Echoes and Absences was inspired by our collective experiences and fascination with the idea of place. After conducting thorough research and considering several potential locations, we ultimately chose to focus on The New Steps in Edinburgh’s old town. The complexity of this transitional space, where hundreds of people pass through each day, intrigued us. Although it may seem like a non-place, as we spent more time there, we realized that the definition of the space varies based on individual experiences. While some people may see it as just a passageway, others may have developed a deep emotional connection with it, seeing it as a place full of history and memories that is a part of their daily routine. This insight led us to explore the idea of how people’s personal experiences can shape their perceptions of a place and influence the emotional connection they have with it.
Our team’s primary goal was to design a unique and immersive experience that would enable users to feel a sense of presence. To achieve this, we focused on exploring the connections and transitions between a liminal place and the audience, aiming to create an engaging and thought-provoking experience that would leave a lasting impression.
We carefully considered how users would move through the space, designing the exhibition to guide them through a series of visual and auditory stimuli that would create a sense of immersion and transport them into this digital place. Through the use of LiDAR technology, we were able to capture and manipulate spatial data in innovative ways, creating a truly captivating environment that stimulated the senses and captured the imagination. Throughout the design process, we remained committed to creating an enjoyable, interesting, and intriguing experience for the audience. We were mindful of balancing the emotional and intellectual aspects of the exhibition, using sound and visual elements to convey complex ideas in an accessible way.
Overall, our goal was to create an experience that would not only be engaging and thought-provoking, but also leave a lasting impression on the user. By utilizing LiDAR in innovative ways, we were able to achieve this goal and create a truly unique and captivating experience for our audience.
The desired outcome for this project was to create an immersive and thought-provoking experience for the user. We aim to transport the user to a different world and encourage them to explore the connections and transitions between a liminal place and their own experiences. Through this, we hope to evoke a sense of presence and emotional engagement that will stay with the user long after they leave the exhibition. In terms of public discourses or conversations, we aim to contribute to the ongoing discussion around the ways in which technology can be used to create new forms of art and cultural experiences. We want to challenge traditional notions of exhibition design and explore the possibilities that emerge when different creative disciplines collaborate and utilize cutting-edge technology. We also hope to engage in conversations around the concept of place and how it shapes our experiences and emotions, particularly in the context of a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized world. Overall, we see Echoes & Absences as a contribution to the broader cultural conversation and a means of exploring and challenging the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of immersive art and design.
If you’re reading this in order, please proceed to the next post: ‘Immersion vs Presence’.
Daniela M
