Language

KINECT-BASED INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION
STATE MUSEUM OF KHACHATUR ABOVYAN (ARMENIA, 2026)

This installation was showcased for the Night of Museums annual event, where people are encouraged to visit museums free of charge. Behind the installation: Yulia Gadalova x Mariam Ghonyan

Abovyan's works marked a revolution in Armenian literature, as he switched from classical Armenian (Grabar), used in liturgical texts, to the Eastern Armenian vernacular (Ashkharabar), a language spoken in daily life.

Just like that, our installation was composed of two parts, one of them featuring quotes in Grabar, and the other - Abovyan's quotes bearing the same meaning. Visitors could interact with both sides of the installation; only the part with the older classical language easily turned into a cloud of moving particles once someone interacted with the text.

The main idea behind the work is that language exists not in its form, but in those who give it voice.

Art direction and programming:

The technical and art concept revolved around the idea of kinetic typography. I programmed this installation in TouchDesigner, focusing on turning text into motion-reactive particle systems. Kinect was used for body tracking to activate the interactivity of the text.

Light, forms, and symbols remain in constant motion, flowing seamlessly into one another to evoke a living process of linguistic transformation. The installation generates an immersive environment where visitors become part of the visual flow, engaging with it through their presence and the act of photography.

Reference board. Images taken from Pinterest

Original page