Artist Peiqi Su created "The Penis Wall" (2014), an interactive installation featuring 81 3D-printed penises with tiny motors that adjust their flaccidity or erectness to six levels. The penises respond to stimuli such as viewer movement or stock market fluctuations. The work was developed over a semester as a thesis project for New York University's ITP program within the Tisch School of the Arts, and was briefly displayed on May 19–20 as part of the program's spring exhibition.
This piece matters because it uses humor and technology to provoke open discussion about a taboo subject, exploring the penis as a "most attractive and intuitive interface" between humans and their environment. It exemplifies how new media art can blend engineering, interactivity, and social commentary, and reflects the growing role of 3D printing and responsive technology in contemporary art practice.