Palau Digital Residency
2024
IwasinvitedtocreateaseriesofculturallygroundedillustrationsfortheRepublicofPalau’sDigitalResidencyProgram,developedbytheRootNameSystem.Theprojectblendstraditionwithblockchaininnovation,formingoneoftheworld’sfirstgovernment-issueddigitalidentities.Theillustrationsappearoneveryresidencycard,includingthoseownedbyhigh-profileholderssuchasEthereum’sco-founderVitalikButerin.
THE ROLE
Cultural research translated into visual identity
When the installation comes to life, the audience becomes part of the loop. Body tracking captures each gesture as light, depth, and image shift in real time. Every movement alters the AI-generated landscapes, transforming observation into participation. In this space, the body reflects the same cycles of extraction and transformation that sustain artificial intelligence. Data, motion, and meaning constantly feed back into one another.
THE WORK
Traditional symbols reframed for Web3
The heart of the artwork is the Palauan bird, an emblem deeply rooted in the nation’s cultural memory. I illustrated it to reflect on the symbolic importance of this species to Palau’s identity. Alongside this central figure, I created visual compositions inspired by Palau’s islands, focusing on the organic shapes, light patterns, and textures unique to the region.
DISCLAIMER
