A lot is happening in the Forest
A lot is happening in the Forest
Photos by Jimi Liu
A Lot is happening in the Forest is the second station of Bridging ACTs.
Associated with the concept of Acceptance in ACT, this work aims to help the audience to understand that acceptance is the key of psychological well-being. Avoiding negative experiences, including emotions and thoughts, paradoxically increases stress. By making space for these negative feelings, one can alleviate stress and foster a sense of peace.
Before entering the work, a narrative text is presented:
How did you feel when you heard those thoughts surrounding you? Did you feel trapped or controlled by these thoughts?
Imagine being stuck in a persistent pattern of being occupied by your thoughts. What might be the long-term effects? It seems that being occupied by these thoughts causes even more suffering.
Shall we try not to be consumed by them and instead observe them non-judgmentally?
Bridging_Acceptance - A lot is happening in the Forest
We’ve seen how being consumed by our thoughts can make us feel suffocated and trapped.
In the next experience, A lot is happening in the Forest, can you try something different?
Let those thoughts follow you. But instead of trying to fight or run away from them, observe them non-judgmentally. Let them simply be. Allow them to follow you as you walk around.
And if you’re brave enough, walk closer and explore the emotions, you may begin to observe more clearly.
This work is a demonstration of the uncontrollability thoughts and emotions in our brain - an unstoppable generating engine. It calls for the visitor to observe the happening non-judgmentally, and interact with this virtual space patiently.
When the visitor enters the projection space, it turns into a liminal space inspired forest, with texts from the thought archive popping up from time to time. A shadow with different colours is constantly drawn onto the visitor and follows him/her wherever he/she moves in the space. This shadow draws connection to the text appearing in the virtual space and symbolise the indivisible connection between the visitor and his/her thoughts and emotions.
Materials:
360° Projection
Quadraphonic Sound System
Production Credits:
| Artistic Concept | Audio Design: Chi Him Chik
| Software Engineering & Visualisation: Vanessa Ehmann , Hiuyan Lee