"Latent Spaces" is the recent multi-sensory exhibition hosted at Illusionaries in Canary Wharf, London, by the multidisciplinary artist and director Markos Kay. Spread across four distinct rooms, each offering a one-of-a-kind experience, Kay's exhibition constructs a multi-sensory, immersive experience, inviting visitors to explore the intersection of art and science.
Upon entering, visitors are immediately immersed in a mind-altering experience as hanging beaded lights distort perceptions of space. The interplay of light and sound, accompanied by atmospheric music, guides visitors through a meditative corridor with changing colors that evoke different moods.
Markos Kay's innovative concept integrates screen-based media, moving image, painting, and print, reflecting his exploration of the computational paradigm in contemporary science and culture, and its impact on knowledge formation. Accompanied by the soothing compositions of Jessica Solomon Clark, the exhibition unfolds in a sequence of rooms, each with its own thematic focus.
In the first room, 'Formations Space,' visitors find themselves enclosed in a mirrored cube that isolates them from the outside world. Light, sound, reflection, and AI converge to showcase biological creations inspired by the inception of the first cells. This room provides a safe and open space for self-reflection, inviting visitors to move, sit, or lay down while experiencing the evolving patterns.
'Complexity Space,' the second room, presents 360° visuals of unprecedented lifeforms and environments. Breathtaking animations surround visitors, drawing them away from reality and encouraging close proximity to the screens for a mesmerizing experience. Kay challenges the audience to contemplate whether sentience is a suitable measure of value and explores how subjectivity may limit our understanding.
The third room, 'Agents Space,' transports visitors into the future as they encounter utopian beings with faces adorned with wires and microchips, heads immersed in lush greenery, and robotic bodies. The use of computer technology brings these faces to life, blinking and flickering akin to human eyes. The enormous faces displayed across three walls become a symbolic reminder of our potential ignorance about the future.
Concluding the journey is 'Breathing Spaces,' offering a spa-like experience that engages all the senses. Walking on black pebbles, visitors find themselves surrounded by large cushions resembling stone, creating an indoor oasis that immerses them in nature. The room, illuminated by a large screen displaying multidimensional creatures formed by AI, guides visitors through a meditative practice, slowing down their breathing. From alien-like bugs to fluffy, bunny-like pets, Markos Kay captivates his audience with a mesmerizing array of images, leaving them eager to discover what unfolds next.
“Latent Spaces” is now open at Illusionaries in Canary Wharf. Tickets are available at www.illusionaries.com.
