CROWD CONTROL

CROWD CONTROL is an interactive installation that uses hand-tracking technology to engage with a population of digital humanoid entities. The figures exhibit classic swarm intelligence, balancing three core rules of collective movement: repulsion (avoiding collisions), alignment (matching neighbors‘ velocity), and cohesion (steering toward the center of the mass).

While emergent swarm behavior is common across natural systems—from bird murmurations to fish schools—CROWD CONTROL shifts the focus to human perception. The piece leverages our psychological tendency toward anthropomorphic pareidolia and the intentional stance (Philosopher Daniel Dennett’s concept describing how we naturally attribute mental states, feelings, and goals to non-human entities based purely on their movement). By manipulating the swarm with subtle hand gestures, the user navigates the fine line between algorithmic mechanics and perceived emotional narrative—exploring how effortlessly we project intent, empathy, and social dynamics onto mathematical rules.