BLACK BOX

“A black box is a system which can be viewed in terms of its inputs and outputs, without any knowledge of its internal workings. The term can be used to refer to many inner workings, such as the ones of a transistor, an engine, an algorithm, the human brain, or an institution or government.”


In the days leading up to the shooting session, each participant was asked to record a one-minute audio message to a loved one (input). No one knew they would receive a message from another person. Each message ended with the phrase “now open your eyes.” Next, each participant was welcomed into a completely dark room - a black box metaphor - and made to sit with their eyes closed. Then the corresponding audio message was played.

As soon as the message was finished, a few photographs were taken that captured the reaction (output).