Pumila

Interact with nature.
Team: individual
Time: 2024. Oct, 3 weeks
Scale: 220x120x220 mm/ 8.66x4.72x8.66 inch
Materials: Arduino Uno, Photoresistor, Neopixel LED Light Strip, Masonite, Paper

This interactive lighting installation mimics the rhythmic motion of plant leaves, responding dynamically to ambient light. Each segment adjusts its position in real-time, reversing natural botanical behavior—opening in dim conditions to emit a warm glow and folding inward as brightness increases. Inspired by nyctinastic movements in plants, this piece blurs the boundary between nature and technology, transforming artificial light into an organic, responsive entity.

▲ Lights off

▲ Lights On

▲ When the environment darkens, the leaves gradually lift, allowing the internal light to shine through.
Conversely, when the surroundings become brighter, the leaves slowly close.

Process

▲ Test01 - Using only the mapping function results in very dramatic movement.

▲ Test02 - The angle changes based on the photoresistor value, but it's still too dramatic.

▲ Test03 - The rotation speed increases by 1 degree every 100 milliseconds to smooth the

▲ The first prototype was 3D-printed, but it resembles a snake scale.

▲ Testing angles with a potentiometer and paper-cut leaves.

▲ Combining the light-sensitive function, I also modified the leaf shapes for a better aesthetic.

MeoLamp

Shoemaking

Contact: Email LinkedIn

Alin Yang

Pumila

Process