Curated by Cara Kwon
YOU ARE CODE is a technology-driven exhibition project that reimagines how art is experienced in the gallery. At its heart is the QR code, an everyday tool of access and information, transformed into a medium of artistic storytelling. By scanning these codes with personal devices, audiences enter into vibrant, immersive works that shift art from something to view into something to actively decode, enter, and share.
The exhibition reflects on a world increasingly shaped by data and algorithms, suggesting that we are not merely users of technology but living codes ourselves, defined by experiences, relationships, memories, behaviors, and interactions. Each QR code becomes a singular pattern and a gateway into an artist’s story, medium, or moment, emphasizing inclusivity by opening space for creators across geographies and circumstances, including those who work entirely in digital formats.
YOU ARE CODE is both a question and an invitation: What is your code?
On Making the Codes
Beyond curating the artworks, Cara Kwon designed and coded each QR code as an artwork in its own right. Instead of simply selecting a design, she began with the core structure of QR technology, a grid of black and white squares that store information as binary code (black for 1, white for 0). From this foundation, she shaped each QR code’s visual identity, layering in distinct patterns and color palettes so the codes were not only functional but also tied to the exhibition’s aesthetic.
Once designed, every QR code had to be thoroughly tested to confirm that it functioned as intended. This step often caused the most delay, as even the small adjustments to color or pattern could affect readability. Using QRFY to activate and finalize the codes, Kwon carefully balanced form and function: the aesthetic interventions had to remain scannable while still expressing individuality.
This meticulous process highlights the dual nature of the QR code as both utilitarian and symbolic, an everyday technology transformed into a medium of artistic authorship. In this way, the codes are not only gateways to digital works but also visual objects that contribute to the exhibition’s conceptual language, reflecting the tension between technical precision and creative expression.
On the Artists
YOU ARE CODE exists to create platforms for emerging and student artists, designers, and creatives by removing barriers of space, cost, and format. The exhibition opens pathways into diverse practices spanning painting, photography, video, digital illustration, AR, interactive media, and more. Each scan becomes an act of discovery, transforming the viewer into an active participant in both the artwork and the broader dialogue between art, technology, and identity.
By removing the physical and financial barriers that often limit participation, YOU ARE CODE creates a platform where students of all ages, time zones, and backgrounds can share their work with a public audience.
About the Curator
Cara Kwon is a designer and creative technologist originally from Washington but currently based in NYC. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Design & Technology at Parsons School of Design, where her practice spans coding, data-driven projects, graphic design, UX/UI, and artificial intelligence. Her broader interests include immersive storytelling, installation, and the creation of interactive art and spaces.