Wanying Wang

Skin Hunger-To Get Under The Skin explores tactile receptors with fabric sculptures and silicone-made human skin on a sofa.

Wanying Wang (b.1999), is an information experience designer, cross-media artist, and brand designer. She believes in human sensual bodies and is dedicated to creating immersive experiences of information using multi-sensory media. Her work spans interactive installations, experimental film, sculpture, speculative design fiction, and visual communication.

She also has experience in branding and consulting, is passionate about strategy-driven and system-oriented design, and hopes to make our everyday life and the world a bit better.

My research at RCA mainly focused on social and environmental concerns. The presented work- Skin Hunger Era, explores the role of physical contact for individuals and intimate relationships in such an ever-globalized and digitalized world, where physical separation and loneliness have become increasingly prevalent.

I firmly believe that human bodies and their sensual nature can stimulate profound thinking through physical perception and interaction. I have created a collection of speculative artworks engaging multi-sensory experiences to inspire discussions related to Physical Communication & Intimacy.

My work comprises two parts. Part 1, To Get Under The Skin, immerses the audience in the landscape of tactile receptors and nerves beneath the skin. Part 2, Therapy Machines, presents an interactive collection of electronic instruments designed to replicate daily physical interaction rituals in remote intimacy.

The installation explores the landscape of tactile receptors and nerves beneath the skin. The sofa usually serves as a familiar and cozy setting where physical connections in intimate relationships take place.

The work seeks to evoke awareness of our inherent need for physical connection and inspire reflections on personal experiences of intimacy by offering a multi-sensory experience.

In Collaboration with:

Model: Yatong Xie

Medium:

silicone, hair, fabric, cotton

Size:

190*97*90cm

The collection of nine fictional therapy instruments aims to replicate physical interaction rituals, alleviating skin hunger in remote intimacy.

The series is meant to provoke introspection on what we truly miss in intimate relationships— the actions themselves or the lingering traces left by the individuals involved.

Therapy Machines-Pluck

Therapy Machines-Blow

Therapy Machines-Scratch

Therapy Machines-Pluck

Therapy Machines-Sweep. The instrument replicates the physical interaction ritual of sweeping the skin with hair in the intimate moment.

The machines in the collection replicate the physical interaction rituals, including back-scratching, gentle blowing near the neck, an unshaven face tracing partner's evasive movements for rubbing, and plucking hair on the skin in moments of intimacy.

The machines in the collection replicate physical interaction rituals, including whispering and experiencing ticklish sensations, staring at a partner's phone, gently pinching a snoring nose, and tenderly caressing the skin in moments of intimacy.