Projects
Seeing Sense: Sensory Sensors
Seeing Sense: Sensory Sensors
Learning tools to bring tiny worlds to life.
This project is an exploration of immersive technology's potential to develop interactive, multi-sensory sculptures that express personal autistic experience. Experimentation will be done with sensors, virtual reality, electronics, automata and natural materials. Through the interplay between nature and both low and hi-tech, the artist aims to learn the skills that will enable her to truly bring her multi-sensorial sculptural visions to fruition.
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£5,000
Aims of the Project
This project aims to explore practical means of creating interactivity and immersion in mixed-media sculpture.
The artist hopes to achieve a better understanding of VR, in order to facilitate a virtual recreation of the inside of a cocoon in the future. Experimentation with sensor technology, such as touch, gesture-recognition, and environmental sensors, will also play a key role in shaping the interactive aspects of the sculptures.
By integrating electronics and natural materials, the artist intends to develop methods for creating multi-sensory environments that reflect her personal autistic experience and foster connection with their audience.
The funding will support the artist’s exploration of new technical skills, including learning about electronics, circuitry, and automata. Collaborations with technologists, such as the good people of Tinderbox Labs, will allow the artist to experiment with sensors and the integration of audience-generated soundscapes and light shows into their sculptures.
The artist will learn about mechanics and automata – introducing kinetic movement into their sculptures for added interactivity – as well as experimenting with materials like wood, paper mache, textiles, and dried plants, to create tactile, dynamic sculptures that respond to environmental stimuli. Through these learning processes, the artist aims to collect the necessary skills to create immersive and accessible art that explores the intersection of nature and technology.
Ultimately, the project seeks to develop the tools and knowledge necessary to create larger, interactive installations that express a neurodivergent perspective and invite their audience to engage in sensory-rich ways.
Meet the artist
Iona Zawinski
Lead artist
she/her
Iona Zawinski is a multi-disciplinary autistic artist of Scottish, Welsh, and Polish heritage. Fascinated by the literary, sonic, and visual worlds, she creates art in many forms: lyrical, experimental music (featuring in the award-winning band Pocket Monica); poetry; and mixed-media sculpture.
While much of her poetic or musical output has dealt with emotions of her past or present moments, her sculptural creations are representations of her visions of the future. Being able to imagine and create soft future worlds has been an incredibly effective part of the artist’s healing process.
