impression

Socially Engaged Art Installation

2017–2018

Impression is an interactive installation that involves human interaction and collaboration from participants who are invited to sit in front of a mirror, reflect, and lean in for a kiss while being photographed.

This social experiment was installed at the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati, Ohio during a 10-month period where over 900,000 images were captured using an automated low-tech HD web camera combined with a high-tech, pixel-sensitive software program. The installation pushes boundaries and tests the limits of what people are willing to do in a public or a private space. The resulting images are a provocative collection of human emotion; capturing a variety of interactions from joy, disgust, love, embarrassment and surprise to confusion.

Self-reflection and self-identity are relevant topics today. Impression explores these topics visually with diversity in sexuality, gender, self, culture and identity.