity in this age of technological change. There is no requirement for the viewer negotiate menus, apps or wear headsets to interact with the piece.
I was delighted to present this work at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Digital and Immersive Showcase on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at The MAC, Belfast.
Here’s how the Arts Council described the event:
“Digital arts experiences from 12 of the region’s most exciting artists were recently celebrated at The MAC, as part of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Digital Arts Showcase, supported by The National Lottery, Department for Communities and Future Screens NI. The one-day free exhibition was an opportunity for the public and wider arts sector to experience experimental and innovative digital arts created by Northern Ireland’s leading artists who are working at the interface of cutting-edge technology and the arts.”
LAB Work
I am a member of XR Lab, a collaborative group based at Digital Arts Studios, Belfast, dedicated to helping artists and creatives explore and develop their practice using XR technologies. Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term encompassing augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR)—immersive technologies that blend virtual and physical environments through audio and visual media.
In January and February 2025, Lab Work presented a showcase of ideas and projects developed by our members. I exhibited “Beyond The Frame” an interactive digital installation that explores embodiment, perception, and digital representation. Using motion capture, participants animate an artist mannequin in real time, engaging with a reimagined gallery space. The work reflects on artistic identity, accessibility, and participation, questioning how technology shapes cultural spaces and creative engagement.
Built using the Unity Game Engine and Kinect 360 motion capture, the installation reacts dynamically to users’ movements. Occasionally, the system misinterprets actions, inviting playful exploration of its limitations and the fluidity of digital embodiment. This work also challenges the exclusivity of traditional galleries, proposing inclusive, participatory cultural spaces. By activating the mannequin, the audience becomes part of an evolving dialogue about the role of art and artists in shaping cultural environments.
Committed to sustainability, “Beyond The Frame” repurposes existing equipment and explores eco-conscious technology use in digital art, contributing to the broader conversation on sustainable practices in the arts.
PROJECT FUNDERS & PARTNERS
