COGITO in Space

Concept by interdisciplinary artist Daniela De Paulis (IT), realised in collaboration with Frank White, author; Sandro Bocci, film maker; Guillaume Dumas: neuroscientist, Institut Pasteur, Paris (FR); Robert Oostenveld : neuroscientist, Donders Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen (NL); Michael Sanders: radio operator C.A. Muller Radioastronomie Station (CAMRAS) (NL); and Stephen Whitmarsh: neuroscientist, École normale supérieure, Paris (FR).

Resonance and Rebellion 3

July 17 2020: 15:30-17:00
Mixed Media - Neural Space Signal
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On Monday November 5, 2018 the latest art project of Daniela De Paulis (artist in residence at the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope) ‘COGITO in Space’ was launched in the Van der Hulst auditorium of ASTRON and the Dwingeloo Radio Telescope. Image Copyright: Sandro Bocci.

COGITO in Space is an interdisciplinary art project which allows participants to send their brain activity into space, as a symbolic action for shifting awareness from an Earth-centered perspective to a cosmos-wide perspective. Developed with Frank White, author of The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, the collaborative project speculates on the creative and philosophical possibilities of exploring the cosmos with the mind.
As part of COGITO in Space, we established a brain lab inside the cabin of the Dwingeloo radio telescope in The Netherlands, for visitors to send their brain activity into outer space, while experiencing a video in virtual reality (VR). ‘The Overview Effect' inspired the design of our custom cinematic experience. Three neuroscientists prepared the visitor experience with a highly sensitive electroencephalogram (EEG) device and software developed for the project, which enables the neuroscientists to record the stream of consciousness as participants view the video in VR.
July 17 2020: 15:30-15:35
Stimulating the Overview Effect - Virtual Reality
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VIRTUAL REALITY by Daniela De Paulis & Sandro Bocci Duration: 04:26

The system first translates brain activity into sound and then transmits it in real-time across a large part of the sky, without a specific target, highlighting the Earth’s rotation and our place in the cosmos while the experience takes place. Before entering the cabin and transmitting their brain waves, planetary scientist guide visitors to explore the area surrounding the scientific facilities, experiencing the animal and botanical diversity of Dwingeldverveld National Park.

As cosmology progresses in further discovery of the universe, the role of the mind to interpret the picture of ‘reality’ remains largely unknown. The way our mind works might be fundamental to understanding the universe, the mirroring effect between mind and matter might be essential to comprehending our unique and possibly arbitrary – notion of the universe and our life within it.
Pose a question to this Artist
Daniela welcomes questions from the audience about her artistic practice, including the journey she went on to become a licensed radio operator (IU0IDY).
Learn more about the Artist


Session 3 of 3