Shrine

How might an object respond to its surroundings in a way that tells a meaningful story? This is the question guiding the design of Shrine; the story it tells is one about our relationship with technology. Shrine is a speculative object that interrogates our dependence on smartphones. Situated in the home, it demands we relinquish our devices to its charging ports when it detects movement; it is only when all four slots are full that Shrine goes silent, mollified by the sacrifice. The object's name, physical form, and materiality convey images of sacred temples and vengeful gods. This embodiment and the agency it lends our smart devices questions our addiction to technology and the sacrifices we make in exchange for superficial digital connections.