「ON/OFF」
SciArt Co-Lab
Center for Special Robots, AIRS
“Between the Known and the Unknown
We continuously reach toward the edges of the universe—
exploring the interplay of chaos and order
Beyond our control.”
Each switch is a suspended point of existence, oscillating within the binary duality of 0/1, on/off, corresponding to the
binary logic, thus constructing a tangible and interactive “binary universe”.
4,000 mechanical switches form the foundational interface of the tunnel space. Among them, 24 red switches establish
mapping relationships between switches combinations and image databases, corresponding to 14,000,000 images from
ImageNet. Miniature screens on the walls provide real-time visual feedback. 266 green switches, through their binary
combinations, represent the known atomic count of the universe—70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (70 sextillion). When
triggered, the overhead lights cast the glow of the known, delineating the boundary of human cognition. The remaining
silver switches emit undefined sounds, pointing toward the uncharted unknown.
Within this finite switch matrix, humanity continuously questions through nearly infinite combinations, navigating
between the known and the unknown. While science and technology expand the frontiers of knowledge, our
understanding of the universe remains limited. This not only challenges the human-centric framework of thought but also
prompts reflection: in our pursuit of control, can we still maintain humility and reverence for the unknown?