Lucas Rizzotto: Why I built my own time machine

Why I built my own time machine

Experiential artist Lucas Rizzotto was going through a tough breakup, so he did what anyone would do: he built a personal time machine. In a playful talk, he shares how his free-ranging experimentation led to various delightful, unexpected innovations that are changing how people think about the relationship between technology and art. "Technology gives us the tools, but art shows us the way," he says.

Blending artistic curiosity with new technology can spark unexpected breakthroughs and reshape what’s possible. After filming his life for a year to build a 'personal time machine,' one creator found he could not only replay memories, but also deepen self-understanding and empathy. His experiments led to viral inventions, new forms of therapy, and experiences that connect strangers in meaningful ways. Approaching technology as an artist unlocks creative angles that engineers might never imagine.