Projects
SUBMERSE
SUBMERSE
SUBMERSE transforms live scientific algal data into an experimental, immersive art experience.
This funding will enable artistic researchers Victoria Geaney and Nigel Guérin-Garnett to create SUBMERSE, an experimental, immersive art experience centred on sustainability that transforms live scientific algal data - gained from algae monitored by project partner Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) - into an experiential haptic and material experience – through smart textiles created by project partner Sara + Sarah (S+S).
Algae are vital, forming the base of the marine food chain, and producing half the oxygen we breathe, but they are affected by climate change. The SAMS datasets provide critical insights into marine life, highlighting the urgency of the climate crisis. SUBMERSE aims to connect audiences with these environmental issues in an emotionally inspiring and visceral way, emphasizing how nature ‘warns’ us about climate change.
SUBMERSE blends bio-design, digital performance, smart materials and marine science to create an experience of aquatic ecosystem dynamics through haptic vibrations communicated from algal growth data.
This funding will allow artists Nigel and Victoria to collaborate with SAMS and S+S alongside a creative technologist to prototype this algal communication system.
Image above by Victoria Geaney & Nigel Guérin-Garnett; with dancer: Eileih Muir.
Experiment
£20,000
Aims of the Project
The intended impact of SUBMERSE is to create a meaningful, immersive experience that allows participants to ‘feel’ algal data and inspires action towards sustainability and climate awareness.
By engaging a diverse test audience, they aim to prototype and refine this technology, which we then hope to bring to new and wider audiences. Success will be measured through participant feedback on how effectively the project educates and fosters a deeper audience awareness of marine ecosystems and climate issues through our novel haptic interaction.
For the SUBMERSE team, a key achievement will be developing a new algal communication system and experience that integrates immersive technology, materiality, and environmental science. This could lead to further collaborations, exhibitions, and new research opportunities. Additionally, strengthening our connections with SAMS and S+S will support ongoing exploration at the intersection of sustainability and the immersive arts, fostering long-term impact and creating lasting partnerships.
Meet the artists
Dr. Victoria Geaney
Lead artist
she/her
Dr Victoria Geaney is a fashion-led researcher, practitioner, and lecturer. Through her practice-led research, she interrogates collaborative approaches between fashion and biology through the lens of feminist new materialisms. Victoria’s research is process-driven and operates at the intersections of sustainability, microbiology and fashion.
Her work has been featured in national and international exhibitions and publications, including the Design Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Wired magazine, Nylon magazine, Higgs magazine, and Design Exchange.
Dr Nigel Guérin-Garnett
Lead artist
Dr Nigel Guérin-Garnett’s creative practice spans design research, digital arts, and performance, with over 20 years of experience in fashion and dance theatre. His PhD focused on developing digital systems that transform data into performative acts.
He specializes in creating immersive and interactive experiences that combine physical computing, projection mapping, and storytelling. Nigel’s work often explores the intersection of human movement and technology, aiming to evoke emotional connections through data-driven performances.
