About
Through The Moments That We Share demonstrates the interpretive nature of communication constructed into a physical form. In order for information to be transmitted and understood as intended by the sender, two individuals must share a common "conceptual map" and understanding of the situation.
Development
After conducting a 6-month deep dive into the realm of non-verbal communication, I started to explore how I could translate my findings into a meaningful yet expressive way. I wanted to created a piece that not only expressed my research, but also yields the power to bring awareness to the lack of understanding of our non-verb cues and behaviours. Through my project, I deconstructs and dissects the topic of non-verbal communication through different facets such as print, a booklet, an interactive website, photography, processing, to ultimately discover that creating an interactive installation was the best direction for my project.
How It Works
Using thermochromic ink, which reacts upon contact with heat, two individuals must work together to create a thermal reaction by using the warmth of their hands in the same spot on both sides of the Plexiglas. This cooperation reflects the necessity and the effort needed by both parties to create clarity and understanding in communication. With the nature of the thermochromic ink, the pane of Plexiglas will slowly fade back to black in room temperature, representing the time sensitivity that comes along with communication.
Conclusion
Being unable to understand non-verbal communication is like listening to a conversation and only being able to hear one third of the words spoken. You would misunderstand what you hear and would be frustrated by the overall situation. By researching and exploring how to interpret non-verbal communication, we can better understand and unravel people's true feelings below the surface of just verbal words themselves.
Many thanks to those who helped me on this journey.
Photography courtesy of Judy Gu
