HELIA RAFIE
SEEN
2023
Interactive multimedia installation
"SEEN" was a collaborative project with Cas van Deurssen, presented at WEP Stichting Groningen. We were inspired by how we apply textures to shapes in digital software by adding external materials and the idea that material properties of an object aren't inherently tied to its form. Instead, we explored the notion that these properties can be assigned externally. This means that a basic geometric shape can be transform to look like it's made of wood, metal, foam, or virtually any material, similar to.
We began with an assortment of approximately 20 white wooden planks, each featuring distinct shapes, forms, and sizes. Each shape from the wooden planks had a counterpart in another material. We documented various methods and actions, such as welding, polyurethane foam pouring, chiseling, burning, and integrating chains, and then projected these processes onto the corresponding wooden shapes. For instance, we took a substantial wooden plank and utilized it as a canvas for a projection. This projection depicted the welding process, creating an illusion where the white wooden plank appeared as if it it was a piece of metal being welded. Certain shapes were enhanced with digitally made videos, including animations or screen recordings of drawings made in Microsoft Paint
