Things between us
In many ways, we’ve never been closer to—and farther from—each other than we are in the Age of Information. We communicate constantly through phones, texts, emails, and social media. Scientists are already discovering ways to read thoughts as bioelectrical signals and translate them directly into visual and digital outputs. In the near future, we may operate computers with our minds alone, without the need for a keyboard or touchscreen. In other words, the physical interface may disappear altogether. As traditional interfaces fade and boundaries dissolve, we may become more interconnected than ever before. Yet speed, directness, and frequency of communication do not necessarily equate to true closeness—or even real connection.
Digital communication has already proven to be socially polarizing, riddled with privacy concerns, and potentially harmful to mental health. In this context, what does the collapse—or hyper-immediacy—of the interface truly mean? How does it affect the way we speak to and understand each other? And how should we respond?
Engaging viewers in these urgent questions, You and Me is a 3D typographic installation that uses playful, interconnected words made of orange yarn. What begins as a visually poetic display gradually reveals itself as a reflection on communication, technology, embodiment, and loneliness in the twenty-first century.
