IRL is an interactive sculpture that merges play, nostalgia, fortune-telling, and modern romance. A 50-cent capsule machine dispenses acrylic keychains, each engraved with a dating “fortune.” Most feel bleakly familiar: “You will realize there is no chemistry five minutes into your first date.” “You will hook up once and never speak again.”

Only one keychain promises “Your love will be eternal”—though whether that prize is actually in circulation remains intentionally unclear.

The piece parallels childhood persistence at arcade machines with the adult compulsion to keep swiping until we “win” at dating. Neither system is designed in our favor; both thrive on endless participation. The odds are stacked, the hope is thin, and yet we keep playing.