2021
2024

Touch Across Distance

Xinyi Pu

Xinyi Pu

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2024

Touch Across Distance

Xinyi Pu

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

2021
2024

Touch Across Distance

Xinyi Pu

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

Pratt Institute

In a world where physical distance is often replaced by digital connectivity, the interplay of light and touch serves as a profound metaphor for bridging distance and fostering intimate interactions. Our project Touch Across Distance delves into the complexity of modern relationships, exploring how light can transcend spatial constraints and evoke a sense of intimacy. At the heart of our installation is a series of screens adorned with millions of fingerprints, each representing a unique individual. Beneath these screens, a hand is gently pressed against the surface, symbolizing the tangible connection brought about by the digital interface. Here, touch becomes a channel of communication, enabling individuals to express preferences, emotions, and desires across vast distances. However, a subtle sense of eeriness pervades the entire scene under the bright lights. The abundance of fingerprints is a stark reminder of the paradoxes inherent in online interactions. While technology enables connection, it also obscures authenticity, often blurring the line between intimacy and anonymity. Through our installation, we invite viewers to contemplate the intricacies of human relationships in the digital age. By juxtaposing the warmth of touch with the coldness of pixels, we aim to provoke reflection on the nature of intimacy, inviting participants to question the authenticity of their online relationships and what intimacy really means in a world bathed in close-up light. In essence, Touch Across Distance challenges us to re-evaluate the way we engage with others, reminding us that true connection transcends the boundaries of space and technology and resonates deeply in the shared experience of touch and presence.

Touch Across Distance