Circle
Yuxi Mei
Bio-Plastic, Natural Elements, Arduino
2023
Initially starting out with visual communication and graphic design, over the years Mei has dedicated herself to challenging new approaches to interdisciplinary integration of design and art, being adept at observing and reflecting on the status quo of post-human society, all of which now inform her art-making and design sensibility. She has played multiple roles in her design and art career, from graphic designer, interaction designer, artist, performer, illustrator to UX/UI designer, and is able to balance technique with creativity and detail with the bigger picture. With a passion for graphics and art installations, her dream is to create artwork that transcends boundaries and captivates the imagination.
Contact: ymei5@pratt.edu | yuxim@kean.edu
Yuxi Mei
Bio-Plastic, Natural Elements, Arduino
2023
Initially starting out with visual communication and graphic design, over the years Mei has dedicated herself to challenging new approaches to interdisciplinary integration of design and art, being adept at observing and reflecting on the status quo of post-human society, all of which now inform her art-making and design sensibility. She has played multiple roles in her design and art career, from graphic designer, interaction designer, artist, performer, illustrator to UX/UI designer, and is able to balance technique with creativity and detail with the bigger picture. With a passion for graphics and art installations, her dream is to create artwork that transcends boundaries and captivates the imagination.
Contact: ymei5@pratt.edu | yuxim@kean.edu
The inception of music predates recorded history, intertwining with religion and daily life. The creation of the first true instruments marked the genesis of melodic expression. However, traditional instruments of yore, created for ceremonies and festivals, became symbols of excess - immense natural consumption, wanton tree felling, cruelty to animals, and the disposal of vast quantities of waste. These instruments were static, perpetually confined to their settings. Over time, we transitioned to modern, simplistic metal and digital counterparts, losing the essence of tradition. Part of the tradition is preserved, but the sound of the instrument becomes a symbol, we click, select, drag to the track, play, end. Their voices went far beyond the circle, but they never did. Instead of playing it, we play it.
This project offers a solution of crafting sustainable, eco-friendly instruments from bioplastics that echo nature's perpetual renewal. These instruments are portable and wearable, resonating with the essence of nature. Like Ouroboros, an endless cycle - extracting from nature and returning to nature in the end. Equipped with touch sensors, they offer an immersive connection to the environment. Ouroboros breaks free from the circular patterns, uniting tradition, nature, and technology. It fuses the timeless melodies of the past with modern innovation, rekindling the soul of music and its deep roots in nature.
This project offers a solution of crafting sustainable, eco-friendly instruments from bioplastics that echo nature's perpetual renewal. These instruments are portable and wearable, resonating with the essence of nature. Like Ouroboros, an endless cycle - extracting from nature and returning to nature in the end. Equipped with touch sensors, they offer an immersive connection to the environment. Ouroboros breaks free from the circular patterns, uniting tradition, nature, and technology. It fuses the timeless melodies of the past with modern innovation, rekindling the soul of music and its deep roots in nature.
