Human-Nature

Environmentalist, Resilience, Being, Anthropocene  

Our VR project envisions a world where the line between humanity and technology has dissolved, giving rise to biomechanical creatures—embodiments of our ever-deepening integration with machines. We are not separate from what we create; our creations extend us, carrying both our intentions and consequences. One such consequence is deforestation. In this immersive experience, viewers are not mere spectators but active participants, confronted with the stark reality of environmental destruction. By dismantling the conventional divide between humans and machines, we highlight how both forces contribute to ecological devastation. Through vivid portrayals of ravaged forests and species on the brink of extinction, our project underscores the urgency of addressing overconsumption and unchecked resource exploitation. By intertwining narratives of human and machine agency, our VR experience catalyzes reflection and action, urging audiences to reconsider their role in shaping the planet’s future—before it is too late.

The story embarks on a path in a once-flourishing forest, bustling with the melodic sounds of its inhabiting creatures, gradually experiencing the effects of human advancement at the cost of nature and its resources. Moving farther into the forest's edge, the environment is now eerily quiet, with a grotesque log-cutter/splitter machine straight ahead. As the player approaches the machine, they hear grieving trees expressing their agony and grief for their forestry companions. The player then encounters a stump of a dead tree whose fleshy heart is exposed, so they pick up the heart and approach the grotesque machine with the motivation to stop the machine and make sure no more life is lost. The player then gets face to face with the machine and falls into its mouth into the belly of the beast. The belly of the machine now surrounds the player in its fleshy tones with a mechanical heart derived from human invention, and the player then switches it to the living heart of the tree. Then, the belly gets overgrown with nature and its luscious vines and trees.

Collaborated in 3D Modeling + terrain building+ sound editing + script writing

Collaborators: Adrienne Salkey - Carmen Roesso - Chris Hoang - Njood Albawardi - Layan Aljambi - Matthew LaBella

2024