?dB
FINAL IMAGES
Archival Pigment Print
36(H) x 30(W) in (each)
The third series, ‘?db’ is about the relation between 3 factors which are emotions, the expression, and the sound. I believe there are too many two-faced people in the real world who do not express his/her true feelings. Some might be shy but some are probably just born that way. I started to question what emotion really is. And I made an experimental art piece that breaks up the expressions and sounds within. So I created an installation art piece called, ‘Soundbox,’ that could cut off the world and the subject. When the subject is in the box focusing on its’ emotions, the sound trigger will catch a certain level of dash bell and the camera would click. The subjects in the photos are carrying lots of emotions but can you tell if they are true to their own feelings? Like sad or happy? Well, we will never know the truth because we are not them. I want the audience to throw themselves a question on the nature of emotions.
These are process book pages that mainly show how I began the project “?dB” with initial ideas [Keywords: Sound, Emotion, Facial Expression, and Confession Room]. The pages include a mind map and idea sketches of the project “?dB.”
The page also includes a research of “Sacrament of Penance” where provides an independent space for confession because the space for my project needed zero interruption or disturbance from externals.
These are process book pages that mainly show my initial artist’s statement and research of artists, plays, musicals, and movies including Anton Pavlorich Chekhov, Uncle Vanya, Drive My Car, and Sleep No More. The topics of research commonly deal with communication, isolation, and relationship in human society. In addition, the research helped me create a new type of artwork that pursues spontaneous journeys and immersive reality-related project.
These are process book pages that mainly show my 2nd draft of the artist’s statement and technical sketches of “Sound Trigger” that I used for detecting voice to visually capture the decisive moments. The sound trigger reacts to a certain level of dB by a specific value setting and also triggers the camera shutter automatically. The little machine helped me create an unmanned sound-photo booth.
The pages show actual Installation of the sound-photo booth custom made by metal frames, wire, half-clear plastic vinyl, and camera devices including the sound trigger. There is an instruction for participants that explains the working procedure and legal agreement.
The page also shows sketches that deal with 3 elements of human emotions.