Introvertebrate

幽栖体

Kinetic Sculpture & Machine Vision

Statement

A kinetic sclpture Intricately combining mechanical dynamics and biomimicry inspired by unexplored ocean realms.

Material

Custom Software (Machine Learning Face Recognition & Serial Communication), Servo Motors, Single-board Computer, Plywood, PLA Plastic

Dimension

Ø64 × 48 in. (Ø163 × 122 cm)

Project Involvement

This project was a close collaboration between Damon Chen and Elaine Wang, with both artists contributing across all stages—from concept development and mechanical design to fabrication and interaction programming. Together, they developed the motion system, integrated machine vision for responsive behavior, configured electronics and control systems, and assembled the final installation.

Credit

Project Team :
Elaine Wang & Damon Chen
Instructor :
Daniel Rozin

Project DEscription

Overview >

Introvertebrate is a biomimetic kinetic sculpture that blends soft-bodied oceanic life with mechanical precision. Its form echoes octopus-like fluidity and jellyfish tendencies, structured around a central mechanical spine with 18 radially arranged robotic legs. The creature appears delicate and organic, yet its engineered elements—wires, motors, linkages—remind us of its constructed nature. This work reflects on vulnerability, observation, and instinct: like an introvert, it freezes under human gaze, a silent aquatic sentinel within a dystopian, synthesized ecosystem.

Imagined Ecology >

Inspired by the uncharted depths of Earth’s oceans—over 70% unexplored—Introvertebrate imagines a creature evolved to navigate and protect itself in the deep sea’s alien terrain. It fuses the internal skeletons of whales and seahorses with the ethereal undulations of jellyfish, forming a novel hybrid organism. Eighteen robotic limbs, each powered by precise motorized linkages, move in a synchronous, skeletal wave. The result is a mesmerizing, rhythmic dance of machine and flesh-like aesthetics.

When you look, it looks away.

On detecting human presence, the creature’s 18 radial legs halt mid-wave, entering a subtle tremor—its own poetic, introverted retreat.
By fusing the unknown depths of marine biology with mechanical fabrication, Introvertebrate offers a meditation on vulnerability, presence, and the unseen worlds around us
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Technical details

Structural logic >.

Linkages are an essential part of many mechanisms. They can be used to change direction, alter speed and change the timing of moving parts. Motion Gen algorithms simulate nuanced bone movement, transforming rigid linkages into dynamic skeletal frames. These mechanical “bones” articulate rhythmically, seamlessly emulating biological locomotion

Mechanical Design >.

Each of the 18 limbs is driven by a 20 kg motor arranged in a perfect circle. Controlled via an Arduino and motor drivers, limb movement is orchestrated through PWM loops, creating a fluid, yet subtle delay between segments—producing a wave-like propagation reminiscent of gaits found in marine life.

Each limb is constructed with a modular linkage system that allows for biomechanical articulation, simulating vertebrate flexibility despite its radial symmetry. This hybrid of skeletal engineering and soft kinetic rhythm blurs the boundary between creature and machine, suggesting an unfamiliar form of locomotion evolved under artificial constraints.

Machine Vision >.

Equipped with P5 FaceNet for machine vision, Introvertebrate continuously scans its environment. Upon detecting a human face, it instinctively ceases motion and enters a gentle trembling state—its way of withdrawing from attention and protecting itself. This interactive pause underscores its introverted character: curious, passive, and self-preserving. The subtle shake serves as a soft, defensive reaction, inviting viewers to reflect on personal boundaries, presence, and how we influence living systems.

The vision system operates through real-time facial landmark detection, triggering state transitions via serial communication. These behavioral shifts occur without user input, creating a sense of autonomous agency. By mimicking the self-conscious retreat of shy organisms, the creature provokes an uncanny tension—inviting viewers to reconsider the ethics of surveillance, observation, and how sentience is performed in artificial life.

Inspiration

Art of motion >_

Light Painting, or Light Drawing, is a technique in which photos are made while making a long exposure and using light in a way that it builds up in the picture.
Étienne-Jules Marey and Georges Demeny, 1889: Marey and Demeny developed several photographic techniques to study the movements of everything from humans to horses; 127 years ago, light painting was first used for scientific study (see the photos to the left).