Unsettled
All these images will be replace by final project
What
Unsettled is an interactive feather installation that responds to motion. It explores the emotional and historical tensions surrounding the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Viewers are invited to engage physically and emotionally with the work, stepping into a space where history isn’t just remembered.
Mounted on a wooden canvas, the piece features suspended feathers arranged to echo the ceremonial regalia of Aztec culture. These feathers come to life through programmed movement when touched, creating a sense of presence and resistance. Rather than remaining a passive observer, the viewer becomes part of the artwork's living memory. Unsettled becomes a moment where the past reaches into the present, asking not to be forgotten.
Why
The idea for Unsettled came from a desire to explore how cultural memory lives on through material, motion, and presence. This project is rooted in the weight of colonial violence, not just as historical fact, but as something that continues to resonate in the present. I wanted to create an experience that doesn’t just tell viewers about the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire but asks them to feel its emotional residue through interaction.
Feathers became central to the project not just for their beauty but for their deep symbolism in Aztec culture. They represented power, divinity, and sacredness. By using real feathers and animating them through touch, the piece suggests that something holy has been disturbed, yet refuses to disappear. The way the feathers move, subtle, reactive, sometimes unpredictable, echoes the instability and unresolved nature of this history. It’s meant to feel like Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, is still present, resisting the silence of erasure.
This project also builds on ideas I explored in a previous work, European Mount, where I used motion and minimal material to suggest the remnants of a deity. With Unsettled, I’m expanding that approach, adding interactivity, and leaning more into the emotional atmosphere of the piece. It sits somewhere between memorial and protest, a way to make space for the sacred that colonial history tried to strip away.
Unsettled is built using a combination of traditional materials and interactive electronics. The foundation of the piece is a wooden canvas that hangs on the wall. From this surface, I’ve suspended bundles of feathers arranged in a pattern inspired by Aztec ceremonial dress. The feathers are connected to servo motors, which create subtle movements when the viewer interacts with the piece.
To detect interaction, I’m experimenting with both capacitive touch sensors and ultrasonic sensors. These sensors are wired to an Arduino, which I’m using to interpret touch input and trigger specific movement behaviors. I’m also integrating programmable LED strips to highlight motion and add emotional layers through color and light.
The programming is done through the Arduino IDE. Some motors will be hidden among the feathers, while others may be mounted to the frame depending on what works best for weight distribution and motion. I’ve already prototyped individual interactions and am currently refining how everything connects and responds together. Assembling the physical structure and testing motor strength has been one of the most challenging parts, but it's helping me understand how the piece will behave once fully installed.
My previous experience with motion-based sculpture, especially from European Mount, has shaped how I’m approaching this build. This time, I’m pushing further into how interactivity can evoke emotion, how a simple gesture like touching a feather can carry the weight of something much deeper.
How
In Progress
Timeline
Spring Quarter Timeline (VIS 160A)
Week 3: April 14 (Proposal & Planning)
Deliverable: Final Project Proposal + Initial Timeline
Finalize concept, aesthetic direction, and core interactivity
Outline symbolic elements (feathers, deity representation, etc.)
Begin sourcing materials (wood, sensors, motors, feathers)
Week 4: April 21 (Initial Prototyping & Layout)
Create rough layout for feather bundles and motor placements
Begin wiring diagram and sensor configuration tests
Prototype motor response using basic touch or ultrasonic input
Week 5: April 28 (Wiring & Single-System Testing)
Test single motor with one sensor and feather bundle
Explore light behavior using LED strips
Finalize feather types, quantities, and attachment strategy
Refine website (add process page and timeline)
Week 6: May 5 (Midterm Checkpoint)
Midterm Presentation – Working Prototype + Sketches
Present functioning motor + sensor demo
Share updated website and installation sketch
Confirm motor mounting strategies
KNOWN: Basic interactivity + LED behavior
UNKNOWN: Mechanical system/final layout
Week 7: May 12 (Multi-System Integration)
Begin integrating additional sensors and motors
Map sensor inputs to corresponding feather movements
Install RGB LED strips and test synchronized behaviors
Refine aesthetic flow and layout spacing
Week 8: May 19 (Physical Assembly Begins)
Deliverable: Mounted structure with partial interactivity
Begin mounting feathers and attaching sensors
Assemble and mount motors to wooden frame
Address light diffusion and touch responsiveness
Continue adding content to website (video, photos)
Week 9: May 26 (Final Build & Testing)
Complete full integration of sensors, motors, and LEDs
Debug interaction issues and finalize code behavior
Conduct 24-hour testing for consistency
Prepare final website updates and visual documentation
Week 10: June 2 (Final Presentation)
Deliverables: Fully Assembled & Functional Installation + Website
Refine all behaviors and structural balance
Complete website (concept, visuals, system overview, process)
Present project in exhibition-ready format
Summer Session Timeline (VIS 160B: June 30 – August 1)
Week 1: June 30 (System Revisions & Polishing)
Address structural flaws or interactivity issues from spring
Test and refine sensor sensitivity, motor torque, LED feedback
Strengthen feather suspension mechanics
Week 2: July 7 (Expanded Behavior & Final Logic)
Add layered behaviors (e.g., longer movement sequences or light fades)
Polish transition between motor states
Prepare text for final paper (introduction, methods, reflection)
Week 3: July 14 (Documentation & Accessibility)
Photograph final build in installation space
Record interaction video for website
Add accessibility features (alt text, high contrast design, etc.)
Continue final paper draft
Week 4: July 21 (Final Website & Paper)
Final Reflective Paper Due
Finalize all written sections of website
Submit full paper draft (conceptual context + technical explanation)
Upload walkthrough video and installation images
Week 5: July 28 (Final Submission)
Locked Website + Final Presentation
Submit finished project (website, paper, documentation)
Deliver final walkthrough of installation and interactivity
Reflect on process and publish