FIGMA PRESENTATION OF STUDIO PROPOSAL: https://www.figma.com/deck/Ho3n5hVaKii8jM6W0JdXu8
My installation will be an immersive environment based on my anti-capitalist, anti-techno-centric, community-driven, nature-connected world with a bit of magic (the animals have powers and are friendly with humans). This is a world where community and ecosystem balance are the main driving force—where people, animals, and environments exist in reciprocal care rather than hierarchies and power imbalance.
The environment is inside a canopy tent, with a Unity environment projection mapped across the walls and the ceiling; forests, fields, trees, calming nature, with some ambient natural and peaceful audio playing at a soft volume. It is a narrow and short enclosed space, so users need to crawl inside and take a moment and sit/kneel/rest on the ground to truly experience it—an additional way to enforce my message of a world where life is slower, softer and there is no need for constant chase of actions in daily life. There will be some real plants littered across the small space, and a handmade fabric lamp sitting in the center, in the shape of a sphere to embody the sun and the moon. When one picks up the sphere, it will start to glow very dimply. If there is another person who also touches it at the same time, it will glow even brighter- showing the community driven importance of this world.
There will (possibly) be a guitar resting on the ground. Users can pick it up, and if someone plays anything on it—it does not have to be a real song/tune, even just strings—the projected world will respond, and the plants will grow/flowers will bloom, depicting the weight of human care and connection with nature in my world.
I am using my laptop, Unity, Madmapper, a projector, and Arduino. I want to achieve a beautiful and immersive environment that connects to my arduino lamp and also has audio reactivity. That last part, with the audio reactivity is my extra additional plan. If I am able to achieve evreryting else, and I have the scope and capability to add it, I will. But I can foresee that I have decided to focus on many things for this project, so I want to be realistic. I have my concept well thought out, so I think my biggest challenges will be the actual execution and creation of this structure.
The canopy tent structure - you need to crawl inside it and sit
The fabric light source (sun/moon) - responds to touch to glow, interaction causes change in Unity environment
The guitar and the projected Unity environment - by playing something/creating sound, nature blooms in the environment.
(PSA. IMPORTANT: my unity environment will not be very complex- only 1 scene. I am keeping it simple, and using it more as a ambient space to create my atmosphere; I want to focus on the energy felt inside the canopy, and also the interactions with the lamp and the guitar.)
Stillness and calmness from the soothing ambient environment and sound
Intimacy and emotional vulnerability from crawling/sitting inside the installation
Warmth/autonomy when the fabric object responds to touch