Seeing is Believing is an experimental art and science collaborative project that conveys a type of chronic pain called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Through a one-on-one interaction between the artist and a participant, the interactive performance installation conveys a metaphorical experience of chronic pain by manipulating each participant’s multisensory experience using the latest technologies.

The project is based on neuroscience research showing that pain is integrated with the person’s environment. It can be influenced by many factors, including vision, touch, hearing, expectations and/or previous experiences.

Seeing is Believing is an exercise to demonstrate, contrary to the common belief that pain reflects only the amount of tissue damage, that the brain can still produce perceptions of pain even in the absence of physical injury. It is also an artistic way of externalising an inherently internal experience, so that the audience can experience something of what it is like to have CRPS. Please note that this artwork is designed not to give pain to you, however it may or may not involve various types of discomfort depending on your response.

The experience

My interactive performance installation will take you on a one-on-one journey through three stages. Meant to be immersive and somewhat provocative, aspects of this installation may be confronting. Please consider what each stage involves so that I can appropriately tailor the level of the experience to you.

My performance throughout will be friendly and empathetic to make sure that the experience is positive. There will be gentle touch on your hands and head from me. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of the exhibit for you, and would like more details of what is involved and how it might affect you personally, then please check the list of health conditions provided [in the Disclosure when you Checkout]. The performance can be stopped at a moment’s notice, so if at any time you feel uncomfortable and do not wish to continue simply give the word and it will stop.

Stage 1:

A fun Mediated Reality experience using a machine called the MIRAGE to distort your hands on the screen in a manner that is incongruent to what the actual hands are doing.

Stage 2:

I take you into a purpose-built anechoic chamber. After a short sensitivity test using a simple TENS machine, I will help you to put on a purpose-built glove and a pair of Virtual Reality (VR) goggles. With a remote control I will then produce individually tailored artistically interpreted CRPS symptoms and visual effects, felt and seen through the glove and VR. In addition, the acoustics of the room will symbolically simulate the altered sensory-cognitive responses of people living with chronic pain.

Stage 3:

I will guide you through a simple grounding exercise, discussing your response to each stage of the exhibit, and sharing the concept behind the artwork.

Why is this important?

Pain is invisible, yet it is a very real experience for the people living with it. Pain is difficult to communicate using simple words, and we often have to draw on metaphors to try and describe it, but even those fall short as pain is a complex, individual, subjective, and sensory cognitive experience. This experiemce is highly affected by the physical-psychological-social environment of the individual. People in long-term pain often live in silent isolation, as often there aren’t enough adequate validation modes available for people with chronic pain.

The purpose of this project is to raise the awareness and understanding of chronic pain in a diverse group of audiences through an immersive whole body experience.

Participation

You will be asked to provide some information as part of the booking process and experience. These questions are for my future art research and the collaborating scientists’ data collection purpose only. Under no circumstances your information will be shared with any other parties.

The project may not be suitable for people with psychiatric disorders as the experience involves immersive moving images and sensory cognitive manipulations within an enclosed space.

Please read the disclosure for details of medical conditions that may prohibit participation or require modifications to the experience.

FAQs

How long is the performance participation?

Approximately 35 minutes.

Are there an age limit to enter the event?

Yes. The project is not suitable for children under the age of 5. Children between the ages of 5-12 may be able to participate in Stage 1 and Stage 3 only.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Bus: If you are coming from the city, take M40 towards Bondi Junction, get off at the Oxford st near West st stop and walk for 3 minutes.

Car park: There are a few free street parkings available on Greens Road.

Bike: There are a few bikestands in front of the gallery.

Where can I contact the organiser with any questions?

You can contact the artist, Eugenie Lee, if you have any questions via email:

eugenie@eugenielee.com

Although the artist will do her best to respond as quickly as possible, the response may take up to several days due to her performance schedule. If it is urgent, please call her on 0404 616 294.

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

No.

Is this event wheelchair accessible?

Yes. This work is wheelchair-friendly, however in Stage 1 with the Mirage machine this will depend upon their ability to sit upright/lean forward and also the height of their chair arms.