Sense Map

This project explores how sensory perception—sight, sound, smell, and touch—can shape our understanding of space. Using Union Square, New York City, as the site of observation, I re-visualized the environment through layers of sensory data, material textures, and spatial mapping. The goal was to let viewers re-experience this public space not only visually but also through sound, temperature, and scent.

The process began with fieldwork: I collected sensory notes, temperature changes, and odor variations throughout the day. These observations became the foundation for translating sensory impressions into a visual map. Through multiple iterations, I discovered how an abstract concept like “feeling a space” could be transformed into tangible form—how experience could become structure.

The most challenging yet inspiring part of this project was material experimentation. Combining hard metal wires and soft wool required balancing contrast and coherence. My early trials used wire gauges that were either too stiff or too thin, creating unintentional 3D effects or visual clutter. After three rounds of testing, I found that 20-gauge wire, shaped into circular forms, best represented the rhythm and diffusion of sound within Union Square. The imperfect overlaps—uneven, organic, and sometimes chaotic—came to symbolize the authenticity of urban life itself.

This project reshaped how I perceive public space. I learned that spaces are not static scenes but living sensory systems, filled with irregularities that define their character. The exploration also strengthened my interest in material research and sensory storytelling—pushing me to see experimentation as both a technical process and a poetic form of inquiry.