An immersive art experience designed to be ‘seen’ with your eyes shut will soon be coming to Cardiff. Dreamachine is a free exhibition which uses light and music to give attendees a multisensory and colourful experience – all from behind closed eyes.
For each of those attending, a completely personal experience can be expected, and organisers say that some people may see patterns and shapes, while others might see cities, landscapes or abstract waves of colour. The show will be presented inside the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park between May 12 and June 18, with sessions taking place seven days a week from 10am to 8pm.
Groups of up to 32 people at a time will be able to sit back and enjoy the experience which uses an immersive lightscape alongside 360-degree spatial sound to create a 90-minute show. People can book either a High Sensory show involving strobe lighting, or a Deep Listening show which uses gentle lighting and is suitable for those with light sensitivities.
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Inspired by the 1959 creation of artist-inventor Brion Gysin, Dreamachine builds on his device which used flickering light to create colourful illusions and kaleidoscopic patterns in the mind of the observer. Described as the ‘first artwork to be experienced with your eyes closed,’ Gysin’s work was designed as an intense experience which expands the viewer’s perceptions.
To bring this invention into the 21 st Century, the Dreamachine experience has been created by Collective Act with the help of Turner Prize-winning collective Assemble, Grammy and Mercury-nominated composer Jon Hopkins and a team of leading technologists, scientists and philosophers. Jennifer Crook, the participatory art specialist behind Dreamachine, said the show will “engage audiences across ages and cultures in a powerful new kind of collective experience".
She said: “The rich, kaleidoscopic world of the Dreamachine will come from within, providing a magical insight into the extraordinary potential of your own mind. Beyond the confines of screens or devices, our programme will creatively explore the most fundamental of human connections: how we perceive and make sense of the world around us. To explore one of the greatest remaining mysteries to humankind… all you need to do is to close your eyes.”
The experience is part of a 10-project creative event programme put on by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, which is hosting free events across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from March to October. The initiative is funded by the four governments of the UK and has been dubbed a ‘once-in-a-lifetime celebration of creativity.’ Dreamachine will be launching in London on May 10, with appearances in Edinburgh and Belfast over the summer.
Due to its rich history, the Temple of Peace in Cathays Park was chosen as the venue to host Cardiff’s Dreamachine experience. Founded in 1938, the Temple is the brainchild of Lord David Davies and was built in the wake of the First World War as both a memorial to those who lost their lives and also as a testament to future peace and inspiration.
"The experience will live within this magnificent Art Deco civic temple," said artist Jennifer, "providing audiences with a unique and poignant setting for internal reflection." A Cardiff Council spokesperson added: "This project will provide an opportunity for people in the city to participate in a fully immersive experience which will inspire questions, boost creativity and provide hours of fun. We are really excited about being able to host this experience."
The Dreamachine experience is a free event suitable for those aged 18+ and it will be running Monday to Sunday between 10am and 8pm from May 12 until June 18. Tickets can be booked here. To keep up to date with all the latest events taking place across Wales subscribe to our what's on newsletter here.
