The King Has…
Inspired by the adage “The King Has Donkey’s Ears,” this art installation, titled "The King Has...," invites people to anonymously share their burdensome secrets. The initiative sprung from a curiosity about people's reactions to knowing others' secrets and the type of secrets individuals would disclose if their anonymity was assured.
To gather secrets, we invited people to send anonymous text messages. These messages were then printed on wooden panels and exhibited at two installation sites, creating an ever-expanding field of text. The project aimed to alleviate individuals from the stress of carrying secrets while simultaneously sparking public conversation about the nature of these secrets and, on a broader scale, why they were kept hidden in the first place.
By transforming hidden confessions into a public art display, "The King Has..." encapsulates the tension between the private self and the collective consciousness, providing a platform for individuals to unburden themselves while encouraging wider discourse on the power and burden of secrets.
A collaboration with Krister Olsson.
Honors and Exhibitions:
Our work was recognized and displayed in several esteemed festivals, including:
2006 :output 09, Bronze Award
Tokyo Type Directors Club Interactive Award Nominee
Keio University Digital Art Award, Grand Prize
Exhibited September 28-October 2, 2006 in Newcastle, Australia as part of the Electrofringe festival.
Exhibited April 3-26, 2006 at Ginza Graphic Gallery in Tokyo, Japan as part of Tokyo Type Directors Club 2006.
Exhibited November 6-11, 2005 at Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore as part of Presence/Absence, ACM Multimedia 2005.
Presented March 19, 2006 in Basel, Switzerland as part of the 25th Viper International Festival.
Presented and exhibited July 18-20, 2005 in Redmond, Washington as part of the Microsoft Faculty Summit.