POMPOM IS AN INTERACTIVE “MIRROR” MADE OF FAUX-FUR PUFFS

Artist and designer Daniel Rozin presents his Kinect-powered work at the Bitforms Gallery in New York

New York-based, Israeli artist Daniel Rozin creates interactive digital art that turn the idea of passively viewing artwork on its head. His work, such as his recent PomPom Mirror, gets the viewer involved by responding to their presence and movement.

The interactive “mirror” is composed of no less than 928 spherical puffs of faux fur. The beige and black puffs are disposed over two layers in a three-dimensional grid. A “push-pull” mechanism allows the puffs to be extruded or retracted in a variety of patterns, giving a pixelated effect. The grid is then hooked up to a Microsoft Kinect that senses presence and motion which is represented as a silhouette of black against the beige.

Most impressive is the overall precision and fluidity of movement that turns a soft, malleable material into a veritable mirror. PomPom is currently on display at the Bitforms Gallery in New York as part of Rozin’s solo exhibition Descent With Modification which runs through July 1st.