The brainchild of artist-designer and information architect Matthew Mohr, a Parsons MFA graduate, “As We Are” is a new, public sculpture commission — a living head — standing 14 feet tall, populated by 850,000 LED lights.

Possessing highly sophisticated interactive social capabilities, this larger than life, special video installation as art project, was awarded by Greater Columbus Ohio, and presently resides in the convention center, which intends to attract a million visitors annually. 

“An interactive art piece is a genuine opportunity to connect with someone,” says its creator Matthew Mohr. “If in some small way they form a relationship with it and think about the life they are living, that’s the desired experience or outcome from a creative standpoint.” 

Embracing and illuminating all who visit, there is a photo booth located in the back of the sculpture that allows passersby to slip behind the curtain to have their portrait taken — which then appears instantaneously on the “As We Are” large video head in a highly magnified scale.

In this way, “As We Are” is a moment by moment visual diary of all who enter daily, at a vitally important moment in the culture.

The photographs rotate on display and will have a lifespan of 7 to 10 years, with an equal distribution of skin color.

While keenly observing the role that social media plays both locally and globally, “As We Are” amassed multiple shared photographs from all walks of life within its first month of life, shared with a worldwide Instagram community via a geotagged #asweare @as_we_are destination.

Inspired by the visionary works of Jaume Plensa, Chuck Close, Tim Hawkinson and Claes Oldenberg, “As We Are” aspires to become a global destination experience; one with the capability of sharing and being dually-developed for and with another city.

Given the scope of this proprietary technology and advanced sharing platform, developed by Design Communications Ltd in Boston, the future is bright.