Welcome to the Other Side

Medium

Distance Sensors
Visuals
Sound Design
Botanical Essential Oil
Clay Sculpture

Description

In the traditions of every culture, plants have been highly valued for their nourishing, healing, and transformative properties. The most powerful of these plants, known for their ability to transport the human mind into other dimensions of consciousness, have always been regarded as sacred.

A keyword we focus on is 'distance', the distance between audience, and the distance between human and sacramental. All three plants that are chosen are known as sacred, curative, and illusive if eat or inhale the smell. But things considered sacred and illusive usually keep human away regardless of the healing function. In this project, we aim to attract the audience by the psychedelic looks of these plants, and lead them to get closer to explore. There are two sensors being used in each plant's experience, and the sensors we used are all distance sensors. In order to explore the plants and get the full experience, where you stand matters, and what you do matters.

Inspired by the book Plants of the Gods, this interactive installation selects three psychedelic plants — Datura, Peyote, and Salvia Divinorum — and provides hallucinogenic visual, sound, and smell effects. It allows the audience to experience the effects brought by these plants and explores the shamanic rituals associated with them.

Welcome to the Other Side
Location: Pratt Institute
200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Date: December 14 – December 21, 2023