Knotted

Knotted is an interactive installation Kwok developped in response to Wereldmuseum’s invitation to participate in the Amsterdam Light Festival.

Inspired by the algorithmic beauty of Chinese knots, Kwok created an evolving, ever-changing web proximity that visualizes invisible ties between people. Each visitor’s presence, their gestures, or their connection to others shapes the dynamic, luminous ropes that intertwine on the screen, creating a shared visual tapestry of movement and relationship.

Knotting was used in China from at least the 4th century BCE, to record information and to make clothing. Over time, decorative knots became intertwined with spiritual practices and important life events, symbolizing concepts like luck and happiness. Today, knots mainly signify the forming of strong bonds between people or objects.

Embedding the algorithmic in centuries old tradition, Knotted evokes questions about the ties that bind us, about kinships, and the knots of relations that make and re-make our worlds.

Photos courtesy of Kaka Lee.