Title of Work: ArtCade, 2019
Artists: Martha Merrall, Hannah Sennik, Cassandra Merlihan, Emily Yuhong Jiang, Gurshan Deol, Aidan Power
Materials: Arduino, Breadboard, Arcade Push Buttons, Stepper Motors, V-belt, 3D Printed Gears, MDF boards, Vinyl Decals, IKEA Table, Neodymium Magnets, Metal Ball, Zen Garden Sand, Aquarium Rocks
ArtCade combines the notion of adversarial video games with the mindfulness of zen gardens through a collaborative process. The work aims to foster a sense of togetherness, as two users are needed to create drawings in the sand.
Traditionally, arcade machines were forms of individual entertainment that often pitted players against one another to achieve the highest score in a loud and colourful environment. ArtCade instead places a collaborative and meditative activity in the arcade machine shell that forces users to interact directly across from one another. The players are encouraged to create a drawing in the sand of a zen garden by pressing buttons on either end. One person is in charge of linear movements, and the other radial, allowing for plenty of freedom in the designs.
When users step up to the machine, they can see the player on the other side and are encouraged to work together and test the unmarked buttons. Each button moves the magnet under the zen garden in a particular direction, which in turn, moves the ball through the sand. Users are free to explore and discover which buttons move in each direction, as the piece is meant to provide a space for reflection, curiosity and self-expression.
The Artcade was requested by the curators of LUMEN to be displayed in the year 2019.
Unfortunately, this work was dismantled prior to the request.
Unfortunately, this work was dismantled prior to the request.