Data in Sync: Invitation to connect, UK, Autumn 2024
In Between: The Others, 2024
In Between: The Others is an exploration of the interconnectedness between humans and non-humans - plants, insects, fungi, spirits - in a rapidly changing environment. Through this project, we seek to uncover alternative ways of coexisting with these ‘others,’ embracing the unseen forces that shape our world.
“ I heard the steps while lying on the futon, and something licked my cheek... Thinking about it now, it warned me something about the house... The house was the weird place."
(Yumi Nitta, interviewed in 2024)
Data in Sync, Switzerland, Summer 2024
Throughout history, certain cultures have nurtured their relationship with nature through animistic belief systems, perceiving spirits and life forces inhabiting the in-between spaces of matter. In traditions like Shintoism, this worldview allows humans to engage in rituals that communicate with nature, fostering a sense of unity with the spiritual world. As Komatsu (2012) notes, animism serves as a framework for recognising and respecting the unseen forces that permeate existence.
"Shinto gods are much closer to us, as Shinto is polytheism. As we say, there are 8 million gods, which exist in many places. There is a god in toilet, and another god in the entrance, and so on. ... The idea is to coexist, worship each other, and worship nature."
(Shinto priest, interviewed in 2024)
Animistic customs have long enriched Japanese culture with mythical beings—spirits, ghosts, and Yokai—that emerge to explain the mysteries of nature. These entities help people navigate inexplicable phenomena, allowing them to confront the unknown and move forward.
In contrast, modern science has progressively demystified much of this strangeness, offering rational explanations for what was once attributed to the supernatural. Yet, despite our scientific advances, many of us still yearn for encounters with the otherworldly, driven by the vast capacities of our brains to imagine, project, and interpret. Some psychologists suggest this fascination with ghostly experiences stems from our evolved ability to understand human behavior, a skill crucial to navigating social interactions. This mechanism sometimes goes into overdrive, leading us to perceive human-like behavior even in the most meaningless stimuli.
In Pursuit for Harmony, UK, Autumn 2024
This project delves into the potential benefits and opportunities that may arise from embracing our connection with non-human entities. Can we, by recreating the 'in-between' spaces, harness the unknown within the shifting environment?
As part of this inquiry, a wearable & stand-alone sensor system has been developed to capture and translate environmental and biometric data into dynamic colour codes, acting as a bridge between the body and its surroundings. As we navigate through space, the device seeks moments when internal rhythms synchronise with external conditions, enhancing our sensory awareness. When the body’s LED lights emit a blue glow, it signals a rare convergence - a state of alignment between human and environmental data, allowing us to experience a profound connection with the ‘otherness’ that surrounds us. In this fleeting harmony, a trace of our silent communication with the world is left behind, a subtle imprint of our interconnected existence.
Data in Harmony: Syncing with the Environment to Communicate, UK, Autumn 2024
Resources:
K. Komatsu, (2020, first published 2012) Yokai Bunka Nyumon, Kadokawa
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Acknowledgement
In-Between: The Others by Burton Nitta (Michael Burton and Michiko Nitta)