Nightmare: an investigation into perception of self and surrounding

Interaction

Aug 16

“Nightmare is an investigation into perception of self and surroundings, when one’s face is abstracted and transported to a new surface, a new territory, outside of its own body.”

— Ambhika Samsen

Exhibited at Nutrimento Urbano in Milan. Nightmare, an interactive installation created by Ambhika Samsen, invited us to face our face through the generative digital visualisation. When approaching, our face will be automatically captured and then video projected onto the hung mask.

Nightmare is an investigation into the perception of self and surroundings, when one's face is abstracted and transported to a new surface, a new territory, outside of its own body.

Ambhika Samsen is an Interaction Designer based in Milan. She uses interdisciplinary method to express her imaginations. Her works situate between virtual and physical boundaries. She carried out many of projects including a mix of art, design and technology which range from illustrations, interface, interactive installation to VJ live sets.

"When I was thinking about fear I came to a conclusion that most of us are scared of what we don't know or things that we can't control.. for example, darkness, ghosts, our future..

In addition, self is an argument that I'm really interested in. For me, being exposed in public without having full control of myself could be a total nightmare. I want to simulate that experience in a more subtle way, and let people experimenting that condition.” Ambhika told Futurecrafter.

Ambhika added that she aims to create more projects where conceptual idea meets technical complexity. Besides, she loves to see visitor participation as well. "It is a challenge to keep a nice balance on these factors which I'm looking forward to."