Reality Uncovered

Close your eyes and think about the space around you. Does it all feel stable, and solid, and still? The first warning of an attack is a strange lapse in reality. Artist Ben Joseph Andrews lives with a condition called vestibular migraine, which impacts his sense of orientation, balance, and spatial awareness. During bad flare-ups, it can also alter his experience of reality—a neurological phenomenon called “jamais vu”. In this mixed reality (MR) experience, you see your body as an avatar— one that moves when you do, yet feels mysteriously disconnected. Seated at a desk, you are guided to complete everyday tasks normally performed unconsciously. The more time passes, the more your perception becomes elastic and unreliable. And while you know that beyond the screen is a world that is stable and solid...you must first confront the unsettling reality that the familiar can easily become something different.