Joon Moon (Korea, b.1982) is an artist and a computer programmer working in Seoul. His works were exhibited at MOMA(New York), Microwave, Onedotzero, FILE, Cinekid, Scopitone, and major museums of Korea such as National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Gwanju Design Biennale, and Kumho Museum.
His representative series of works, Augmented Shadow was selected for STARTS Prize nominations, and the excellence award of Japan Media Arts Festival. He is mostly working on experimental media and computational art such as augmented reality, tangible interface, generative art, and sound visualization. He is also a university teacher and freelance technical artist.
The story was written so that all interfaces such as the viewer's light, the shadows, the optical illusion, and the immersive environment could be incorporated into the narrative. It intended the viewer to be engaged completely in the narrative.
“Hello, Shadow !” is the first trial. With these expectations, the theme of the work is an encounter with the shadow world. I intended the users to make eye contact with the virtual human of the shadow world. Particularly, in order to observe the shadows properly, the users have to find the proper position of the lighting device. In the process, the users find fun from exploring the hidden features between the multiple layers of the shadow. Such an interaction rule is a new attempt.
“The shadow is an interface metaphor connecting the virtual world and users. Second, the unexpected user experience results from manipulating the users’ visual perceptions, expectations, and imagination to inspire re-perception and new understanding. Therefore, users can play with the shadows lying on the boundary between the real, virtual, and fantasy. Augmented Shadow utilizes this unique interface metaphor for interactive storytelling. Maximizing the magical amusement of AR, it is embedding an ecosystem where imaginary objects and organic beings co-exist while each of them influences on each other’s life-cycle, even though it is not in use by users. Light and shadow play critical roles in this world’s functions causing chain reactions between virtual people, trees, birds, and houses. A set of tangible blocks allows users to participate in the ecosystem. Users can influence on the system by playing with the blocks or observe the changes of the shadows as if kids were playing with an ant farm.”
The effect of Joon Y. Moon’s ghostly ecosystem of shadow creatures and objects is created with blocks on a tabletop that functions as a rear-projection screen and has a computer, infrared camera, and light source installed below it. The shadows exist in both a real and fantasy environment; animations transform the blocks into houses and awaken creatures around them. Moving the blocks around the table sets off programmed reactions: people gravitate toward a light source, trees grow around it, and birds fly away from the dark.
Augmented Shadow – Inside - JAPAN MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL