What if Access(2003) by Maria Sester was an fully digital piece? The mixed interactive experience bridges the gap between online and in person experiences by a spotlight following a single spectator. This spectator is the center of the piece often on-looked by passer-byers. I envision a mixed reality experience almost game like.

There would a phone application with the needed software to “play” or experience this. For the ones who have the app, would have to find the clues in this room. The clues would either be in real life or mixed. The player would point at the clue and a description would overlay. The overlay would display information and only visible in the app. As they follow along, which could possibly be like an escape room or a futuristic noir mystery, the room in real life would start to evolve.  The room lighting would start changing the mood. A voice would be playing over the phone or a directional speaker. This would be targeting the user who is getting closer to solving the mystery.  The speaker, what I will call the “AI”, could try to distract each players from completing the story. Either by flashing lights 0r talking non-sense to the player. This interaction is like the speaker and spotlight from the original piece.

If the player solves the mystery. The room mood would change and “reset”. The spectators who are viewing this experience can ride along. They would see the smart room reacting and the player’s reactions.  They might not have a clue whats going on. Only that, something is happening. There would be some limits in the mixed reality. If there are too many players, it could ruin the experience. If this is the case, I can see this working more so as an escape the room environment than a gallery.

The next piece I envision as an interactive experience would be the Refinery29’s”29Rooms”. There is certain piece that would be interesting would be the black and white statues. As visitors enter the area, parts the display would react. The heads or the whole body would turn towards the visitors. Hidden cameras would record the viewers face as the visitor walks in the area. It would then display their face on the TVs. If the person talks or it detects that their mouth is opened, a distorted sound would come from that TV nearest of the person. If the faces are record to a database, they could be saved and projected on the other non TV heads. Another possibility would be to display the recorded faces on the circle mirrors on the background. I believe this could evolve the current piece. Giving the new visitors and older visitors a different experience of the piece every time they see the piece.