Playing Democracy

Ling Tan

Playing Democracy is a giant multiplayer game of Pong, exploring the principles of democracy. Structured as a competitive game of Pong, the audience controls the game paddles using their body movement tracked by a camera. Each time a player scores a point, they can choose to modify 3 rules in the game which in turn changes the game environment. The rules are simple and are also, in essence, the principles of democracy.

 

 

Ling Tan is a designer and artist working within the field of social engagement, technology, citizen participation and politics. Originally trained as an architect, her work explores citizens’ interaction with the built environment and our collective agency and responsibility in tackling complex issues surrounding our cities through the use of technology.