Paper short abstract:

The installation documents speculative ritual performed in interaction of human and technology has developed from “binaural tunes” - sound loops that are claimed to induce desirable mental states. We concentrate on these elements of ritual, which can be interpreted as embodiement (Csordas).

Paper long abstract:

Following montage represents in miniature the installation presented at the exhibition "Liquid forms" at the Institute of Ethnology and Culture Anthropology, University of Warsaw and Gallery Nowogrodzka 18A. The exhibition compiled methodologies of contemporary art and ethnology.

Three parts of montage represent three sources of sound from the material installation.

The installation documents speculative fieldwork on the future digital church. It is record of one of its rites. The ritual performed in interaction of human and technology has developed from "binaural tunes" - digitally processed sound loops that are claimed to induce desirable mental states by their direct physical stimuli. It is presently used for meditation as theta or beta sounds, alternative medicine, rausch (Benjamin) as digital drug or scientific research and has illegal status in countries like Saudi Arabia and Oman.

We concentrate on these elements of ritual, which can be interpreted with the concept of embodiement (Csordas). However, it also relates to the question of engagement of digital technologies in process of co-defining imagination, identity and practice of everyday life as described by T. Boellstorf and S. Turtle.

The most appropiate way of presentation of work is installation itself, which is easy to set up and requires an empty room, two monitors and headphones.