Automatism on Patrícia J. Reis — Media & Installation Artist

Skin under skin

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Skin under skin, is an audio-visual-tactile interactive installation composed of three human-scale soft objects that invite direct bodily engagement. Made from flexible materials, the work creates a sensorial and intimate relationship between the interactor and the system of the piece. Each object integrates an audio-visual-tactile interface: flickering light, pulsed sound, and internal vibration. When the interactor approaches with eyes closed and engages through touch, the synchronisation of these stimuli generates internal visual phenomena—moving geometric patterns and colours emerging from the brain’s interpretation of altered sensory input. Through this process, perception becomes the site of image construction. The interactor’s sensorial apparatus operates as an active system, producing individual and singular experiences. The interaction is not limited to the work’s technical system; rather, Interaction unfolds within the body, occuring within the internal space of the interactor. The interactor interacts within its system, generating new information and producing experiences in a singular way.

The Cosmic Box

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In their site-specific video installation titled The Cosmic Box, artists Patrícia J. Reis and Fernando Mesquita craft a thought-provoking satire that reflects on the human condition, blending dark humor with poignant social critique. Part of the group exhibition Tombola, where the theme and media for each artwork are determined by chance, Reis and Mesquita received the theme “Hope” and the media “Staging.” Their response is a clever subversion of the very notion of hope, offering instead a narrative steeped in pessimism and critique of human existence.

Of clouds and clocks

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The sound installation and performative interpretation Of clouds and clocks after György Ligeti’s “Poème symphonique for 100 metronomes” was conceived for the exhibition Unabridged at the Kunstlerhaus in Vienna that combined a series of contemporary artistic positions from Dora Deliyska, Anna Hofbauer, Kai Maier-Rothe, Phelim McConigly, Flavio Palasciano, Patricia J. Reis, Axel Stockburger, Johanna Charlotte Trede.

Massage Chairs Love series

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The work Massage Chair series offers a tangible encounter between automation and perception, where the machine and the body share a material space, engage in a metaphoric dialogue of touch, each responding to the other’s inputs. Participants are invited to embody, relax, and sit comfortably in the specially adjustable chairs — upcycled massage chairs modified by the artist, to which she added comfortable upholstered details and a technical audiovisual–tactile interface.

from object to affect: proposals for future archives after the media

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

In the light of the current context of the big data in which data processing, data curation, storage, transfer, visualisation and privacy are major topics of discussion, artists Carla Cabanas and Patrícia J. Reis collaborate for the second time on an artist project that aims to reflect upon alternative ways of digital archiving, materialisation and/or dematerialisation of private objects.

Sensorial Screen #3

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The sculpture Sensorial Screen #3 is an interactive installation that allows the body to view itself as a place where complex visual information. Is perceived as a sensation that can also be felt on the skin level. The vibration (60 vibration motors) reacts to the motion of the flag represented in the video. Weather-related pain or meteoropathy is the effect of weather on the human organism. Air pressure fluctuations, foehn winds, heat waves, changing humidity and thunderstorms might have an effect on general health, mood and performance levels of individuals.In particular, people who are weakened by chronic diseases, such as rheumatism or asthma are more sensitive to the weather.

Sensorial screen #1

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The project Sensorial screen is a concept for an interactive installation that considers the body as a screen, as a place, in which complex visual information can be perceived as a sensation, and felt at the skin level. By focusing on the haptic experience of the participant it takes into consideration his or hers sensorial biological apparatus in the construction of unique individual phenomenological experiences.

[B.M.I.] BELIEVER. MACHINE. INTERFACE

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

We learned to believe in machines! We enjoy believing in machines!

The BMI project investigates fictional technomancy by questioning the boundaries between science, religion and magic from the point of view of the user and/or the believer.

Intimate Archives After Media

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

In the light of the current context of the big data where data processing, data curation, storage, transfer, visualization and privacy are major topics of discussion, artists Carla Cabanas and Patrícia J. Reis proposed to collaborate on an artist project that aims to reflect upon future ways of materialization and/or dematerialization of visual private archives.

The wishing machine project

Fri, 05 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The wishing machine project explores technomancy science fiction imaginary through the creation of a machine that can make one’s wishes become true. The open source apparatus is powered by orgone energy [Wilhelm Reich, 1930] known to be as a “universal life force” flowing within living bodies and nature. Referring to other black boxes typologies [as the photo camera by Vilém Flusser, 1983], this apparatus contains an input and an output plate. The wishes are symbolically represented and placed on the input plate while the wisher touches and gently rubs the output plate. The process is concluded when the orgone energy is sensorial perceived in the body.

Cutting the body

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

A small video projector is displaying a video on a wall. A small film cutter (guillotine) is placed in between the projector and the projection. The guillotine is assembled with an automatic mechanism (composed by an Arduino and a small stepper motor) programed to move its handle upwards and downwards. The movement is therefore synchronized with the narrative in the video, that shows a long shot of a performer (the artist), stepping in a room, facing the camera, and placing one part of her body (head, arms or legs) on a small white bench. When the guillotine handle moves downwards, obscuring the projection, the performer is placing one part of her body on the bench. When the guillotine handle moves upwards, the projection is revealed again, showing the performer without the part of the body previously placed on the bench. The video and the mechanism continues until all parts of the body are cut off. The installation is always in loop.

Penetrating the black box

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:00:00 +0000

The installation proposes the photographic apparatus as a “black box” and as a metaphor to reflect upon the relation between the private and public space of the image. Inspired by Vilém Flusser’s writings on photography, the artist employs his concepts of faith and magic, event and happening, towards the “coded cameras”, questioning the existence of the political space of the digital image. In the installation Penetrating the black box, Reis creates a “scene” consisting of a mechanical apparatus that is programmed in order to automatically trigger two photo digital cameras (at different moments) inside a black box. The output image from the cameras is transmitted in real-time onto two monitors.