According to Ai Weiwei
Controversial artist Ai Weiwei posted video responses to questions asked by the Indianapolis Museum of Art as part of their 2013 exhibition Ai Weiwei: According to What? This interactive site appeared at stations located outside the exhibition as well as online via the museum's website. Visitors were encouraged to watch Ai's responses and provide their own reactions. Selected comments were answered by the artist and displayed outside the exhibition.
The Challenge
Create an interactive site that engages users both in-gallery as well as online, inviting an open dialog with the international artist. Display video responses to pre-selected questions, offer interactive polls and commenting to begin to understand the trials and tribulations artist Ai Weiwei has experienced in his politically-charged life.
My Solution
Building on the collaborative nature of WordPress, comments and polls were widely engaged with by users. Hi-res video responses hosted via YouTube offered an easily-sharable method of spreading the word about the IMA's exhibit. Responsive breakpoints accomodating 1080p resolution down to tablet sized screens kept content crisp and easily accessible.
Newsworthy Results
With thousands of interactive polls submitted and comments collected, this interactive digital piece helped lend both local and international esteem to the Indianapolis Museum of Art's exhibition and gained artist Ai Weiwei and his beliefs and cause wider international recognition.
Highly interactive, visually striking, built on WordPress
Randomized question selection screen ensured the kiosk would attract attention even when not in use. Selected comments were featured on 1080p screens outside the exhibition.
Fully-customized WordPress build which allowed multiple admins to easily manage the site and select featured comments for display.
Planned, designed, coded and deployed in-gallery in under 30 days.
Highlighted components of this amazing project
This interactive piece is still available for viewing, although certain features are no longer available. Visit the Indianapolis Museum of Art's page via the Wayback Machine. Feel free to contact me for more details.
