A Crisis in Threads

A Crisis in Threads is an interactive installation that reimagines Rajasthan’s ancient puppetry tradition, Kathputli, through the lens of interface and experience design. It transforms a centuries-old performance art into a participatory, multi-sensory system where audiences become active co-creators of narrative.

Inspired by childhood memories, the work blends traditional craft with computational methods to explore self-discovery as a living, shared performance. Each marionette embodies moments of inner struggle, inviting participants to engage through touch, interaction, and play. The installation is designed for multi-user interaction, allowing simultaneous engagement that collapses individual gestures into a collective, kaleidoscopic experience.

Rooted in Kathputli’s distinctive gestures, fabrics, and stagecraft, the installation uses code, sensors, and digital fabrication to extend tradition into new interfaces rather than replace it. A handheld 3D scanner captured nuanced facial expressions, refined in Cinema 4D and Nomad Sculpt, while Roland CNC milling produced puppet bodies with precision. A custom Arduino and Processing-based system enabled responsive motion and stage effects, transforming the performance into an intuitive dialogue between audience and artifact.

By weaving together craftsmanship, storytelling, and computation, A Crisis in Threads demonstrates how interface design can move beyond screens, becoming immersive, cultural, and collective.