FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"Emotion Protocol" Fuses Traditional Symbolism and Modern Technology in Award-Winning Kinetic Art Installation

"Emotion Protocol" is a thought-provoking kinetic installation by Zhenglong Yang, recently recognized with the Iron A' Design Award in the Interactive, Experiential and Immersive Design Installations category for 2025. The project, conceived and realized in New York between September and December 2024, draws inspiration from the Chinese saying "joy, anger, sadness, happiness" and the four-faced Buddha statues found in Buddhist tradition. Through this work, Yang examines the complex interplay between individual emotional experience and the societal pressures, especially prevalent in East Asian cultures, to suppress and regulate emotion.

The installation features multiple 3D-printed Buddha heads, each with four faces, mounted on CNC-milled acrylic pedestals and driven by custom stepper motors controlled via a bespoke PCB. The heads rotate in synchronized, pre-programmed patterns, each face representing a distinct emotional state. This mechanical choreography creates a mesmerizing visual effect, inviting viewers to reflect on the universality of emotions and the ways in which cultural norms can mechanize human behavior. The passive yet immersive interaction encourages contemplation on the boundaries between tradition and modernity, individuality and collectivism.

Yang's innovative use of digital fabrication, physical computing, and algorithmic control bridges the gap between ancient spiritual iconography and contemporary technological art. Overcoming challenges in both technical execution and conceptual integration, "Emotion Protocol" stands out for its seamless blend of symbolism, engineering, and emotional narrative. The installation's recognition by the A' Design Award jury highlights its success in meeting professional standards while offering a deeply resonant commentary on the human condition.

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