Walking Shadow

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage.
- Shakespeare
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According to Miyamoto, the game's designer, Super Mario 3 was conceived as a stage play, complete with curtains being drawn apart in the opening sequence. In the game itself, objects are bolted to the sky or hang from off-screen catwalks and, at the end of each level, the player exits the stage to the right. This piece explores how, in gameplay, we are "walking shadows" - performing the role of the hero for a fleeting moment on the stage. The controller at the bottom of the piece allows you to play SMB3 on one of the screens, while the two other screens show replayed memories of other players' performances. The game packaging has been left opened and partially flattened.