RADIANT SOMA

Radiant Soma is an interdisciplinary collaboration between Jayson Haebich, Eugenia Kim, and Alvaro Cassinelli that uses lasers, motion capture data, and phospherescence to create an ethereal and contemplative experience. Inspired by Korean shamanism and Western Stone Tape Theory, Radiant Soma presents an alternative reality where phosphorescent “rocks” act as shamans by absorbing the laser light “energy” and transforming them into different configurations.

The project began as a philosophical conjecture on how a machine might visualise its own body based on its understanding of human somatic movement practises. Lasers were considered to be the most appropriate method for translating from digital data into the physical realm as it is simultaneously tangible and malleable. For this work, we used the motion capture data of Eugenia’s choreographic work Oncheon. The mocap data held special significance for two reasons. First, it combined the structure of salpuri, a traditional Korean shamanic dance to expel spirits, with contemporary dance and somatic movement. Second, Oncheon was performed and recorded despite triggering severe chronic pain and fatigue. It is unlikely that it can ever be performed again by the original choreographer/performer.

Since its initial completion in December 2021, Radiant Soma has been featured in a lecture performance as part of the SerendiCity media arts festival (Hong Kong) and in A Constantly Recurring Night as part of the Kaleidoscope V residency performance under Sigma Contemporary Dance (Singapore). It has also been presented at the 2022 SIGGRAPH Art Gallery and the MOCO 2022 conference.

Special thanks to the School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong, Swinburne University Centre for Media Technologies, and MetaObjects (HK) for their support and services.