Overview

Cicatrius Invisibles (Invisible Scars) is an interactive digital art installation and conceptual editorial project developed for the Interacció Digital subject in the Digital Design and Creative Technologies degree at the Universitat de Lleida. The work tackles systemic gender-based violence and abuse from a feminist perspective, highlighting the non-physical ways harmful relationships manifest. Built using TouchDesigner, the project integrates real-time video manipulation, a 4-channel spatial soundscape, touch-screen mechanics, a complete exhibition proposal, and a custom-designed A5 printed art catalog documenting the conceptual groundwork, technical node architecture, artistic references, and theoretical gallery layout.

The Challenge

The core objective of the academic brief was to translate an abstract social issue—gender-based abuse—into a physical and digital sensory experience, including the theoretical planning of how the piece would be installed in a gallery setting:
     - Narrative Evolution: Representing four distinct stages and forms of abuse (economic, verbal, physical, and psychological) as a progressive timeline within a relationship without reducing it to a single rigid pattern.

     - Interactive Metaphor: Designing a real-time system in TouchDesigner where physical touch causes the video image to disappear and slowly regenerate. This mechanic symbolizes the frustration of an external observer: external intervention temporarily disrupts the visual loop, but the cycle repeats unless broken from within.

     - Theoretical Spatial Blueprint: Designing a fictional exhibition scheme for a museum/gallery space, specifying screen placements, audio distribution, and spatial routing to immerse visitors without having an actual physical room available.

    - High-Standard Editorial Deliverable: Crafting a professional A5 printed art catalog that departs from traditional academic reports to mimic high-end contemporary design publications.

Our Approach

     - Real-Time Interactive System (TouchDesigner): Engineered a node-based video system in TouchDesigner running four continuous loops with high-contrast neon purple contours over dark backgrounds—inspired by feminist symbolism and dark digital aesthetics. The system processes touchscreen inputs so that viewer interaction causes imagery to dissolve into particles before slowly reconstructing.

     - Hypothetical Spatial Installation Scheme: Formulated a complete spatial setup proposal for exhibition spaces. We designed two adaptable mounting variations: a linear 4-screen parallel arrangement for wide gallery walls, and an immersive 360-degree cubic layout positioning one vertical touchscreen per wall to enclose the viewer within the narrative trajectory.

     - Audio-Visual & Spatial Cohesion: Integrated a powerful audio track ("Malo" by Bebe) planned for a 4-speaker Bose surround sound system positioned at the upper corners of the spatial layout. The audio design bridges the victim's reality with the spectator's presence, leading to an empowering resolution.

     - Creative Editorial Design: Formatted a comprehensive 47-page DIN A5 catalog including an artist statement, biography, artistic references (such as Tres Voltes Rebel, Lyona Ivanova, Lola Vendetta, and Linkin Park's Meteora 20th Anniversary visuals), technical node schematics, physical exhibition mockups, and a professional portfolio.

Project Gallery

Results

     - Conceptual & Technical Rigor: Delivered a fully functional TouchDesigner real-time patch alongside a complete spatial installation blueprint and physical mockups ready for future exhibition opportunities.

     - Comprehensive Exhibition Proposal: Successfully executed the academic challenge of planning a full-scale art installation from scratch, defining physical layout, hardware selection, and visitor routing for a theoretical gallery context.

     - High-Impact Editorial Piece: Produced a physical 47-page exhibition catalog that fulfilled all academic criteria while standing as an independent artistic publication.