Typically, a work of art—whether a painting, a sculpture, or an installation—waits, often motionless, for the viewer's gaze. It occupies a fixed role, one in which its identity is largely static, and its relationship to the viewer is defined by their interpretations. But what if the work were, in a sense, aware, responsive, and capable of reflecting its environment through a readable “stream of consciousness,” becoming an interactive participant in the environment it is stationed? This practice-led research project aims to rethink the traditional and passive role of an art piece in ways that both mirror and challenge the viewer’s perceptions.
'NEO SEER' is a series of interactive and responsive objects, each housing autonomous software in a 3D-printed body. Much like how characters in a role-playing game (RPG) interact with a digital environment and the player, 'NEO SEER' allows you to explore not only what it might say but what it is thinking, while it observes. Its thoughts will often drift off, much like human thoughts do—picking up on new ideas influenced by previous interactions and occasionally going off topic before circling back—creating an ongoing narrative.
(image: NEO SEER (2024) – Mathias Mu, in collaboration with Marnix Van Soom, picture by Lina Van Hulle)
