EUNSU KANG

Shin'm Pinata

Shin'm Piñata, created in 2012, is a mobile, interactive installation. Using the Kinect sensor, a projector, and spatialized sound, it creates an interactive space of a large variety of candies. As the participant enters the space, the candies are circling the center of the field. When the participant is close enough, the candies gather into the shape of the participant as detected by the Kinect.  As the participant moves their arms in a number of 'waving' or 'shaking' gestures, the 'piñata' breaks open, sending the candies flying in all directions. The piñata will also burst if the participant gets very close. The spatialized sound image matches the visual with 'crunchy' and 'popping' sounds. The Shin'm Piñata installation is light and mobile, consisting of a Kinect sensor, laptop, small speakers, and a small projector. It can be rapidly moved around and deployed almost anywhere. It can be moved during the festival to wherever and whenever the crowds are; for example: outside of concert/lecture venues, or cafeterias. The only restriction is access to electrical power. Piñatas are often in the shape of animals like cows or sheep, or well-known cartoon characters. Shin'm Piñata is in the shape of a visitor to the festival. The interactions with the 'piñata' and the candies bursting from the 'piñata' bring to mind the pleasures of children's parties and other activities. Shin'm Piñata is fun, invoking memories of childhood play.

Shin'm Pinata is also an interactive dance performance that was premiered at the Northern Spark Festival in Minneapolis. This version used three video projections of slightly different versions of Shin'm Pinata in terms of visualizations and interaction behaviors. They were accompanied by one interactive sound space.

in collaboration with Donald Craig and Diana Garcia-Snyder