We are so used to what we look like as “humans” — muscles, fat, skin, hair… — layers and layers wrapping up our bones. Such “human-like” appearance makes us feel alive, with animal heat, with endless energy. Yet what if the expected look we have for ourselves contradicts the appearance we actually receive from a third eye? What if our human mien recognized by computer vision obfuscates our self-perception? Is the “moving object” on the screen the real us?

We consider the appearance of skeleton the ideal choice to create such illusory feelings. How do you feel when seeing yourself appear as a skeleton rather than an actual human body? What about seeing the bone floating around in the air when you move part of your body fast, and noticing it being re-attached to the skeleton when you reach close enough to it?

‍SKELETON aims at exploring people’s perception and interaction with themselves, as well as their reaction to the delusive experience. Raising a conflict in our visual perception between our ID as human beings and the appearance as “skeletons,” this interactive installation examines the extent to which people accept their paradoxical mien on the screen. Additionally, it provides users with a delightful interactive experience — seeing oneself alive as a skeleton, taking the body apart by oneself, and re-attaching the body parts back, which are never achievable in real life. Is it the actual human participant that is bringing what should have been dead back to life? Is it the SKELETON that is the “identity” of ourselves?