03 — Materials in Dialog

Materials
in Dialog.

How do strangers get talking without saying a word? One question, two semesters, two works of their own: first a cube that links two people through air and light – then artefacts that only light up together.

Part 1: the black cube in the dark, five cylinders glowing white — Part 1 · the cube

Part 2: the three artefacts side by side, black textured tops, white lower halves — Part 2 · three artefacts

Type: Interactive installation in two parts
Place · time: Master Interactive Media Systems, TH Augsburg · summer 2025 and winter 2025/26, developed further since
Teams: Part 1: Philipp Hettenkofer, Timo Holzmann, Oliver Schunn
Part 2: Timo Holzmann, Oliver Schunn
Tools: ESP32 · LEDs · syringes, air · capacitive touch · TouchDesigner · OSC · p5.js · 3D printing

Photos: Timo Holzmann, Oliver Schunn.

Part 1 · summer 2025 · as three

Shift light.

A black cube with ten glowing cylinders, five on each of two opposite sides. Each is coupled by air to one on the other side: push one in and one comes out over there – and the further it sticks out, the brighter it glows.

A cylinder pushed all the way in can't be gripped any more – only the person opposite can bring it back. That makes a dialogue without words: some play in sync, some challenge each other.

The black cube in the dark, five cylinders glowing white on one side

Process · part 1

From syringe to cube.

Everyday moves. Wringing a towel, knocking, shifting gear – what stays is pulling and pushing.
Syringes and tubes. Unequal syringes create a felt imbalance of power; without eye contact, touch matters more.
Modules. Printed holders with five syringes each: desk, dome, cylinder – every shape tells something else.
Light and cube. Light effects first in p5.js, then custom modules with slide pots and LEDs, two ESP32 in a matte black cube.

Black printed desk-shaped module with five syringes and tubes — “Desk” module – feels like a control panel

Black printed dome with five syringes sticking out — “Dome” module – free to use

Two hands pressing syringes on the analogue prototype: two plates on wooden rods, five syringes each — Analogue prototype: two plates, five syringes each like the “5” on a die

Inside the cube: printed modules with white cylinders, lots of wires, ESP32 boards — Inside: modules, wires, two ESP32

A hand pushes one of the glowing cylinders of the black cube on a table — In Würzburg: one pushes, it comes out on the other side

The black cube on a table at an event, four cylinders glowing, a glass of water in front, laptops and a white prototype behind — Creative Affairs, Würzburg

Part 1 with Philipp Hettenkofer (light prototype in p5.js), Timo Holzmann and Oliver Schunn (cube and modules). The cube was shown on an excursion to Würzburg.

Part 2 · winter 2025/26 · as two · state at semester end

Not what you say – who you listen to.

The cube needed too much closeness and was quickly figured out. Part 2 spreads the dialogue across a room: three identical hand-held artefacts on batteries, each with its own colour. Left alone, they breathe slowly.

The small surface picks which artefact you listen to. The large one sends light in your colour to whoever is listening to you – the firmer the touch, the brighter.

Process · part 2

From one cube to three artefacts.

Shape. Polygons felt unpleasant – organic, hand-sized shapes get held for longer.
Surface. Printed textures show where to touch without telling you to.
Light and touch. LED filament dropped for addressable LEDs on a battery; copper foil under the shell senses touch and how firm it is.
Logic on the computer. One ESP32 each sends over Wi-Fi via OSC to TouchDesigner – the rules change without new firmware.

An artefact's face glowing bright orange in the dark, the printed texture visible — Light in its own colour

Teal light glowing from the rim of an artefact's opening — Listening: a short flash

Curved teal-lit surface of an artefact, close up — Teal: another artefact

Opened shells on the bench: copper foil pads, wiring and a microcontroller inside — Inside: copper foil, ESP32, battery

Close-up of the black textured touch surface meeting the white translucent shell — Textured touch surface

A shell with a field of small printed spikes inside — Print textures

Part 2 by Timo Holzmann and Oliver Schunn, all made together – me more on code, Timo more on 3D printing, the electronics both of us.

Developed further · today

Alone, it blinks red.

After the semester we simplified the concept. Today there are five artefacts and only two colours, red and white. The individual colours and choosing who to listen to are gone.

Touching the black surface of one artefact makes the others glow white. The more of them glow at once, the brighter they get. As long as nobody else is there, the artefacts only blink red – they glow white once a second person joins in.

Photos and texts of part 2 above still show the state at the end of the semester.

The film

Camera: Dorian Spiegelhauer, Bastian Rögele, Timo Holzmann · Edit and cover: me :) · without sound

Documentation

Two semesters to flip through.

Each shows the state at the end of the semester.

Part 1 · summer 2025

The documentation as PDF is coming.

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Part 2 · winter 2025/26