Art for Touch
Shohnigor Ulmasova
Advisor: Sharleen Smith
Art for Touch is an interactive artwork that invites viewers to connect emotionally and physically by feeling a gentle, heartbeat-like pulse beneath a soft canvas, blending tactile sensation with visual animation to transform art from a distant object into a living presence that fosters vulnerability, intimacy, and shared human connection.
Project Description
Art for Touch- Art that feels alive
Art for Touch is an immersive, tactile artwork that invites viewers to experience connection through both sight and touch. At its core is a soft, gridded canvas filled with cotton, embedded with tiny haptic motors programmed to mimic the rhythm of a human heartbeat. This gentle pulsing creates a living presence beneath the surface, encouraging a physical and emotional dialogue between the artwork and the participant.
Traditional art spaces often discourage touch, creating distance between the viewer and the piece. This project challenges that norm by making touch an essential part of the experience. By feeling the heartbeat beneath their fingertips, visitors are invited to engage vulnerably, fostering intimacy and presence. The canvas is also enhanced with projection-mapped animations using MadMapper, creating a dynamic interplay between visual and tactile sensations.
Inspired by my earlier work Ben-a sculpture designed to be hugged and to offer comfort through shared burdens-Heart: Art for Touch continues my exploration of how art can become a medium for emotional connection, healing, and empathy. The project reflects my background in fine arts and interactive media, where I have long been fascinated by the relationship between the heart, mind, and human connection.
This work asks us to rethink the boundaries of art and interaction. It invites us to move beyond passive observation and to embrace vulnerability, openness, and mutual touch. In doing so, Heart: Art for Touch becomes not just an object to behold, but a living presence that connects us-to the artwork, to each other, and to our own hearts.
Technical Details
Art for Touch features a soft, gridded canvas filled with cotton for a tactile, inviting surface. Embedded within the canvas are tiny haptic motors, each programmed to simulate the rhythm of a human heartbeat. The motors are controlled by a microcontroller, allowing for precise adjustment of pulse patterns.
To enhance the sensory experience, the canvas is animated using projection mapping with MadMapper software, which overlays dynamic visual patterns that respond to the heartbeat rhythm.
Research/Context
The rise of haptic and touch-based art installations marks a significant evolution in how audiences experience and connect with contemporary art. Traditionally, art viewing has been a passive, primarily visual activity, often reinforced by strict “do not touch” rules in museums and galleries. However, recent years have seen a shift toward multisensory, interactive installations that invite visitors to engage through touch, sound, and even movement. Touch-based installations can foster empathy, encourage vulnerability, and create a sense of presence and connection-qualities especially important in a digital age where physical interaction is often limited. These works also open new possibilities for audiences with visual impairments, offering alternative ways to experience and interpret art.