Su Wenchi’s Sensing Dark Matter is a VR experience merging art and physics, inviting viewers to explore a speculative universe where dark matter and its gravitational effects become perceptible.
Submerge yourself in Sensing Dark Matter, an atmospheric virtual reality experience that merges art and science.
Sensing Dark Matter transports viewers into a speculative reality where advanced technology enables us to perceive dark matter. Using VR headsets and spatial audio, participants navigate the universe, experiencing cosmic forces.
To create Sensing Dark Matter, the celebrated Taiwanese artist Su Wenchi and her team of collaborators embarked on a residency at the Stawell Underground Physics Laboratory – one kilometer underground in regional Victoria – and collaborated with leading scientists at the University of Melbourne.
Sensing Dark Matter re-imagines the science behind our universe and gives participants the opportunity to have a close encounter with one of the most mysterious forces in the cosmos: dark matter. This remarkable VR journey offers us a unique vision of our connection to the hidden fabric of the universe.
Online bookings open soon.
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Su Wenchi is an accomplished multidisciplinary artist who skillfully melds choreography, dance, and new media arts.
In 2005, she founded YILAB in Taiwan, an experimental collective dedicated to integrating cutting-edge technology with performing arts. YILAB's philosophy emphasizes the equal importance of diverse mediums and encourages collaborative exploration of themes through individual artistic perspectives. As the driving force behind YILAB, Su Wenchi has established herself as a prominent figure in Taiwan's contemporary art scene, particularly in the field of technology-integrated performance. Her work consistently challenges the boundaries of dance and digital technology, offering fresh perspectives on performance in the digital age.
Su Wenchi's innovative approach has garnered recognition, including the Jury's Special Award at the 9th Taishin Arts Award and the Alternative Design Gold Award at the 2017 World Stage Design Award. YILAB's innovative performances and exhibitions have been featured at numerous international venues, from the Taiwan International Festival of Arts to France's IRCAM Forum and Belgium's Kunstenfestivaldesarts.
Their work has graced stages and galleries across Europe, Asia, and Australia, contributing to the global discourse on avant-garde artistry. Su Wenchi's career highlights include artist residencies at CERN, EMPAC, and the National Theater & Concert Hall in Taiwan. Her collaborations span diverse domains, exemplified by her exclusive presentation with LA PRAIRIE at Art Basel Miami Beach 2021. In 2022, Su WenchiI's foray into VR filmmaking gained recognition at the prestigious Festival International du Film d'Animation d'Annecy.
Most recently, her choreography STILL LIFE with 6 dancers of Cloud Gate Dance Theater in Spring Riot 2024 well received, and her VR film 'Fluid' was awarded the VR Gold Winner at the 2024 MUSE Creative Awards. Through her work with YILAB and individual projects, SU WENCHI continues to make significant contributions to the evolving landscape of technology-integrated performance art, both in Taiwan and on the international stage.
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Concept / Choreographer: SU Wen-chi
Dancer: TIEN Hsiao-tzu, TU Li-wei
VR Design / VR Program Integration: HSIEH Wen-yee
Sound Design / Spatial Sound: WU Ping-sheng
Scenography Design: CHANG Huei-ming
Cinematography: SU Wen-chi
Video post-production: HUANG Yung-en
Motion Capture: Dept. of Digital Multimedia Design, China University of Technology / Yung-Sheng Hsu, Chiao-Yun Chou, Qin-Hua Xie
Scientific Partner : Elisabetta Barberio, Diego Blas
Exhibition Technical Coordination: TENG Hsiang-ting
Rehearsal assistant: WANG Ning
Scenography Design Assistant: : CHEN Wen-chieh
Pre-production execution：LO Yin-ru
Executive Producer：YANG Shu-han
Production：YILAB
After a five-year hiatus, Asia TOPA returns to Melbourne in early 2025, with a lineup of futuristic performance art, live music, video art screenings and participatory installations.