you are here is an interactive LED installation that visualizes human presence in real-time. As visitors move through the space, their movements are translated into radiant waves of light that seem to emanate directly from their bodies. When two people approach one another, their colors blend and intermix, creating a shared moment of visual connection.

About the artist: Jessica (Jess) Shen is an American-born Chinese artist living in Brooklyn, NY. Currently, she is a post-doc fellow / research resident at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), and previously earned her B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. Her work aims to explore the intersection of visual, sound, and emotion. Her favorite medium is light (LEDs and projection mapping), and she uses her electrical background to create custom circuitry for interactive experiences. 

Jess has a wide range of experience, which informs her passion for multidisciplinary work. Previously, she worked as an electrical engineer in the automotive industry overseeing wire harness production for vehicles, and creating prototype vehicles with new technologies. Jessica is also a classically trained pianist, and has taught, accompanied, and sang in Virginia Tech’s Women’s Chorus, culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall.