Looxid Labs has recently partnered with Complexion for project “Mandal” to integrate the biometric sensing capabilities of the Looxid Link to media art.

What is media art? To put it simply, also referred to as new media art, it is a form of art that uses artistic ability and technological aptitude. This allows for a greater number of forms of expression through different technological advances implemented in our daily lives.

Virtual Reality (VR) is commonly used for entertainment purposes. However, VR is being integrated into the fields of education and healthcare, as training and diagnostic protocols, such as VR therapy. Led by CEO Chiho Park, Complexion is using VR and the EEG sensors of our device, and incorporating them to media art. Using the attention and relaxation levels of the user retrieved by the Looxid Link, we see them translating this intangible information into unique art pieces.

Brought from Sanskrit, “Mandal” is an interactive visual project corresponding to a user’s brain waves. When asked for the inspiration of this project, “it all came from yoga, a form of meditation, and I wanted to show people this state where one connects to their inner self through different yoga postures,” said Mr. Park.

Let’s find out what CEO Chiho Park had to say about the project in the following short interview.

How did you come up with the idea for this project?

I thought about how to approach a user’s brainwaves. The combination of a limitless artificial environment, and the interface for retrieving brainwaves allowed this to happen. I had several ideas in mind with these two elements combined. After I found out that I could retrieve relaxation and attention levels, that was the pinnacle of my decision making as I then decided to show a user’s inner universe (mental world).

What did you want to convey through this project? What is the final stage of this project?

Previously, the mental world was interpreted as a metaphysical or abstract world, in other words, it was a world created by reason. However, the visualization of brainwaves, which is not expressed through language, is viewed immediately in the real world. The attitude and character which involves focusing on one’s inner senses, such as meditation through yoga, change within one’s self and it can be viewed with the Looxid Link. Through this project I wanted to show that the different characteristics (such as desire, emotion, memory, etc…) which are usually within one’s self can now be viewed in the outside world. How to interpret and accept is important. I wanted to show this transition of “what is inside to the outside world” in a positive way. In other words, by interacting with one’s self. 

What did you want to convey through this interactive piece? Is there any hidden message behind it?

Thanks to the Looxid Link’s mind interface, I thought that the interactive element was natural. However in the case of interactive works expressed through existing sensor devices, the interactive space is always the same. Biometric data enabled interaction with these spaces. The hidden message may be this (part), a very symbolic one. Just like the wireless Internet icon, as can be seen when a device is connected to Wi-Fi, the visualized image brought by the sensors uses the ‘brain’ as a symbol. This recognition process is hidden. In fact, wireless networks are external, but the brain itself is internal, and brainwaves are inherent. But it is accepted as external information. This interface with oneself is beyond the sense of space just like the mental world is put out there but interacts with one’s self.

Why did you choose the Looxid Link over other EEG devices?

The thought of showing one’s unprocessed mind was appealing, and the Looxid Link allowed me to do this using their sensors and SDK. I wanted to interpret this data using the Looxid Link because of its interface which allows for better usability. Also, with the addition of the VR environment, I was able to show one’s inner self in a way that, I believe, hasn’t been done before.

What does media art mean to you?

This is very cliché, but media art allows us to approach things in different forms, making way for different possibilities. It is a movement that lets us broaden the playing field and strengthen it, as well. In a way, it is a different perspective to the new technologies that are incorporated into our daily lives. It either breaks conventional methods or increases accessibility and creates a new method.

Interesting isn’t it? If you would like to learn more about the Looxid Link and see what it has to offer, visit our Youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsnOAzV2Yi4WPsTeIKtZhHA/

Stay tuned for our next post! Until next time~ 

**The software for this project, Nebula, will be accessible for download soon.**