Outernet displays artwork raising awareness about anxiety

An immersive artwork that aims to raise awareness around anxiety has gone on display at Outernet London.

Monolith, by artist Jack Dartford, is a crowd-reactive AV installation that employs movement-tracking technology to deliver empathy by creating an environment where all who enter experience a representation of overstimulation common to those suffering from anxiety-induced panic attacks.

As the crowd grows and more people enter the building, the floor-to-ceiling 16K screens react in real time and Monolith begins to panic. Millions of digital particles on the screens make up a ‘monolith’ shape in the first instance, but as the crowd grows, the particles move in an increasingly frantic fashion. The colours of the piece rapidly change and the speed accelerates – simulating complete sensory overload.

The soundtrack, by audio designer Halina Rice, reflects the visual narrative,  moving from calming soundscapes to frenetic sound design underscored by pulsating basslines. In a first for Outernet, the soundtrack will make full use of their L-ISA spatial sound system by L-Acoustics, with each individual sound carving its own path across the space in real time.

The piece has been produced by immersive experience company Chaos Inc, in collaboration with Outernet’s official charity, ADOT, and suicide prevention organisation Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).

“Monolith represents and emulates our sometimes hidden vulnerability and a way, I hope, of bringing people together to understand more about how anxiety can feel,” said Dartford. “Monolith represents the mental state: as more people gather, the more anxious it becomes.”

CALM chief executive Simon Gunning said: “Monolith is a powerful visual expression of a very real condition that affects many of us every day. There are numerous factors that can contribute to feelings of anxiety – factors that are exacerbated by our modern lifestyles, 24/7 connectivity and rolling news cycles made worse in these uncertain times.”

Chaos Inc’s co-founder, Stacia Pfeiffer, said: “Monolith breaks down the barriers between artist, artwork and audience. In planning the installation, we have made full use of the technical capability of Outernet’s facilities, including a real-time, crowd-responsive particle system, making the audience a central figure in the generative nature of the piece.

“Halina Rice has created custom spatial audio for this installation that builds upon and reacts to the visual content, creating a fully responsive AV experience.”

Monolith can be viewed at Outernet’s flagship space, The Now Building, from 15-21 May.

• If you’re struggling with anxious thoughts and want to talk to someone, CALM’s helpline and livechat are open daily from 5pm to midnight. Alternatively, click here for CALM’s practical tips and advice.