On Connection / VR experience + Sound Performance

VR Installation

This project, led by media artist Valentina Berthelon and sound artist Flora Päär, aims to explore the interconnectedness of the universe through the metaphor of the Tree of Life, using a ritual and symbolic acts to connect individuals to the larger cycles of the natural world. The metaphor of the tree as connector or axis mundi is a cross-cultural symbol found in many different cultures and traditions around the world. This symbol represents a link between the spiritual and physical world.  

Many cultures interpreted forests as a home for the gods and some deities had their own sacred tree which was worshiped as religious symbol. Being the largest of all plants, trees have been seen as embodiments of supernatural forces. The living structure of a tree, is a very complex system which is in eternal exchange with the environment, bringing in connection the nutrients of the soil, the earth, the waters, and the transformative power of light, the sun and the sky; offering shelter to a variety of species and allowing the transmission of informations on a large scale, becoming a pillar in the survival of the entire ecosystem.

This virtual reality experience invites the participant to embark into a multi-sensory immersive experience, to connect with the natural world and the larger cycles of the universe. Combining science fiction elements, symbols and soundscapes a sacred space-time is created. In the middle of this virtual space there is a Tree made out of electric wires, The tree is a symbolic portal to access the common consciousness and knowledge stored in its body and electric brunches. Hybrid mythological beings will serve as guides, embodying the diverse perspectives and experiences of the human and non-human worlds. The soundscapes will incorporate voices and instruments which will impact our sensorial perception through specific frequencies, stimulating the function our bones, tissues, organs and brain response.

We will play with concepts such as the interconnectivity of ecosystems or the cyclical nature of energy in the universe. Through the lens of the micro and macro, we will explore the idea that the same patterns and processes that occur in the universe can also be found on a smaller scale within the human body.

The mayor problems of our time are all interconnected, climate change, poverty, technology, economics, none of them can be understood in an isolated way, this is why we need to think in terms of patterns and relationships. Síkinos has been facing environmental issues due to its growing tourism industry. As more tourists visit the island, the demand for resources such as water and energy increases, putting a strain on the island's fragile ecosystem. In addition, the construction of new hotels and other tourist facilities is leading to deforestation and erosion. By examining the symbolic dimensions of some of these problems, we can gain new insights into their deeper meanings and explore creative ways of addressing them. Additionally, using symbolism can help us to communicate and connect with people who may have different perspectives and backgrounds, as symbols are often cross-cultural and can bridge divides.

Technica Rider/ VR Installation:
- 1 VR-Headset, 2 Controller, 1 Base Stations SET
- 2 Active Speakers + Subwoofer
- 1 HD beamer

Live Sound Performance

Flora Päär will also hold an ambient sound performance to interact with the participants, inspired by the ancient use of consulting the oracles, in response to questions about state or private affairs. An ideal setting would be to set up the session in the proximities of a real tree, close to the exhibition.

Based on vibrational medicine principles and performed with the support of digital and acoustic instruments, the sound journey offers to the listeners a tool to drift into an imaginative state, to connect to the inner wisdom. The sound performer, connects with the “voice" of the tree as an archetype, channeling the secret encoded information stored in the flow of its vital force, translating it into sounds and vocalizations, delivering a message to the world and promoting the research of solutions with a more organic and sensitive approach.

In the frame of a respectful and transcultural ritual, sound it is intended to be perceived as a vector which allows us to hear "the whispers of the gods", the melody that relieves our souls from doubts and brings answers to our striving pursue to bring healing and coherence to the world we live in.

Technica Rider/ Live Sound Performance
- 2 Active Speakers + Subwoofer
 

Federica(aka Flora Päär/Pareal) is a Singer/Vocal Performer, Vibrational Counselor and Sound Therapist, scholar of Accademia di Medicina Vibrazionale of Milan and UK Vibroacoustic Association in London.
Combining Vibrational Medicine and Sound Therapy fundamentals with Chinese Medicine and Nada Yoga Techniques,Aum Garden finds its expression in a spontaneous approach to ancient vibrational practices framed in a contemporary ambient sonic imaginary. The combination of meditation and sound bath introduces the listeners to discover new practical tools to improve spiritual and physical rebalance through conscious listening and sound-journeying.

https://aumgarden.weebly.com/

Valentina Berthelon, born in Santiago de Chile, is a media artist based in Berlin. She works in the intersection between visual arts, music, and technology. She began her Art studies in 1996 at the University of Chile and in 1998 she moved to México and specialized in Multimedia Art at the National Art Center of Mexico. Since 2012 she lives in Berlin and currently she is doing the Master “Kunst und Media“at the University of Arts of Berlin. Her audiovisual pieces aim to talk about a circular time, a time that is not linear, but it’s a collage, an assembly of stories, facts, theories, and comments, a time that reflects the networked nature of the Universe.  

www.valentinaberthelon.com/