Lungs

Pneumatic IoT sculpture

for ITP course Connected Devices with Tom Igoe

and ITP course Concepts in Soft Robotics with Kari Love

May 2023

A breathing sculpture made out of wood, PVC, wire, and textile. The beating heart changes color and is connected to the internet. It periodically checks the air quality of my hometown in Arizona. Depending on the quality, the breathing turns from frantic and labored to soothing deep breaths. This project is a reminder that what we put into the world will eventually come back to us.

The idea for this piece was inspired by my mom. Though I haven’t lived with her for many years now I still love her so much. At the start of the pandemic she developed a chronic cough. It was really worrisome because it persisted for years. My dad took her to pulmonologists, put a humidifier in each room, and even replaced the windows and screens in our house. She doesn’t suffer from an intense cough anymore, but my parents are convinced it’s because of the worsening air quality in Mesa, AZ. Anyways, it was a very special moment to have my family come to the ITP Spring show and have my mom see my sculpture in person … on Mother’s Day. I can’t make this stuff up! :’)

Here’s some documentation on how I made this sculpture: