Collide, a multimedia art installation by Onformative, attempts to tackle the tremendously tricky task of providing people with a subjective perceptual experience that only impacts a lucky few. The project, which consists of a gigantic color display and speaker set-up, is a theoretical attempt to make tangible the experience of synesthesia.
Synesthesia is a neurological quirk that impacts a small percentage of people in which certain senses get crossed and combined. For instance, a synesthete might taste shapes, feel smells, or, as in the case of Collide, see sounds as colors.
To try to engender this audio-visual synesthesia, Onformative collaborated with Dolby to use its San Francisco space's 54-channel speaker system. Having created a series of visuals that look something like abstract Impressionism, Onformative commissioned a troupe of cellists to create an original composition based on the images. That composition and its accompanying visuals are on display in the Dolby Laboratories.
Synesthesia-Inducing Art Installations
'Collide' Mimics the Experience of Synesthesia
Trend Themes
1. Multimedia Art Installations - Creating immersive art experiences that engage multiple senses through the use of technology and collaboration.
2. Synesthesia Simulation - Developing tools and experiences that replicate the perceptual phenomenon of synesthesia, allowing individuals to temporarily experience the merging of senses.
3. Cross-sensory Experiences - Exploring ways to merge different sensory modalities to enhance art and entertainment, creating unique and immersive experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Entertainment - Opportunity to leverage technology and collaboration to create innovative and immersive art installations that engage multiple senses and evoke emotional responses.
2. Music and Audio - Potential for collaboration between musicians and visual artists to create synesthesia-inducing experiences, enhancing the enjoyment and emotional impact of music.
3. Neuroscience and Psychology - Research and development of tools and simulations to replicate and study synesthesia, providing insights into the interplay between different senses and perception.