A Rekindled Reminiscene

Hand-knit conductive glove/Arduino Leonardo

A small scale of light installation piece, controlled by a two gloves touching each other [holding hands]. The lights will be activated with a hand-knit fabric piece inside the palm that acts like a switch button with one side connected to a positive pin of a microcontroller and the other on a negative pin. Creating a full circuit. Two inputs consists of two separate hand-knit bend sensors which will interact with two separate LEDs that is inside the pillow. Explore nostalgia and connection through a simple act of two hands holding.

I picked a pillow as I find that it is a universal everyday object yet quite personal. A pillow often represents comfort and presence, but here, the absence of touch and connection transforms it into a symbol of solitude and sadness. Requiring a touch of two hands in order to rekindle the lights, in which response separately to each movement of the hands while holding. This installation invites participants to reflect on the transient yet powerful nature of human touch and the emotions tied to the absence and rekindling of love.