Projects
To gain knowledge on immersive art and explore how it can be more integrated into my practice
To gain knowledge on immersive art and explore how it can be more integrated into my practice
Through this exploration I want to gain knowledge on how I can integrate these technologies into my practice to create a fuller immersive and emotive experience when viewing my art.
I hope that during this time I gain experience and understanding of the immersive art world, including how I can further my participation in it. Immersive arts is something I have always enjoyed as a viewer so I am very excited by receiving this opportunity to explore its possibilities in my own practice.
Explore
£5,000
Aims of the Project
With this funding I hope to achieve understanding and knowledge in immersive art technologies. Such as sound scapes, lighting, projectors and video art to allow interaction with the immersive art I hope to create.
Through my art I want to create a space to focus on mental wellbeing and mindfulness – from the perspective of someone who has struggled with mental health and witnessed others in society struggle with it too. Allowing quiet interactions and contemplation to happen through immersion in the work.
By thinking not just about my own personal experience, but also how others are impacted by the same issues, I hope the art I make will resonate more broadly with audiences and create a sense of connection. I also hope to meet more artists working in this area and create connections in the industry.
"Embrace the uncertainty of trying something new, while it may feel uncomfortable sometimes, it can bring about great inspiration and enable you to explore the unknown with a new sense of excitement."
How did they do that?
In this project I explored sound and audio-visuals and how I could use these two elements to build an environment to allow the viewer to have a sense mindful presence in a space.
I recorded sounds using a selection of microphones to see how different equipment could hear these sounds. I utilised contact microphones, a shotgun microphone and a stereo mic to build a library of sounds I could use to build soundscapes with.
I explored many different places to find sounds, such as in nature, in cities, in homes and in public spaces as I wanted to capture a varied selection of noises from all over my community in North-East Scotland. This sometimes proved challenging as some microphones were more suited to specific sounds or places, but it was interesting to learn and hear what came from this exploration.
After recording my sounds, I took these into a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) – that I learnt how to use this software through taking online courses and trial and error. Once I had my sounds in the DAW I adjusted echoes, I warped sounds, added delays, played with reverb to abstract the sounds I captured. I felt by abstracting the sounds the viewers are invited to question and contemplate what the sounds were, enabling them to be present and still in the sounds as they listen.
Once I completed my soundscapes, I brought these into a software to build an audio-visual spectrum that reacts to the sound. I felt that adding visuals to the audio would further the immersion for the viewers and further their opportunity to be present and still in the space.
There was a lot of trial and error in all these processes for me. I did online courses but also through process of exploration, taught myself how to utilise these different technologies and tools to work best for me.
Next time I would try allowing for more travel to enable more in-person workshops and learning opportunities, as while I feel I learnt a lot and was happy with my outcomes it would have been great to have some more in person learning moments.
My best tip would be to just keep playing, exploring and pushing yourself to work with new technologies and mediums.
"The Immersive Art Programme enabled me to learn new skills, explore new technologies and grow my confidence in my work and in myself. I would recommend this to any artist who is intrigued by immersive arts and wants to explore how they would incorporate it into their practice."
Meet the artists
India Cooper
Lead Artist
she/her
My artistic practice explores the complexities of the human experience, drawing from my own lived challenges with body image, mental health, learning difficulties, and feelings of not belonging.
Through abstract art, I encourage viewers to interpret and connect with the work on a personal level, free from a fixed narrative. By reflecting on both personal struggles and broader, universal themes, I aim to create pieces that resonate with others.
My hope is that my art fosters a sense of shared experience, offering comfort and making those who engage with it feel less alone in their own journeys
