Eyes, 2018, interactive art installation, 3D-printed objects. Courtesy of the artist.

“In this digital era… biometric data can be stolen for other purposes or crimes, which is a source of great concern in society. Although people are afraid of having their [identities]… stolen, the use of biometric data is becoming more commonplace in this era due to the ease and convenience it offers as a method of verifying an individual’s identity” (Yoon Chung Han, 2018).

Eyes is an interactive biometric data art installation that transforms human iris data into musical sound and 3D animated images. In this interactive installation, Han seeks to allow participants to explore their own identities through the unique visual images and sounds generated from their iris patterns using iris recognition techniques and sound synthesis. In the process, aesthetically beautiful and mesmerizing artwork, derived from the human body, is created through individual experience and multisensory interaction.

Biometric data reveals fascinating stories not only through the genetic information it provides, but also in its potential to explore narratives in relation to others, culture or society. While the body of biometric patterns provides a way to assess and distinguish individual identity, the techniques used to measure such patterns allow for standardization and loss of identity. Sonic interpretations of iris data could lead to new systems of measurement through the creation of one’s own “sonic signature,” possibly triggering new methods of interaction in the fields of art and science.

Yoon Chung Han’s Eyes has featured in major international conferences and exhibitions including ISEA 2019 Asia Culture Center (Gwangju, Korea), ACM CHI 2019(Glasgow, UK) and Currents New Media (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA). Han regularly participates in international media art exhibitions and symposiums including  ISEA 2017 (Colombia), ACM CHI 2017 (Denver, USA), IEEE VIS 2016 (Baltimore, USA 2016), ZKM (Karlsruhe, Germany 2015), ACM SIGGRAPH 2013 (Anaheim, CA), and Geumcheon Art Space (Seoul, Korea, 2014).