Concept: The project was created for the Wits Art Museum’s exhibition, “Activate/Captivate.” The Komo Society mask - an object which traditionally was held in deepest secrecy and unviewable by the uninitiated. Displaying it for all to see in a museum is counter its origin. This interactive exhibit allows the mask to retain its secrecy, by sensing when people approached it and drawing curtains over itself. The mask also sent out tweets when it sensed viewers approaching or leaving, which discussed the challenges in displaying objects such as itself.

Mechanics: The Komo Society Mask was placed in a large box with curtains attached to a motor belt within it. Ultrasonic sensors were placed around to box to sense when people approached and left the mask. When an individual approached, the curtains drew closed, and remain closed until no one remained near the mask. A screen stood opposite from the mask on which the mask’s tweets were displayed. The entire system was hosted on a Raspberry Pi.