Roberto Pena

Roberto Pena

Step Into The Shade(r): Visualizing Loneliness
Step Into The Shade(r): Visualizing Loneliness centers around the idea of portraying loneliness in a way that can be relatable and legible to everyone who has experienced this feeling at some point in their life, while recognizing that it is an inherently personal journey that will vary from person to person.

With the recent designation of loneliness as an “epidemic” and increased attention to the serious consequences of leaving this public health emergency untreated, this project is attempting to destigmatize the topic of loneliness and encourage conversation around why and how we feel lonely, with the goal of moving the needle towards a shared understanding. 

Through the use of interactive and contemplative compositions created with p5.js, a creative coding JavaScript library, and GLSL, a GPU shader coding language, a custom website interface invites users to reflect on their own loneliness journeys via a short series of questions, generating a custom shader at the end that they are able to “push” to a collective repository of gathered stories, allowing for moments of reflection and increased connection.