VICINO

Project Supervisor

Mirna Zordan

Project Contributors

Bin Cheng, Zi Ye, Haoran Rui

In a world shaped by speed and screens, connection is everywhere, yet we rarely come close. We scroll, send, and respond, but seldom truly connect. Vicino is a practice of closeness, carried out through hand interaction. Two participants place one hand on a metal plate to complete a circuit, while the other hand engages in touch, generating bioelectrical signals. Each touch, shaped by its duration and surface, is sensed in real time and translated into shifting light and rhythmic motion. In space, this unfolds as the emergence of life. This time, it is the touch that answers how we perceive each other’s existence.

Affective Touch

Affective touch is gentle contact that conveys emotion and builds social connection. Unlike functional or directive gestures, it strengthens trust, reduces stress, and fosters empathy. This touch activates C-tactile (CT) afferent nerve fibers in hairy skin areas like forearms, back, and cheeks. CT fibers respond best to slow, gentle strokes at 3–5 cm/s, signaling brain regions for emotion and empathy. Studies show that just 5–10 seconds of affective touch can trigger positive emotional responses and increase oxytocin levels.

Process

Vicino unfolds through bodily contact, gradually triggering visual and auditory responses. Based on touch area, bioelectrical signals, and heartbeat data, the system generates a tree composed of particles. As the connection deepens, the tree grows, resonates, stabilizes, and eventually dissolves through separation. This process creates a touch-driven cycle of emotional connection.