STAT (U) ES: An Interactive Community Engaged Art Using Projection Mapping and Facial Recognition System

"STAT(U)ES" is an interactive art that enables a subjective experience of site-specificity using projectionmapping and facial recognition system. This work consists of two parts: a camera part that captures facial images and a projection part where an image of the Buddhist Sculpture is projected on wooden boxes. A viewer is first instructed to read the caption of the work and the facial image is secretly filmed by the camera hidden behind the caption. Next, the viewer proceeds to the projection part and appreciates the work in which the face of a Buddhist Sculpture becomes herself/himself. Yamashiro district is an area that produced timber used as a material for Buddhist Sculptures since ancient times. It is speculated that the face of the Buddhist Sculpture reflects the face of the people in Yamashiro district at that time. Through the subjective experience that the face of a Buddhist Sculpture turns into one's own face, we express that the Buddha image, which is tied to the established impression, is a symbol of the life of this land. In making this work, we refer to the two findings "exhibition system to enable unintentional work appreciation" and "usage of the facial image of local residents as a part of work".