Artist and engineer Shih Chieh Huang (MFA 2001 Fine Arts) was recently named a 2014 TED Fellow, joining an elite group of innovators. 
Disrupting traditional notions of life and the absence there of, Huang repurposes inanimate objects to create surreal, animated “living” deep-sea organisms and iridescent landscapes. Synthesizing mechanics and aesthetics derived from marine biology, Huang mimics the movement of bioluminescent sea creatures with computer-driven light organs and tentacles. Household objects, fans, chandeliers, computer parts, plastic bags, toys and timed motors form organisms born out of fine art and technology.
Now in its fifth year, the TED Fellows program selects accomplished trailblazers from around the world who demonstrate exceptional courage in order to raise awareness about groundbreaking work and ideas, which range broadly from new media art to social entrepreneurship. TED Fellows participate in either the TED conference in Vancouver, Canada or the TEDGlobal event in Edinburgh, U.K. In addition to expense paid conference attendance, fellows receive several opportunities to network with peers through pre conference activities and private social networking on TED.com. Those selected also have the potential to speak on the TED Fellows or TED University stage and have their talk posted on TED.com.
Also a former Smithsonian Artist Research Fellow, Huang has displayed work at the Busan Biennial, the Aichi Triennial, the Venice Biennial, the MOCA in Shanghai and the New Museum of Contemporary Art, to name a few. To see more of his work, click here. For more information about the TED Fellows program, visit ted.com.