Nathan and I are friends, and I have witnessed his growth over the years. Although I have no experience in robotics or STEM, I admire Nathan’s talent in robotics and his unique perspective on the world. I find him deeply inspiring, especially his curiosity about the world and his ability to contemplate complex theories. He not only understands but can clearly articulate spatial concepts, especially those concerning four-dimensional space and theoretical foundations about the universe. In my artistic practice, I tend to draw inspiration from a variety of disciplines and experiment with different storytelling approaches. I hope to bring this spirit into our collaboration.

I believe there is no massive distinction between traditional puppetry and puppetry utilising robotics. What I mean is the essence of puppetry: the “manipulation of inanimate objects to tell stories”. In this project, we experiment with different approaches to make objects the vessels of narratives, employing robotics as the means to manipulate, move, and automate these objects. Puppetry craft, as a tradition, is known for being highly intricate, complex, and diverse. The application of robotics is simply another way to experiment with this established form, further adding to its versatility. I hope this research challenges preconceived notions about robotics, puppetry, and new media performance.

In the early stages of our collaboration, we brainstormed “how to tell a story” and “what might the story contain”. I asked Nathan about his interests and what inspires his creation of robots, subsequently reflecting together on four-dimensional space and geometry—explorations that sparked numerous philosophical discussions about truth and the nature of reality. These have become important pillars within our narrative framework.

We hope to use this opportunity to understand knowledge domains we have yet to master, explore and challenge conventional narrative approaches, and expand the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration. I hope that this open attitude—the spirit of trying new things and viewing the world from diverse perspectives—will ultimately be conveyed to the audience.