Human Fabric Trilogy - The Haptics of Seeing I

The piece questions the state of our sensory experience in a world where science has begun to quantify and deconstruct touch, asking what role contemporary art can play in this rapidly changing landscape. Are we all becoming virtualized beings, with our sensual abilities reduced to mere inputs for technological advancement?

In The Haptics of Seeing I, the work draws attention to the stark contrast between the everyday struggles of navigating a world altered by pandemic fears, and the desire for human connection. This is the contemporary hatpics experience that we are sensing.

“As someone who grew up in Yonghe, Taiwan, I understand the implications of a 1.5-meter social distancing factor all too wonderful. In a densely populated area, social distancing is a crucial act of kindness. But as you swipe through your smartphone on the street, you cannot help but feel the sense of distance it creates. The screen has become a barrier between you and the world, reducing touch to a blank, emotionless experience. No matter what you consume through it, the screen under your thumb always feels the same. What does your touch truly connect to? Who do you touch when you touch the screen?”