Cosmic Flowers

For Coup de Ville 2020, CREW_lab showcases research inspired by the work of neuropsychiatrist Dr. Georges Otte and neurosurgeon/scientist Dr. Dirk De Ridder. Together with CREW they developed an environment where art, VR and biofeedback can be used to treat certain psychopathologies, especially depressions.

CREW_lab created a VR-environment with visual metaphors generated by a patient's state of mind. Different psychological parameters, read by neurologists and neuropsychiatrists by means of biofeedback (heartrate variability, GVS, EEG), visually alter the environment both patient and doctors find themselves in together, in real time. Obviously, this requires a certain amount of neurological 'input' from the patient.

Biofeedback in combination with full body free movement, that involves both the patient as the therapist moving around in the same VR-environment, offers a very vivid image of a patient's behaviour. This opens up interesting possibilities towards self-healing and self-treatment.

What we showcase in this edition of Coup de Ville, are the first cornerstones of this VR-environment. The reactions from the audience will help us evaluate this environment. The visual metaphor we use is the flower, following the theme of the festival Chasing Flowers. Dr. Ericson (1901~1980) already used this image very successfully in his hypnotherapy. The metaphor is a symbol for the cycle of life and it encourages to transcend negative states of mind. Fictitious worlds could help us fundamentally alter our physical existence.

Saturday 03.10.2020
location: Don Bosco-kerk, Gladiolenstraat, 9100 Sint-Niklaas

CREDITS
Concept: Isjtar, Eric Joris, Georges Otte, Dirk De Ridder
Interaction design: Isjtar
3D environment and scans: Isjtar, Eric Joris
Coordination: Jean Pierre Deschepper
Production: CREW & W.a.r.p.