Glass Memory

Crafted through puppetry, the film explores the role technology plays
in shaping future human relationships.
The narrative portrays a man sharingintimate, everyday moments with
his partner. She seems present — yet not really there.
When the glasses break, the reality reveals itself: shewas never real.
The smart glasses made her visible. An AI. An avatar.
By revealing the hands and strings that animate the puppets, the film draws

attention to control — representing the systems that increasingly shape our lives. It reflects on a shift already underway, as real connections between humans and AI quietly reshape social interactions and even companionship.‘Glass Memory’ questions how artificial intelligence, capable of simulating emotion and presence, challenges the fragility of human relationships — complex, imperfect, and finite by nature.

This project was born from a personal challenge: to translate my research on the social impact of AI into a speculative future story in the most analog way possible.
This project was made entirely independently — puppet making, screenplay, storyboarding, set building, and filming. Each skill was learned from scratch in the name of the project.
The installation was designed with intention. Its vintage, nostalgic, yet playful and childlike aesthetic drew in audiences of different ages.
The theatre format was also a deliberate choice: by building a physical stage around the screen, I preserved the magic of traditional puppet theatre —the curtains, the wonder, the suspension of disbelief.

It made people forget there was a screen at all.
This project was nominated for the Melkweg Award, given to the student who demonstrates exceptional talent, a unique vision and true originality in their graduation project.
Following the Graduation Show during Dutch Design Week 2025, the project was exhibited in the Short Movie Sunday Festival by Volkshotel in Amsterdam.
‘Glass Memory’ was also featured in the Great DutchArt Calendar 2026 and the magazine De wereld van hetpoppenspel.