Client: 150

Overview

“When the Night Falls,” commissioned by 150 Media Stream, is a site-specific animated film created for 89 custom-made LED blades stretching 150 feet long and rising 22 feet high, located at 150 North Riverside Plaza in Chicago, U.S.

The animation takes place in the far future of Chicago, where the city is taken over by residents-turned-humanoid bunnies and other mysterious creatures. At night, giant city guardians are awakened and start walking around the streets, while flying sea serpents come out of the lake and roam over the sky of Chicago.

150 Media Stream, developed in partnership with Chicago’s premier arts, culture, and higher learning institutions, as well as private supporters, and curated by Yuge Zhou, is a multi-faceted achievement in art, architecture, and technology. It celebrates the transformational power of art as a collective experience and explores the interplay of art, space, and viewership in both public and private contexts.

Goals

My goal was to establish an emotional connection between the installation and the audience. To achieve this, I created a sequence at the beginning of the animation featuring a giant human figure lying on the ground. As the figure slowly opens his eyes, passersby have the opportunity to briefly make eye contact with him. This interaction creates a sense of connection that can foster emotional bonding and empathy.