Gaze to the Stars: AI, Storytelling and Public Art

Behnaz Farahi, Haolei Zhang, Suwan Kim, Sergio Mutis, Yaluo Wang, Chenyue Dai

Track: Artwork

Keywords: participatory art, AI and storytelling, empathy, iris segmentation, conversational AI, encoding

TL;DR: Gaze to the Stars is a participatory public art installation that transforms the MIT Dome into a living canvas, projecting Braille-encoded eye videos alongside personal narratives.

Abstract: Gaze to the Stars is a participatory public art installation that transforms the MIT Great Dome into a living canvas for collective storytelling. Drawing on MIT’s tradition of “hacking” institutional architecture, the work reimagines the Dome not as a monument of power, but as a vessel for resilience, vulnerability, and shared humanity. Close-up videos of 200 participants’ eyes are overlaid with Braille-encoded summaries of their personal narratives—stories of dreams, fears, struggles, and transformation—projected onto the Dome’s surface. The installation reframes architecture as an empathetic listener, amplifying voices that challenge conventional notions of success and inviting public reflection on the unspoken narratives that shape our communities. By merging affective computing, embodied storytelling, and architectural projection, Gaze to the Stars proposes a new model for how public space can foster empathy and civic connection.

Submission Number: 97