picaroon's surface x installation reflects the real face of your digital identity

in the digital world, we present ourselves in the best possible light — hoping of being loved, employed, liked and followed, we carefully choose the best parts of our identity to display. ‘surface x’ created by picaroon studio specialized in interactive art allows you to take a look in the mirror and admit that we all are un-ideal human beings. 

surface x captures the very moment when our digital and physical identities collide and merge into the real us: at the moment when it becomes impossible to keep the perfect surface intact. picaroon’s installation cracks and folds and our true self is revealed.

just like our digital identity, surface x appears large and impressive from distance: the interactive installation is made up of 35 black umbrellas that form a single, spherical body 3.5 meters in diameter. the umbrellas represent an impenetrable shield, protecting the inside from unwanted looks. however, once a person approaches surface x, the umbrellas immediately shy away and close within milliseconds. up close, one sees less surface but more of what lies behind: cables, sensors, and a steel frame. it is left to the approaching person to judge: does it look ugly or broken? or rather interesting, maybe even beautiful?

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom