APD Play and Stillness - Bug Hug

Theme: Play and Stillness

Context:
When presented with the theme of stillness I instantly gravitated to mental stillness and mindfulness. I am inspired by the game The Longing by Studio Seufz (http://www.399d-23h-59m-59s.com/) in which the player is asked to wait 400 days in real time. The game's aggressively slow pace forces players to slow down too. In this state of stillness, small, otherwise overlooked details draw into focus. Little drops of water or little bugs scuttering along the ground suddenly become meaningful comforts. I wondered how I could create a similarly minimal environment that would cause an audience to meditate mindfully on smaller details. 
I was also inspired by the Memory Garden at ACMI (https://www.acmi.net.au/works/105015--memory-garden/) where participants cradle footage compiled of old family videos. I found this work incredibly affecting and involved despite requiring minimal action from participants. As I held my hands under the projector, I felt a sensation of movement just watching the footage.
I wanted to emulate this and extended upon it in some interesting and playful way. I decided I could use this technique to project a little creature that players would be responsible for holding. As it moves around, players might get a sense of its movements and be drawn into delighting in the smaller details and behaviours of their new friend.

Method:
I created a program in Unity of a cute little bug that wanders around randomly. I then set up a downward facing projector to display this new little bug friend. Players cup their hands underneath the projector to “hold” the bug. As the bug wanders around, it is up to the player to keep it up off the ground. 

Response:
Video Showcase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dz1sLciolA 

Reflection:
I spent a bit of time filling the little creatures' movements with little details from its squishy segmented body to its little flapping ears. I felt by adding small dynamic details, there would be more things for players to notice and delight in. I also gave the bug the ability to nibble and throw out love hearts. These small dynamic behaviours give opportunities for players to create their own narratives about their bug friend. Maybe the bug is hungry? Maybe it’s angry because I keep blowing on it? Maybe it’s happy because I gave it pats?
There is no correct way to play Bug Hug, but the hope is that when players cup the bug friend for the first time they will be intrinsically drawn to keeping the bug on their skin. I envision this behaviour promoting mindfulness as players focus on small movements from the bug, but also the gentle movements of their own hands and body.