"Symbiosis is a performative, multiuser and multisensory VR installation in which the human body will be redesigned. It allows every participant to embody a post-human or even nonhuman reality: a completely symbiotic human-animal or human-technologic relationship. Dutch experience design collective POLYMORF investigates in a speculative way how a more symbiotic exchange of genetic, cultural and technological traits between people and other present or future living entities can increase or change the agency of all. How will such affect future coexistence, legal rights and relationships between humans and all other living entities on a physical, emotional and spiritual level?"
- Polymorf
The installation consists of a performative space that offers a multi-user VR experience. Each experience is describing a specific symbiotic human-animal or human-technologic relationship. By choosing one of the stories, the visitor selects a character and role in the overall story world. Participants play a different symbiotic role in each other’s individual lives and all characters come together at the end of the experience to join in a shared food ritual.
The Symbiosis VR world is set up as an open game world with a collectively shared story world and several unique storylines and perceptual experiences. The multi-user VR setup consists of up to 6 connected computers with HTC PRO EYE VR-headsets attached (eye tracking enabled). Facilitating a 15-minute experience for a group of up to 6 persons simultaneously.
My role as a (Technical) Animator and Environment artist was, to create a living, bustling with life environment.
Through Particle systems, modelling, animations and environment overhauls.
Creatures of different shapes and sizes, bipedal or more.
I was responsible for the animation and rigging of most characters.
I was responsible for the animation and rigging of most characters.
Some were easy and some were challenging, from 30 to 300 bones depending on the creature.
Animated creatures i worked on in the experience are:
Colorado River Toad (Player and NPC)
Camilla (Player nad NPC)
Multibody Sea Creature (3 Players and NPC)
Sisters of symbiosis (NPC)
Mothmen (NPC)
Bloating Beetles (Creature)
Crawling Fungi (Creature)
Symbiotic Desert Walker (Creature)
Whales (Creature)
Impressions of Animation
2022 trailer
Credits
SYMBIOSIS
Is designed and produced by Polymorf in collaboration with Studio Biarritz.
Is designed and produced by Polymorf in collaboration with Studio Biarritz.
Concept, scenario and art direction: Marcel van Brakel
Directed by: Marcel van Brakel and Mark Meeuwenoord
Coding pneumatics engineering and sound design: Mark Meeuwenoord
Directed by: Marcel van Brakel and Mark Meeuwenoord
Coding pneumatics engineering and sound design: Mark Meeuwenoord
Interaction: coding and hardware integration: Luciano Pinna, Frank Bosma en Wijnand van Tol
3D Lead designer: Roberto Digiglio
Wearables: Maurice Spapens
Food design: Karpendonkse Hoeve
3D Lead designer: Roberto Digiglio
Wearables: Maurice Spapens
Food design: Karpendonkse Hoeve
Producer: Corine Meijers
Sales and partnerships: Marieke Nooren
Sales and partnerships: Marieke Nooren
3D modeling and animation: Martijn Zandvliet, Edwin Kuipers, Hauke Boer and Tim van Nielen
Soft robotics: Marcel van Brakel, Pom Smit, Ruben Maas
Hardware: Scott van Haastrecht
Soft robotics: Marcel van Brakel, Pom Smit, Ruben Maas
Hardware: Scott van Haastrecht
Additional design team:, Nienke Markus, Mel Reaven, Gal Kinan, Wouter van Meegdenburg, Elja Rutters, Richelle Smits, Paul Staring, Bram Ockeloen, Lucas Groothuis, Indy van Casteren.
Voice artist onboarding: Louise Porter
Voice artist Colorado river toad: Molly O'Blivion
voice artist slime mold: Holly Habstritt Gaal
voice artist Camila: Anahita Mekanik
voice artist Multibody, the mother: Janet Peters
Voice artist Multibody, the daughter: Maya Hawke
Voice artist Multibody, the lover: Querida Lu Ahn Funck
voice artist Multibody, the anglerfish: Brian Dives
Voice artist Colorado river toad: Molly O'Blivion
voice artist slime mold: Holly Habstritt Gaal
voice artist Camila: Anahita Mekanik
voice artist Multibody, the mother: Janet Peters
Voice artist Multibody, the daughter: Maya Hawke
Voice artist Multibody, the lover: Querida Lu Ahn Funck
voice artist Multibody, the anglerfish: Brian Dives
Publication:Rob van Hoesel (TEC Books) and Joost Broeren
Digital strategy: Nienke Huitenga
Commissioned by:
STRP and Breda Photo
STRP and Breda Photo
Partners:
IDFA Doclab & MIT Media Lab
Financially supported by:
Film Fund NL and Creative Industries Fund NL
Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK)
IDFA Doclab & MIT Media Lab
Financially supported by:
Film Fund NL and Creative Industries Fund NL
Amsterdam Fund for the Arts (AFK)
Presented at:
The Sundance Institute New Frontier Story Lab '20
The Venice Gap-Financing Market '21 (Venice)
IDFA DocLab '21 (NL)
Holland Festival '22 (NL)
Dutch Film Festival (NFF) '22 (NL)
PAM CUT '23 (Oregon)
SXSW '23 (Texas)
RIO INNOVATION WEEK '23 (Rio)
SPACE CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY '23 (Daejeon)
Artist talk: 200 years later @Waag '23 (NL)
Amsterdam Museum Night @Waag '23 (NL)
Special thanks to: Ingrid van Eeghem, Jaap Krabbendam, Wander Eikelboom, Theo Andriessen, Ton van Gool, Gieske Bienert and Synchron. MU Hybrid Art House, EYE and (Im)possible Bodies, Donna Haraway and Duke University press for allowing the use of ideas from " The Camille Stories: Children of Compost," in Staying with the Trouble, written by Donna Haraway. Copyright, 2016, Duke University Press
