previous project
An illustration of a cute boy saying, 'I thought of you so often today.'
Stereoscopic view of one of the 'boyfriends.'
A VR headset that is sprayed pink and attached to a pink wall phone.
A custom VR headset, inspired by 90s phones for teens.
Two girls add glittery stickers to VR headsets.
Headset decoration station at the Internet Yami-Ichi.
Two people play with VR headsets encased in silicone.
Custom interactive headsets on display at HeK.

ur cardboard pet

2015-2017
Description

ur cardboard pet includes a series of VR projects and performances. it includes a web-based VR app, custom interactive hardware, and interactive activities designed for various exhibitions.

Your personal pet is a comfort object, offering unconditional nonsexual love and endless compliments. Later versions of the project include a personality test to assign your perfect boyfriend from an array of archetypes and an interactive headset that blushes, warms to your touch, and has a heartbeat that accelerates based on the intensity of your grip.

Concept & History

The project is a satire of feminization of user interfaces. As products of a heteronormative, male-dominated industry, devices are often personified as subservient females (Siri, Alexa, etc.) in no small part because this renders them non-threatening.

Production Details
  • web app made with Three.js and Google VR SDK
  • hand-painted illustrations of various “boyfriends”
  • interactive hardware made with Arduino
  • exhibited at Powrplnt, Haus der Elektronischen Künst, The Museum of Human Achievement, the NYC Internet Yami-ichi, and Carnegie Mellon University’s Art&&Code conference.
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