What if the survival of humanity depended on leaving Earth and terraforming new planets? Terraforms explores what that process might look like, and questions how immersive art can open up collective reflection on these futures before they become reality.
Concept
Terraforms was my major MA (Immersive Arts) project at the University of Bristol. Built in close collaboration with Noah O'Sullivan, it unfolds over 18 minutes across distinct narrative stages: an abstracted vision of Earth in ecological and social collapse; an expansive, contemplative passage through deep space; touchdown on an unfamiliar planet; and a closing terraforming sequence ending on a note of hope.
The piece was built specifically for the Reality Emulator, a 17 metre panoramic screen with surround sound, designed for collective experience rather than for individual VR headsets. It was staged at an extreme 14208×2160 resolution, which meant building custom tools, including a bespoke GLSL tiling solution and a purpose-built TouchDesigner-based VJ system.
The Film
Three sequences from across the piece (sound on).
Clips below have been cropped from their original panoramic aspect ratio for clearer viewing online.
The mission leaves Earth, propelled by archival NASA launch audio.
First exploration of the new planet's surface.
Attempts to cultivate plant life on alien ground.
Process
A look behind the finished film; the custom TouchDesigner systems built to run it, and the piece being tested on-site at the Reality Emulator ahead of the final showing.
