Knock on Wood

Using found objects, computer-generated video, digital audio, and a 3D camera, Knock on Wood illuminates centuries-old dogma that are integral to the Russian identity — many of which were commonplace in the house of Noyce's wife and artistic partner, Katya Usvitsky, who grew up in Soviet-era Belarus. The charged objects include a spilled salt shaker, a broken plate, a utility knife, a safety pin, and a loaf of Russian bread that has been torn apart. As the viewer places their hands under each object to activate it with their energy, the projected visual changes to reflect the positive or negative power of that object.

Knock on Wood reveals the universal appeal of superstitions — even in seemingly secular societies like communist-era Soviet Union, which aggressively curbed the practice of most religious activities. The installation conveys the persistence of folk beliefs that transcend religion and politics, attempting to control individual fate through the use of magic, intention, and free will.