Written by Joon Moon

[GDF 2019] New Tools Expand an Artist’s Creativity, Says Joon Yong Moon / by The Dong-A Ilbo

The 2019 Global Developer Forum (GDF 2019) has kicked off at the Gyeonggi Arts Center. Hosted by Gyeonggi-do and the Gyeonggi Content Agency, GDF is a forum for virtual and augmented reality developers. This year’s theme, “Beyond Experience,” explores how advanced technologies like VR and AR can impact art, society, and various other fields. The event features media art exhibitions from prominent domestic and international artists, allowing visitors to engage directly with new technology and artistic expressions from July 18 to 24.

Joon Yong Moon delivered a lecture titled “Interactive Art Using Shadows and AR,” emphasizing the importance of creating one’s own tools for immersive artwork. Developing such tools is meaningful because they allow artists to create unique works that can’t be achieved with off-the-shelf products.

Joon Yong Moon – copyright: IT Dong-A

Moon explained, “I combine art and engineering in my work, using technology I’ve developed myself rather than relying on pre-made devices. It’s like a painter developing their own paints and brushes. Nowadays, DIY activities are more accessible. You can learn from YouTube videos or get help from international developer forums.”

DIY, or creating tools and objects that aren’t available in the market, is a field that many people can now access easily. Basic coding education is provided in schools, and more people are using programmable boards like Arduino to create electronic devices. Teachers are also creating educational tools using simple coding techniques, especially when commercial products aren’t available.

Moon noted, “Basic coding education and more accessible development environments are drawing more people into engineering, including artists. Just like teachers create their own teaching aids, I develop tools for my art. Tool creation is both a process and an outcome.”

Joon Yong Moon – copyright: IT Dong-A

He added, “New creative tools expand an artist’s creativity. They don’t just fulfill their intended purpose but also lead to unexpected outcomes. For example, I wanted to create a piece expressing magnetic fields, but simple sketches couldn’t capture it. So, I developed a magnetic field simulation. This allowed me to explore different environments that are difficult to test in real life and discover new aspects of magnetic fields that I couldn’t have imagined.”

Moon’s current focus is on augmented reality using light and shadows, inspired by an accidental discovery while working on another project. He explained that shadows change shape based on the direction and distance of the light source, a familiar phenomenon. He wanted to apply augmented reality within these shadows to create a hidden world. Traditional AR requires devices like glasses or smartphone cameras, which can be cumbersome and detract from the experience. Moon aims to create intuitive, immersive interfaces that anyone can use without additional equipment.

During GDF 2019, he showcased “Hello Shadow!,” an interactive piece where shining a flashlight on a column creates building-shaped shadows on the wall. Viewers can observe and interact with the characters within these buildings. The sensors detect the direction and distance of the light, changing the scene accordingly. Moving the light closer makes the shadow figures wave at the viewer.

AR art piece using light and shadows, ‘Hello, Shadow!’ – copyright: IT Dong-A

Moon remarked, “During exhibitions, children often discover more interactions than adults and even show them to their parents. This inspired me to create the ‘Shadow Theater.’ Using an intuitive device like a flashlight, viewers can explore the wall without needing instructions. I believe this form of discovery is significant.”