Butterfly, 1999

Butterfly is a 10-foot-tall handmade interactive silk creature that moves and lights in response to human closeness. Approaching Butterfly wakes it up and causes it to react to you with movement. Each wing has six different areas that can sense human motion, and as you move closer to a wing, it will move away from you at the same speed as your movement. Through curious interactions you can dance and play with a larger-than-life silk butterfly.

Each butterfly wing is a synthesis of silk, paint, and electronics. The wings are controlled by specially designed and printed circuit boards and analog proximity circuits cut to fit within the painted silk. Woven LEDs run from these boards throughout the painted wings, lighting up in animation as a user is near.

The eye piece is composed of two lenses, a small TV screen, and a hidden video camera that captures and projects the user. From afar, the piece glows with abstract pixels that resemble the curvature of an actual insect eye. Only when up close (very close) do you begin to see actual shapes in the lens. On closer inspection these shapes become eyes, and even closer, you realize the eyes are your own.

grants, awards & exhibitions

2006

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art: Boulder, CO

2002

ITP Gallery, New York University: New York City, NY

2002

Current Lewin Private Collection: Boulder, CO

© 2026 Jen Lewin Studio. All rights reserved.

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