“Wall flower” is an interactive sculpture consisting of a converted Windows 10 computer and specially developed interface elements. It runs the game “First Person Hugger,” in which players roam a world full of hand-drawn fantasy figures. Instead of weapons, a single button is at the center here: “Hug.” With it, objects and figures can be embraced, creating a completely different form of interaction. The work reacts to the dominance of the ego-shooter genre, in which the view is defined by the sight of a weapon, and proposes an alternative genre: the “First Person Hugger.” Here, the digital world is not experienced through the barrel of a gun, but through open arms. “Wall flower” is thus at once sculpture, game device, and statement – an invitation to occupy virtual spaces with affection rather than violence.
Wall Flower
An interactive sculpture with a game that turns the ego-shooter principle on its head.
Janne Schimmel, born in the Netherlands in 1993, is a sculptor and media artist, living and working between Antwerp (BE) and Arnhem (NL). His work explores the inner workings of hardware and software. Through their physical and digital deconstruction, he aims to uncover the frameworks that determine how we, as a society, think about technology. Currently, he focuses on investigating the intersection between video game culture and the tangible manifestations of gaming hardware. Inspired by and actively collaborating with homebrewing and modding communities, Schimmel reconstructs computers and video games to convey narratives he believes are overlooked in the commercial gaming industry. In doing so, he questions established video game conventions and examines the visual narratives embedded in the physical design of technological components.
Creative Coding Utrecht (CCU) is a non-profit platform for digital creativity based in Utrecht. We support artistic research, talent development, and interdisciplinary collaboration at the intersection of art, technology, and society. Our activities range from public programs and labs to residencies and educational projects – always rooted in experimentation, accessibility, and community building. As a Zoöp (zoop.earth), CCU is committed to integrating more-than-human perspectives into creative practice. This research explores how artistic and technological tools can help us perceive, connect with, and care for the living world – not only thematically, but also structurally, in the ways we create and collaborate.