“Loved ones” is an installation of 12 holographic robins, sitting, singing, hopping in bird boxes. It is a popular belief that when a robin visits us, it means that a loved one is watching over us and sending comforting thoughts, and so the holographic boxes will invite people to post a letter to someone they cherish.

As the work tours and more and more letters are collected, a meditative soundtrack will mix human voices and bird songs to remind us of the beauty of sharing moments with people we love.

Below are images of initial prototypes and artist impressions. The work will be available for touring, indoors or outdoors, from September 2025.

The boxes will either be hung in trees, attached to benches or street furniture, or they could also be placed on stands (dug in the ground with a drive-in post anchor or standing in a flat concrete base). Each box measures W40cm x H50cm x D24cm, and hosts one robin (a holographic moving image).

For the holographic “magic” to work, the houses will be carefully lit so as to make the holographic videos of birds appear as if they were here, while highlighting the beautiful surroundings in the background. The technical team will place small lights in the surrounding area to highlight trees or urban landscape behind the robins.