Nurtured Incarnate

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About the Project

Nurtured Incarnate is an interactive installation born from the intersection of Cognitive Science and Computational Art. By bridging a physical clay interface with generative p5.js algorithms, the project explores the friction between human agency and ecological integrity. While the digital flora follows a rhythmic, "natural" blueprint of growth, the user’s touch acts as a catalyst for either life or disruption. This intervention forces the flowers into non-linear, distorted patterns or accelerates their path to decay, creating a sensory environment where reactive music and pixelated visuals manifest the weight of our actions. It is a digital reflection of the human footprint—a collaborative garden that archives the intensity of our impact on the natural world.

Why Nurtured Incarnate?

As a double major in Cognitive Science and ICAM, I sought to create a bridge between human design and computational art. Having centered much of my previous work around the natural world, Nurtured Incarnate serves as the culmination of these interests: a way to round off my academic journey by exploring nature through a new, digital lens.

By merging a physical clay interface with an evolving digital garden, this piece re-evaluates our relationship with the environment. It translates the organic, tactile experience of touch into a synthetic form, questioning how we "nurture" or disrupt nature when it exists purely as code.

How was Nurtured Incarnate made?

The Digital Foundation: The core of the project was developed using p5.js, where I coded the organic growth algorithms for the petals and the interactive logic of the garden. While the keyboard allows for control, I wanted to move beyond the screen to create a more tactile, human experience.

Physical Interaction & Fabrication: To achieve this, I integrated a Makey Makey to bridge the digital and physical worlds. I replaced traditional keys with conductive clay sculptures, allowing users to "touch" the nature they were creating. The physical housing for the installation was crafted through laser cutting and finished with paper-mâché to give it an organic, textured feel that mirrors the theme of the project.

User Experience & Design: The visual identity and user guidance were designed in Figma. I used these designs to create a roadmap for the audience, ensuring the installation felt like a cohesive, "fun" interactive experience rather than just a technical experiment. Through various iterations and improvements, the final result is a seamless loop between the physical installation and the digital website, allowing the audience to reflect on their impact long after they leave the gallery.

About the Artist
Cindy Zhou

cizhou@ucsd.edu
Instagram:

ICAM + Cog Sci Design Double Major + Design Minor@UCSD
Made for VIS 160, ICAM Senior Project

Tools/ Skills

Procreate
Conceptualization
P5.js
Laser Cutting
Assembling
Clay
Makey Makey
Painting
Paper Mache

Exhibition

Digit-al
@Mande B114
March 12th,2026
Thursday
3:30 PM-6:20 PM

Last Updated 24.10.37