H-1B Lottery Machine

Interactive Installation

This interactive piece reimagines the H‑1B application process as a game of chance. Participants answer a series of questions on a touchscreen, insert coin(s), and pull the lever to experience the “lottery” draw, highlighting the randomized and competitive nature of U.S. work visa selection. Drawing inspiration from slot machines, the installation critically examines the intersection of bureaucracy, chance, and opportunity, using humor and satire to engage audiences with the complexities of immigration systems.

Zongshuai Zhang & Julia Xu