My idea began with a simple question: How can we bring people closer to art, especially those who might not know much about it? Museums often present artworks as static, untouchable objects. You’re meant to look, admire, and move on. But what if there was a way to help people feel art more directly, to experience the context in which it was created?
My original idea was to create miniature versions of famous artists’ studios. The idea came from something I’ve always found fascinating: an artist’s workplace can reveal so much about their process, personality, and even their emotional world. The arrangement of objects, the choice of lighting, the mess or the order, it all speaks. A workspace tells the story behind the art, sometimes more clearly than a wall label ever could.
I first truly felt this while visiting Yoshitomo Nara’s installation “My Drawing Room” in Baden-Baden. It was a scaled-down version of his studio, full of intimate, personal touches: scribbled notes, half-used materials, posters on the wall, and most memorably, cute little toys and dolls scattered across the room. These weren’t just decorations, they were expressions of his character and influences, part of the world he builds when he works. Even his favorite rock music was playing in the background. It felt like stepping into a hidden part of his mind. And for someone unfamiliar with Nara’s art, this room offered a beautiful, gentle entry point.
After my first consultation with Birgit, we realized it could be even more compelling if the room wasn’t just something to look at but something you could interact with. Art in museums is often so untouchable, so distant. This could be different. That’s when I decided to dive into Arduino and sensors to make a room that actually responds to you.
For the first prototype, I didn’t focus too much on the detailed decoration of a specific artist’s studio. Instead, I created a simplified miniature room, kind of like my own room here in Graz. You know, I am something of an artist myself.
Then I began researching what kinds of Arduino interactions are possible and which sensors could work for what I had in mind. The first obvious choice was a door interaction: when you enter the room, the light turns on. Simple, but already gives the space life. Then I found tutorials about TV or laptop interactions and added those as well. One by one, the room began to feel more real.
Here are the sensors and interactions I used in the prototype:
- KY-010 Beam Sensor (door sensor): detects when the door is open, triggering the room light.
- KY-018 Photoresistor: simulates natural lighting—when the room is dark (like at night), the behavior changes but for my prototype I used to detect the lack of light, so if you go to bed and cover it with a blanket, it turns the light off.
- Conductive Tape Sensor (drawer interaction): when the drawer is open, a soft light turn on.
- Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04): detects if someone approaches the TV. When you get close, the TV turns on and a soft startup sound plays. When you leave, it powers off with a shutdown sound.
- Button and Buzzer: originally used as a basic interaction tool to test sound responses, I used it a doorbell.
By combining all these elements, I planned to create a small room that responds to the presence and actions of a visitor. The lights change. Sounds react. It’s still just a prototype but already it’s something you don’t just look at. You feel it. And maybe, through this interactive experience, someone who doesn’t normally connect with art might pause and think: “Wait… this is actually interesting.”
