I/Another

I/Another is a transdisciplinary art project that explores the potential of kinaesthetic collaboration between humans and robots. The installation invites participants to engage in non-verbal, spatial dialogues with a robotic sculpture named Another, prioritizing bodily presence in human-machine communication.

Another is crafted from 3D-printed phosphorescent parts hand-stitched by Animaspace. Unlike many machines today, it is not designed to mimic humans or animals. Its design philosophy rejects the trend of equipping machines with emotions, instead leaving emotional expression to humans. Participants connect with Another not through empathy or anthropomorphism, but through shared experiences of fragility, curiosity, and playfulness.

Inspired by second-order cybernetics, conversation between I and Another is not about mutual understanding but rather a dynamic exchange that instigates change in both participants and the machine. Both human and machine co-create the interaction, reflecting the idea that systems evolve through mutual influence rather than linear control or comprehension. This approach reimagines conversation as a process of building towards a common goal, emphasizing how collaboration and adaptability shape our interactions with technology, each other, and non-human entities.

In contrast to today’s technology, which often fuels overthinking and polarizes our attention, I/Another brings the focus back to the body. It encourages participants to explore new ways of being and staying in a creative flow, drawing attention to the often-overlooked intelligence of the body, which is essential to our well-being. The installation emphasizes the joy of discovery, encouraging participants to explore evolving forms of communication between humans and robots.

This project is led by Studio Animaspace (Angelina Kozhevnikova) and supported by Gemeente Rotterdam, Stimuleringsfonds Creative Industries, and V2_Lab for the Unstable Media, with contributions from Marijke de Vos and Astrid Boons (collaborators on body and movement), Manuel Rojas (electrical engineering), and Katažyna Jankovska (curator).