Carl Emil Carlsen: Intangible
Denmark/Latvia, 2023
Courtesy of the Artist
The VR experience Intangible by Danish artist Carl Emil Carlsen investigates the sensation of touching simulated natural phenomena. The multi-sensory work discusses the controversial idea of reconnecting with nature through simulation technologies.
While the human relationship with the natural world is in crisis, artificially created nature is on the rise, creating simulated stimuli to enhance wellbeing. Intangible playfully addresses this paradox, inviting visitors to explore a series of algorithmic natural phenomena with their hands. A soundscape by Latvian composer Anna Fišere enhances each of the sensory encounters.
Danish artist and designer Carl Emil Carlsen creates interactive audiovisual experiences that explore the potential of computation. His mixed-reality worlds investigate the unfamiliar sensation that arises when virtual realities become embodied experiences in physical space. Seeking inspiration from natural phenomena, Carlsen’s works create experiences in artificial nature. Often collaborating closely with composers and musicians, he explores new forms of interplay between sound and computational animation. His works have been presented at Ars Electronica, AT (2022) and Nikolaj Kunsthal, DK (2021), among others. His immersive experience Intangible received the CPH:DOX INTER:ACTIVE Award in 2024.
