Yamin Xu
Bowling Green State University
Yamin Xu is an artist and electronics geek, working on the edge that blurs animation, coding, and electronics with an emphasis on the exploration of emerging technology and art. He strives to create and define new things, which have not been clearly perceived as art. This motivation is sustained by his rigorous art/engineering practice, which is informed by the convergence of divergent spheres of study: religion and science, privacy and surveillance, the robotic and organic. The result is an innovation - feedback to affect and expand his understanding and definition of art. Before he earned his MFA in the United States researching computer vision, he obtained a BA in art and design in China. His experience includes being a VFX artist at CCTV, an instructor at Peking University, and a researcher at Argonne National Laboratory. His research and artwork have been shown in ACM SIGGRAPH ASIA and other exhibitions in different countries. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in the Digital Arts program at Bowling Green State University.
Iris (Interactive sculpture)
Iris is a wearable robot. As an experiment designed to bring on-screen animation closer to physical, real-life animation, Iris is given independent perception and temperament by using facial expression recognition and emotion synthesis. Similar to cartoon animation, this temperament is expressed through movement but generated in real-time. By connecting sensors that measure physiological signals of the wearer's body, the emotion of the Iris is affected by the wearer's emotions. It can be perceived as an independent individual and also a part of the wearer's body. This ability to perceive and emote reflects both a certain connection and difference with the wearer, as if showing a split personality. Giving different responses to others affects interpersonal interactions and relationships. These effects are heightened during Covid-19, when our faces are covered by masks, the Iris performs a special way to augment humans' expression.