Jordan Shaw - Art + Technology ¯\_(ツ)

Soft Presence

Soft Presence is a quiet network of shared connection. As you enter, you join an evolving cloudscape shaped by those present. The more people gather, the denser the clouds become — a living atmosphere that reflects collective presence. Fewer participants leave the space calm and open, like a breath held in stillness.

This digital artwork explores the poetics of online presence and the subtle ways we connect across distance. Through small, ambient gestures, Soft Presence symbolizes shared participation in a digital space, inviting a slower, quieter kind of interaction — one without usernames or conversation, but rich in resonance.

It's both an artwork and an atmosphere — a space to reflect on how we exist together, even when apart.

What's Happening

The artwork is a shared, real-time experience. The drifting clouds you see respond to the number of people currently viewing the artwork—more viewers create a denser, more active cloudscape, while fewer create a sparser, quieter visual.

By clicking anywhere on the screen, you can trigger a gentle pulse within the clouds. This action also sends a subtle ripple to all other active viewers, allowing your presence to be felt across the network. These interactions are meant to be quiet gestures—like a breath, a signal, or a shared glance—visualizing connection without conversation.

How to Interact

Soft Presence is a shared, real-time experience. The drifting clouds you see respond to the number of people currently viewing the artwork—more viewers create a denser, more active cloudscape, while fewer create a sparser, quieter visual. By clicking anywhere on the screen, you can trigger a gentle pulse within the clouds. This action also sends a subtle ripple to all other active viewers, allowing your presence to be felt across the network. These interactions are meant to be quiet gestures—like a breath, a signal, or a shared glance—visualizing connection without conversation.

https://softpresence.art/