Bardo (itch) (INEXSISTENS)

2020 | 6dof | virtual reality experience

Tibetan Bar-do, or the in-between is an intermediate space, inter-space, and gap. We examine the inner space of the individual who dies (performs an act of self-liberation) and has not yet entered a new form of existence. In the making of this project we are relating to the book The Psychedelic Experience (by Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner, and Richard Alpert, first edition: University Books, New York 1964), in which the Bardo experience was analyzed in the context of the total loss of subjective identity.
We divided the virtual space into stages that cannot be explored autonomously – their visuals and purpose are based on a specific journey in a certain direction. According to The Tibetan Book of the Dead, they are Kyenay bardo, Milam bardo, Samten bardo, Chikhai bardo, Chönyi bardo, and Sidpa bardo. We identify the participant in their transmigration process with the supra-individual “mental body” (jid-kji lus), “mind” (sems) and “subtle consciousness” (rnam-shes p’ra-mo).

Immersive bardo experience is possible thanks to six degrees of freedom – 6DoF. The participant has the ability to move, explore and change position in terms of moving forward / backward, up / down, left / right in three perpendicular axes, combined with orientation changes by rotating around three perpendicular axes – bend (coronal axis), jump (transverse axis) and tilt (sagittal axis). To expand the unfettered impression of embodiment, the exhibition space has been mapped, and the participant can interact with the surrounding simulation. After the experience finishes, the participant becomes a Delog –“daa-log is the deceased, who ‘returned from dead’ to tell what he had seen and lived on the other side Delog is someone who has died and left the body, after some time to return and continue to live”. 

Operating system: Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11 64-bit

Supported headsets: HTC Vive, HTC Vive Pro, Oculus Quest via cable link, Valve Index

Room size requirements : minimum required is 2 by 2 meters. This experience is primarily for walking. The teleport function is only in case of lack of space. At its premiere show, it was site-specific with tracking space around 4 by 4 meters, and this is how it is experienced at its best.

The application uses built-in microphone input, please be sure to set this to headset microphone in Steam VR settings and check if your Windows Privacy Settings allow microphone capture from Desktop apps. Please, refer to this manual:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-camera-microphone-and-privacy-a83257bc-e990-d54a-d212-b5e41beba857

In Windows 10, enable Microphone access for this device using Allow desktop apps to access your microphone .

In Windows 11, enable Microphone access, using Let desktop apps access your microphone .

Shortcuts:

SPACE - start the experience

R - restart experience

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 - start from a specific level of the experience

C - re-center

ESC - exit the application