Description
ABSTRACT. The current ecological crisis necessitates a profound rethinking of our relationship with the environment, emphasizing the need for compassion and partnership as key survival strategies. This paper explores whether immersive art experiences can reshape environmental perceptions and foster an embodied learning that transforms these experiences into conscious, affective responses. Specifically, it questions the potential of immersive arts to fundamentally alter how participants view themselves as socio-environmental beings and whether such ephemeral experiences can act as effective agents of change. A case study central to this exploration is "Octopuses and other Sea Creatures," a large-scale immersive audio-visual installation. Set in Portsmouth, a city intrinsically linked to the sea, the installation uses the octopus as a metaphor to examine human-nature relationships. Drawing on Haraway's concepts, it investigates how a narrative connection between humans and octopuses can lead to an ethical and political stance that promotes the thriving of 'significant otherness.' Challenging the traditional portrayal of the octopus as monstrous, akin to Lovecraft's Cthulhu, the installation aims to cultivate a more empathetic interaction between nature and culture. Its primary goal is to alter audience perceptions, moving away from seeing the octopus as a fearsome, alien entity, and towards recognizing it as a companion species, with whom humans share a bond of significant difference. This experience is designed as a catalyst, seeking to induce a shift in the participants' subjectivity, thereby contributing to broader environmental consciousness. In conclusion, this paper aims to demonstrate how immersive art might foster a transformative shift in environmental consciousness.| Period | 6 Sept 2024 |
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| Event title | MeCCSA Conference 2024 |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Manchester, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |