Mickey & Minnie: An Interactive Diptych
Playful, charming and cheeky are three words that capture perfectly the essence of Mickey and Minnie Mouse. These same attributes are the foundation upon which Harris’s own witty reinterpretation of the iconic duo has developed.
Harris pays homage to these two famous Disney characters by reinterpreting them through interactive means. While maintaining the greatest fidelity to their heritage, he simultaneously imposes his own modern narrative of jealousy, admiration and self-awareness: characteristics he associates with our social media-connected society.
The artwork explores an ever-evolving love story between the two protagonists, a romance that has spanned 90 years. Here, the role of the viewer is challenged as they become the antagonist within the scenes. To the frustration of Mickey and Minnie, the viewer acts as a distraction, interrupting their narrative by stealing the attention. Ultimately, the viewer becomes the third subject within these living portraits.
In this diptych Harris plays on the ambiguity in the characters’ realness and self-awareness as they interact with each other, moving seamlessly between the artwork screens. While they physically exist within the confines of their screens, and are very much aware of their constrained environment, Mickey and Minnie are equally cognisant of the viewer and the external environment about them.
This interactive engagement is pivotal to the artwork, with the viewer’s presence and touch acting as the catalyst for unique interactions that see Mickey and Minnie break the ‘fourth wall’ of their environment. This separation between the virtual and real worlds is further eroded when the viewer uses a mobile device to contact the characters, who react on screen by reading the message and responding.
The Collection
Year:
2018
Edition:
Edition of 10 + 2 Artist Proofs + 2 Museum Proofs
Materials:
Code, electronics, computer, 4K touch display, 3D sensor, metal
Details:
Produced with the support of the Walt Disney Company.
Dimensions in MM:
65" Diptych:
1915 (W) x 1595 (H) x 203 (D) mm
Individual Character:
860 (W) x 1595 (H) x 203 (D) mm
Dimensions in INCHES:
65" Diptych:
75.4 (W) x 62.8 (H) x 8 (D) inches
Individual Character:
33.8 (W) x 62.8 (H) x 8 (D) inches