Can Light be Touched?

Our sense of touch defines our tactile experience of physical objects. The experience of light is directed by our visual perception, where this intangible medium can be seen but not touched. Lighting and its spatial conditions have been manoeuvred to give light the appearance of physical form, however, is there a way to induce the “materiality” of light through touch? Explore the concept of light as material, Tactility of Light explores whether light can be physically interacted with through the haptic modality.

The project is divided into two parts to suggest the “materiality” of light: a wearable haptic device with light sensor-based tactile feedback and a performative installation designed to display brightness variations and temporal dynamism of various light forms. Through the haptic interface of the gloves, the verisimilitude of touch is suggested through active interaction with light and bodily exploration in the space. The performative environments are designed for the viewers to feel the different volumes and textures of light.