Dreamachine is sound and light installations inspired by artist–inventor Brion Gysin in 1959.

His experimental homemade device used flickering light to create vivid illusions, kaleidoscopic patterns and explosions of colour in the mind of the viewer

The new Dreamachine is created by artists Collective Act, in collaboration with Turner Prize-winning artists Assemble, Grammy and and Mercury nominated composer Jon Hopkins, and a team of leading technologists, scientists, lighting designers and philosophers.The programme invites you on a magical journey to explore the extraordinary potential of your mind.

The team needed to offer two experiences, one experience with eyes shut which involved intensive  strobe lighting and a second experience which was eyes open which offered a synchronised lightscape choreographed with the composed soundscape. This option was designed by Studio ZNA and offered a fully accessible experience for those viewers who could not or did not want to be under the intense visual experience induced by strobe lighting. This was a gentler experience.

We needed to understand the visual parameters to work within for the audience members who may have conditions that would be triggered by visual imagery. We still wanted to create a fully sychronised light and sound experience. We had workshops with DBA access consultants to better understand the issues of the audience and our aim was to induce a feeling of safety, wellbeing, relaxation and promote positive feelings. We designed a circular light orb that filled the ceiling of the dream machine enclosure. We worked with the technologists who were measuring brain activity in response to the strobing effects and sonic treatment and analysed patterns  from the data where there were periods of stimulation and rest. We followed this patterning with the colour tone and intensity of the illuminated circular orb we designed for the space. This was a large bespoke installation.

The experience was to play at festivals around the UK and thus had to be demountable and re assembled. We needed to design two sizes to fit with the differing hosting venue sizes.