Synctuary
The interactive meditation campfire where calmness becomes contagious
Synctuary is a digital meditation campfire, inviting us to reimagine the mirroring power of technology as one that can bring us back into sync. It is an interactive art and science installation that transforms meditation from a solitary act into a collective experience. Using brainwave data and motion sensors, it visualizes calmness as it spreads through a group, turning inner stillness into a shared rhythm through evolving soundscapes and light. By merging neuroscience with ancient traditions of gathering around fire, Synctuary reimagines technology as a vessel for connection, where calm becomes contagious.
CREDITS
Artistic Lead
Thijs Biersteker
Scientific Collaboration
Fredrika Klarén (Polestar)
Studio Director
Sophie de Krom
Technical Lead
THE EXPERIENCE
Synctuary invites you into a moment of shared stillness, a space where the boundaries between self and others begin to dissolve.
As you enter the space and gather around the digital campfire, light and sound begin to move gently in response to the group. The atmosphere invites you to slow down, to breathe, to listen, and to feel the quiet presence of others around you. Gradually, the room shifts as attention aligns. Movements soften, breathing steadies, and calmness begins to flow between participants. The installation mirrors this subtle connection, translating it into patterns of light and sound that evolve as the group relaxes together. Here, technology doesn’t distract, it listens. It mirrors your presence, amplifying what happens when awareness meets connection. In Synctuary, innovation becomes a feeling, and calmness becomes contagious.
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Soundscape
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Material development
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Engineering
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| DATA INPUT | MATERIALISATION |
|---|---|
| Brainwave activity (including theta and beta frequencies) | Translated into shifting soundscapes that reflect focus, calm, and collective awareness. |
| Micro-movements and posture | Influence the rhythm and flow of light within the campfire structure. |
| Eye closure and moments of stillness | Gradually soften sound textures and stabilize the light, visualizing deep calm. |
| Group synchrony data | Combines individual signals into a shared visual and auditory state. |
DATA AND MATERIALISATION
Using real-time physiological inputs, the installation translates human presence into light and sound.
EEG headbands measure brainwave activity, capturing shifts between focus, calm, and awareness, while embedded sensors register movement, posture, and moments of stillness. This data becomes the language of the work, directing the rhythm of sound and the color of light. As the group synchronizes, these signals merge, transforming individual states into a collective expression of calm.
| EXHIBITIONS |
| LLUM Barcelona (SP), 2023 |
| Gent Design Week (BE), 2022 |
| Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam (NL), 2021 |
SCIENTIFIC INSPIRATION
Synctuary is inspired by the science of neural synchrony, the phenomenon where human brains, hearts, and breathing patterns align through connection and attention
With special thanks to
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Credits images
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| IMPACT | |
| XX | Online impressions |
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