Are you seeking otherworldly escapism that involves taking part in a psychedelic experiment? Now you can, but there’s just one catch: it’s completely drug-free. Dreamachine, a collaboration between some of the world’s leading neurologists, designers, architects and artists, is a totally immersive audio-visual experience to help you explore the potential world of your inner mind.
Dreamachine invites you to enter a womb-like space to lie back, close your eyes and focus on your breath. After 10 minutes of meditative breathing exercises, your very own spectacle begins; 360-degree surround sound envelops the space, and from the interior landscapes of your eyelids a new realm appears – one that is completely unique to you. Sonic vibrations slip you further into this psychedelic dream but, if you open one eye out of curiosity, all that is revealed is a white fluttering light.
Afterwards, some participants draw their transcendent visions on paper as colourful swirls or geometric patterns. Others recount lucid illusions of memories. For some, animated by the sound imagined by composer Jon Hopkins, a kaleidoscope of mood-altering colours morph into crystalline patterns. The myriad of reflections prove that the unique experiences depend on everyone’s individual neurological perceptions. If you want to go on a trippy, mind-expanding adventure – without the need for substances – then this is the experience for you.
The original Dreamachine was developed by avant-garde artist Brion Gysin, a friend and collaborator of the Beat Generation author William Boroughs. In 1958, he created a kinetic tabletop device constructed of a turntable, lightbulb and cylinder, with repeated shapes cut out to let the light through. A radical piece of artwork that can only be experienced with your eyes wide shut.
Reflecting upon the diversity within our inner worlds, the spectacle unlocks a great chasm of enquiry and begs many questions about the reality of consciousness. Can we really believe everything we see? Go and see for yourself.
Poppy Roy is Picture Director for Service95, previously at British Vogue, and is a model and writer
