From the roots of a majestic Amazonian tree to the cells inside our bodies and the galaxies above, everything is connected. London-based experimental art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) will illuminate these hidden connections beyond our everyday perception, in a world premiere exhibition at ACMI this summer from 23 November 2023.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature features five major digital artworks on a grand, awe-inspiring scale. Incorporating guided meditation and transcendent, interactive experiences, visitors evolve from droplets of water to majestic and ancient trees, cells and black holes – gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world, and our place within it.
MLF have mesmerised audiences across the globe – from Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals to London’s V&A and Design Museum, to Lisbon Triennial, Istanbul Design Biennial and beyond – using immersive creative technology to deepen our understanding of, and connection to, the world around us.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature marks their first major exhibition in Australia and includes artworks executive produced by filmmaker Terrence Malick; and collaborations featuring narration by Cate Blanchett; poetry by Daisy Lafarge; and music by Jonny Greenwood, Jon Hopkins, Meredith Monk, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Howard Skempton.
“ACMI is thrilled to bring the work of Marshmallow Laser Feast to Australia for the first time. This exhibition reflects the power of large-scale moving image works and creative use of projection technologies to produce immersive experiences that demonstrate how our bodies and the natural world are so intrinsically connected. Works of Nature is an unforgettable experience that can inspire us to work towards a better future,” said ACMI Director and CEO, Seb Chan.
“We are honoured to collaborate with ACMI’s curatorial team, to create this unique new presentation of our major artworks. Our artistic practice is a constant journey of discovery into the world beyond the limits of human senses,” said Marshmallow Laser Feast Partner and Director, Ersin Han Ersin.
“Our passion for ecology, astronomy, and technology has driven us to collect tree data in the Amazon, explore the sound of black holes, and scan the entirety of the human body in microscopic detail, then transforming these explorations into transcendent, immersive experiences.”
“We are excited to share our work with ACMI’s audiences and to engage in a conversation about the beauty of the natural world and the wonders of the universe,” said Ersin.
“As one of the world’s busiest and best screen culture museums, ACMI continues to present a unique program of exhibitions that celebrate the creative power of the screen and cutting-edge technologies,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Steve Dimopoulos.
“In partnering with Marshmallow Laser Feast to premiere their latest exhibition here in Melbourne, ACMI will offer us a world-leading immersive experience of nature this summer.”
The five works that collectively make Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature include:
Sanctuary of the Unseen Forest: This large-scale video installation of an Amazonian kapok tree embraces audiences as they enter the gallery, the work draws attention to the immensity of our natural world and puts the human body into perspective.
Evolver: From the exhale of a tree to the first intake of human breath, Evolver takes visitors on a voyage through the body, following the flow of oxygen to its origin as a single living cell. Originally devised as a VR experience, the work has been reimagined for ACMI’s Gallery 4. It includes a meditation space with narration from Cate Blanchett, a visual journey of the breath, and a hypnotic sequence that connects the birth of a cell with the cosmos.
Distortions in Spacetime: After emerging from a meditative state in Evolver, visitors journey through space to the edge of a black hole. This interactive voyage between time, space and human experience harnesses the energy of the universe and explores the link between black holes, dying stars and the human body.
The Tides Within Us: Six large scale static images reveal the rhythms of oxygen flowing through the branching ecosystem of the human body. The work challenges the boundaries between humans and the environment, and where the body begins and ends.
We Live in an Ocean of Air: The final work of the exhibition brings visitors back to earth and continues the journey of a single breath. Revealing the invisible connection between plants and people, We Live in an Ocean of Air delves into the wondrous rhythm that underpins life on earth.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is a transformative exhibition that will spark renewed wonder in nature, science, space, and the simple act of breathing. An education program, including student visits that are linked with curriculum and interactive school holiday sessions, will make this a compelling exhibition for visitors of all ages to discover.
Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) are a London-based art collective led by artists and directors Robin McNicholas, Ersin Han Ersin and Barnaby Steel who work at the intersection of science, art and technology – employing a wealth of creative disciplines, from installation to kinetic sculpture, film to live performance.
MLF’s work invites participants into a sensory journey that reinterprets the idea of human perception and experiences beyond our everyday perception. MLF’s approach is one of collaboration with artists, engineers and scientists, building bespoke software and hardware systems to realise their visions.
MLF has designed and directed for the likes the critically acclaimed Saatchi Gallery debut; We Live in an Ocean of Air, and In The Eyes of the Animal, which won the Wired Innovation Award for Experience Design. MLF’s work Evolver received the Storyscapes Special Jury Mention at Tribeca Film Festival and Treehugger, Wawona received Best VR Film at VR Arles Festival.
MLF’s work has been exhibited in the UK and internationally, including at the Saatchi Gallery, NXT Museum, Lisbon Triennial, Istanbul Design Biennial, the Sundance Film Festival, and the V&A and Design Museum, London.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature will show in ACMI’s Gallery 4 from 23 November 2023 – 14 April 2024. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on 9 November, with early access for ACMI Members and school groups. For more information, visit: www.acmi.net.au for details.
Image: Marshmallow Laser Feast, Distortions in Spacetime, 2018 – courtesy of the artists