SPANG&LEI

The essence of Wall of Us lies in its singular purpose: to project spoken words onto a tangible body in real-time, leveraging the precision of speech-to-text digital recognition software through transliteration.

As our thoughts transition from spoken words to digital text, capable of dissemination beyond the confines of our physical presence, the static nature of words undergoes a transformative shift. Wall of Us serves as a beacon for this evolution, heralding the fusion of technology and aesthetics from the realm of the textual to the performative.

Within the realm of embodied memory, the interplay of remembering and forgetting is intimately intertwined with temporality. The act of physically engaging with the mirror to 'capture' these projected words imbues the concept of remembering with a newfound dimensionality. It underscores that remembering need not solely be a mental endeavour but can manifest as a physical act. In essence, engaging in dialogue requires more than mere auditory attention; it necessitates action, transforming memory into a performance.

Wall of Us provokes contemplation on the accuracy and imperfections inherent in current speech-to-text recognition technology, prompting us to consider what is gained and lost in this deeply human exchange of language. By inviting individuals to navigate through potential mis-translations and misinterpretations within a digital environment, the installation encourages genuine human-to-human interaction amidst technological mediation. Here, a mis-take becomes an opportunity, a genuine entry point for sincere connection.

Wall of Us made its debut at the 7th International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling (ICIDS) from November 2 to 5, 2014, hosted at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore.