From the roots of a majestic Amazonian tree to the cells inside our bodies and the galaxies above, everything is connected. London-based experimental art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast (MLF) will illuminate these hidden connections beyond our everyday perception, in a world premiere exhibition at ACMI this summer, from 23 November 2023 – 14 April 2024.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature features five major digital artworks on a grand, awe-inspiring scale. Incorporating guided meditation and transcendent, interactive experiences, visitors evolve from droplets of water to majestic and ancient trees, cells and black holes– gaining a deeper understanding of the natural world, and our place within it.
MLF have mesmerised audiences across the globe – from Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals to London’s V&A and Design Museum, to Lisbon Triennial, Istanbul Design Biennial and beyond – using immersive creative technology to deepen our understanding of, and connection to, the world around us.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature marks their first major exhibition in Australia and includes artworks executive produced by filmmaker Terrence Malick; and collaborations featuring narration by Cate Blanchett; poetry by Daisy Lafarge; and music by Johnny Greenwood, Jon Hopkins, Meredith Monk, Jóhann Jóhannsson and Howard Skempton.
“ACMI is thrilled to bring the work of Marshmallow Laser Feast to Australia for the first time. This exhibition reflects the power of large-scale moving image works and creative use of projection technologies to produce immersive experiences that demonstrate how our bodies and the natural world are so intrinsically connected. Works of Nature is an unforgettable experience that can inspire us to work towards a better future.”
ACMI Director and CEO Seb Chan
Marshmallow Laser Feast Partner and Director Ersin Han Ersin said: We are honoured to collaborate with ACMI’s curatorial team, to create this unique new presentation of our major artworks. Our artistic practice is a constant journey of discovery into the world beyond the limits of human senses. Our passion for ecology, astronomy, and technology has driven us to collect tree data in the Amazon, explore the sound of black holes, and scan the entirety of the human body in microscopic detail, then transforming these explorations into transcendent, immersive experiences. We are excited to share our work with ACMI’s audiences and to engage in a conversation about the beauty of the natural world and the wonders of the universe.”
The five works that collectively make Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature include:
Sanctuary of the Unseen Forest – This 5-metre-high video installation of an Amazonian kapok tree embraces audiences as they enter the gallery. The work draws attention to the immensity of our natural world and puts the human body into perspective.
Evolver – From the exhale of a tree to the first intake of human breath, Evolver takes visitors on a voyage through the body, following the flow of oxygen to its origin as a single living cell. Originally devised as a VR experience, the work has been reimagined for ACMI’s Gallery 4. It includes a meditation space with narration from Cate Blanchett, a visual journey of the breath, and a hypnotic sequence that connects the birth of a cell with the cosmos.
Distortions in Spacetime – After emerging from a meditative state in Evolver, visitors journey through space to the edge of a black hole. This interactive voyage between time, space and human experience harnesses the energy of the universe and explores the link between black holes, dying stars and the human body.
The Tides Within Us – Six large scale images reveal the rhythms of oxygen flowing through the branching ecosystem of the human body. The work challenges the boundaries between humans and the environment, and where the body begins and ends.
We Live in an Ocean of Air – The final work of the exhibition brings visitors back to earth and continues the journey of a single breath. Revealing the invisible connection between plants and people, We Live in an Ocean of Air delves into the wondrous rhythm that underpins life on earth.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is a transformative exhibition that will spark renewed wonder in nature, science, space, and the simple act of breathing. An education program, including student visits that are linked with curriculum and interactive school holiday sessions, will make this a compelling exhibition for visitors of all ages to discover.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature will show in ACMI’s Gallery 4 from 23 November 2023 – 14 April 2023. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on 9 November, with early access for ACMI Members and school groups. For further details visit acmi.net.au.
Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature is proudly supported by our generous partners; Major Technology Partner Panasonic and Supporting Partner the British Council.