SHIELD

Shield is a performance installation which manifests a body of light that peacocks the real body. It was created as a study for projection designs for a play based on the science fiction novel Dhalgren, by Samuel Delaney.

In the book, gang members wear projectors that create intimidating animal forms around their bodies as a form of holographic warpaint. Here, a Kinect 3D camera and software written in C++ with openFrameworks analyze and recreate the position and motion of the body in a transparent but voluminous form. As the performer moves, their shield follows, surrounding them with a body mimicking photon shell.