You are the source

Project
You Are the Source is an audiovisual installation composed of generative visuals which react to the audience’s participation. The participant is invited to enter a space and listen to audio meditation for 10 minutes. The audio input of the breath is projected on the wall, mirroring the energy and presence within a sensitive space of awareness.

The title of the work draws inspiration from a poem by Jalaluddin Rumi. “If you’re looking for the soul, you’re the soul. If you’re looking for the bread, you’re the bread. And if you could understand this particular idea you’ll understand that all you’re looking for is you.” I wanted to experiment with the idea of one’s own inward meditative experience being expressed and visualized through the outer, and immersive, space. Generative visuals, and specifically vector fields visually represent the energy of the breath as well as the physical to digital exchange taking place. Showing the unity and separation of the interior and exterior, exploring duality with the sense of empowering the participant of their agency.

Meditation
The meditation script draws from the title. The meditation was inspired by yoga nidra, which is a sleep-based meditation that induces a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping. I invite the user to use their breath to move energy throughout the body, creating a deep sense of inner calm and exploring the ways breath can reach every cell. The meditation also takes into consideration the exchange of breath as is parallel to receiving (letting go of resistance) and giving (transmuting).

click here to listen to the meditation on soundcloud

Setup
A large monitor was used to connect to a Mac mini running TouchDesigner, which was connected to a keyboard and a headset. The keyboard was fabricated to give the participant instructions to push the only key available, which would start the audio meditation. Then the participant would put on the headset and sit down in the lounge chair. As the meditation would play, the participant would follow along with the breath sequences which were captured through the headset and then displayed through the movement of particles. If the breath was deep and with a large exhale the particles would grow larger and move faster. The participant would have a visual reference to their uniqueness and the subtleties of their breath.

Visuals & installation
The visuals, as well as the audio-reactive component and projector output, were all done using TouchDesigner. I used a generative vector field to simulate visually the energetic movement of the breath. This was an ideal generative design for me as the algorithm can model a given magnitude and direction of a magnetic, gravitational force moving along a path, as well as show the implications of that force as it moves. The audio-reactive component would adjust the velocity within the main GLSL component and the scale of each particle, as well as the color movement through a radial gradient and noise TOP and the visibility of a light source.

The directional movement of the particles naturally flows inwards giving a vortex-like image, and when the audio is activated the particles push outwards as if the force is coming from within.
I chose colors that could evoke tranquility and a sense of inner wisdom, mostly blue and indigo. These colors filtered over the noise spectrum which gave subtle glimpses in between, and when the particles were adjusted from the audio input, the colors would splash between one another giving a rain-like effect.

Exhibitions
Exhibited at Galerie D in Romainville, France for “How did we get here?” Parsons Art, Media and Technology and Design and Technology alumni exhibition, November-December 2022.

Footage

Credits
Art Direction, Concept, Visual programming, and Installation Setup (by me)