Description of Project
VAHM, is the persian word for illusion and delusion, a mirage, a hallucination, a dream.
VAHM is a proposal for research in to our relationship with invisible living systems & sensing through world building. In it, I question the western philosophies that separate human and living beings.
This is new project. Its' ideation however has been in research & exploration for years, through studying our relationship with ecology, the senses, microbial & insect sensing. More recently as part of my thinking and critique of the Natural-Synthetic binary, I am interested in exploring the nuanced realities we engage with nature.
I am interested in new forms of sensing using machine-biological apparatus & technology in order to build unique relationship with microbes & living systems who inform our planet's health. What is our interaction with our surrounding invisible beings? The project explores methodologies for building bridges, rituals and mystical interactions with the distributed living systems while learning and borrowing the language of narratives & myths, in particular of middle & south east asian fiction.
I intend on world building. This can happen in many forms. The final output for example could be more interaction design & physical objects that can embody the engagement of human-nature entanglement, or contemporary mediums of film & moving image such as VR/MR while leveraging footage & scientific imaging in to micro worlds. I am interested in building a strong eastern visual language of ritual and mythology to tell another story of living beings less told, while mixing technology, science and imagination. I have not yet decided which format the project will take the shape of, but of the the few areas of interest I have mentioned, I feel capable and confident in directing as they are both mediums I am proficient in given that I have worked 11 years in Augmented Reality & 10 years in and around life sciences.
For this project, I am interested in furthering my artistic execution and creative direction in imagining poetic worlds that touch audiences in more emotional way.
The title is subject to change. At this moment I have chosen VAHM.
Describe the steps that will take the project from its current state to audience ready
The project would start with researching 1. Living Systems invisible/ less visible to humans of the micro-worlds or distributed worlds (i.e. superorganisms, microbes, mushroom networks etc.) 2. Mythology, Ritual and the narrative fictions of south and middle east asian artistic work.
Through sketching, ideation and inspiration, I wish to explore archives & speak with scientists and ecologists to find a compelling narrative and organism/ sensing interaction that can manifest the poetry of this entanglement. Here I am interested in questioning our notion of intelligence, and propose methods of moving towards an acceptance of collectivity. I am also particularly interested in social rituals of collectivity, and social order, perhaps borrowing learnings in living beings such as termites.
How does it intersect with the mission and the theme of MM2024
The project, through creation of new artistic work, asks audiences to reconsider their relationship to living systems, their surroundings and their own daily rituals. It also deep dives in to sensing and embodiment of scales larger and smaller than our human perception. Finally the project through the work, critiques and shines light on the western view of natural-synthetic binary.
I am an educator & have done workshops for the last 8 years and feel fully comfortable leading crowds of any culture, background or discipline through exploratory & guided interaction through the senses, in biology & technology through a creative inquiry. Workshops may be part of the study and public engagement as well.
Describe the scope of the project & Collaborators
I will need collaborators for this project such as Scientists. I am also interested in collaborating with technologists who would produce and execute an outcome that represents my creative vision with a strong visual aesthetic.
From the technology & scientific institution support, I am interested in working with Monell chemical senses group, scientific imaging centers in Lausanne at EPFL & Scientific & biotechnology labs such as Crick Institute & Salk institute in order to build and create unique sensing methodologies & study living organisms.
What is your ideal venue for the project?
It depends on the outcome. If it takes a physical form, Exhibitions in Design, Science & Artistic spaces such as Galleries & Museums would make sense. If it takes the form of Film, Sundance/ Cannes and experimental film festivals. But I am open for the project to merge disciplines. What if the project incorporates choreography? I am open to venues that break disciplinary thinking. I would love an outcome of this project to be performative and tour internationally.
Please supply short bio for each artist/ Creative Technologies or Scientist named on this application
Yasaman Sheri is Designer, Artist & Researcher investigating human relationship to biology & technology and the creative inquiry into life sciences. Her artistic and critical practice explores the plurality of senses and sensing, perception and the invisible scales at which humans frame and reframe ecology through culture, society and technology. She is the founder and Principal Investigator of Serpentine Galleries Synthetic Ecologies Lab and also an educator and design leader with a decade of experience in building platforms and novel interfaces with computing & life sciences. Yasaman is passionate about sharing her expertise and continues to uplift women identifying communities of color and folks less represented.
Sample of past work
Biosensors & Paper Interface ➚
Interview ➚
