![]() All of these elements nurture a sense of wonder and promote the well-being of those who enter. A continuously evolving structure, this 10-foot mirrored geodesic dome is equipped with colorful lights, pillows, plants, flowers and a water fountain. ![]() It is an exploration into the psychology of spaces and is inspired by three key concepts: synesthesia (unifying multiple senses), psychedelia (altering normal perception) and biophilia (harmony with nature). By forging this deeper connection of mind, body and environment, we may begin to develop a stronger sense of presence and - even if just for a moment - spark a change in how we relate to ourselves and the world around us.Īs a synthesis of architecture, interior design and living installation art, the Zen Den represents the evolution of an idea to make immersive art spaces a more visible and experiential part of our society. Engaging with these unusual spaces is a memorable event that allows us to inhabit our bodies and senses with more awareness than we typically have. When viewers “enter” an installation, they are transported into an unfamiliar and exciting environment where they become not only a consumer of art, but a vital participant in it. Here, the artist is not confined to a flat composition or singular object but instead uses space to create new environments for others to experience. Immersive art installations, in particular, can awaken a sense of wonder. How do you restore a sense of connection in a society that is increasingly disconnected from ourselves, each other and the natural world? I believe it begins with the feeling of wonder - and that art is a perfect channel for evoking such an experience. This is an incredibly heartbreaking reality. Although our designed spaces are efficient at providing comfort and control, they cause many of us to spend the majority of our lives in stagnant boxes staring at digital screens. Look closely and you will find that the spaces we spend our time in - from classrooms, to homes, to offices - often isolate us from meaningful connection to the outside world. What would happen if we started conspiring with nature instead of against it? This idea has become central to my work as an artist. As our cities and artificial environments continue to replace the natural world, the need for harmony is greater than ever. However, these travels also made me glaringly aware that we, as human beings, have been destroying nature. Coming face to face with powerful landscapes more magnificent than I could imagine gave me the humbling realization that nothing I create will ever reach nature’s level of mastery. Nothing has made that more clear to me than my semesters spent in the Himalayas and in Hawaii. There are principles of wholeness that all art seeks to embody (ever heard of Gestalt?), and I believe that the greatest artist is nature herself. But what I have found is that those people - and our society at large - have not yet learned what art truly is and what it is capable of doing.ĭuring my time as an undergraduate student, my first design course taught me how to see - how to look deeper into the world around me to find the subtleties, the details, the colors and most importantly the beauty inherent in all things. Inevitably, you meet others who will dismiss art as impractical, unnecessary and insignificant. Early in my studies, I realized the stigma that comes with walking the path of an art major. My name is Melanie Zebrowski, and I graduated in May 2018 with a visual arts degree and a minor in philosophy. The Zen Den has found a cozy home in a little corner of Roesch Library, and curiously, so have I. Instead, it continues to live on and even flourish in the University of Dayton community. ![]() Back then, I assumed it would end up like many of my other art projects: disassembled and collecting dust in a garage somewhere. This multisensory immersive art installation was a labor of love - months of research, planning, experimentation and time-consuming handiwork that took the majority of my senior year to complete. It has been over a year now since the Zen Den made its first appearance at Celebration of the Arts in the Schuster Center.
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