After Dr Mark Peter Wright recommended a few things at the end of the last visiting practitioner series I saw there was an exhibition on ASMR. I’ve always been curious about ASMR and I thought it would be a good exercise to enquire about things especially as it has installations present, something I want to do for my portfolio, so I got a ticket and went along.
They gave us a booklet with some information on ASMR and definitions which I felt was important.
ASMR seems to be this tingly feeling that gives us a sense of euphoria or a deeply calming sensation. Usually triggered by sound visual and touch.
We walked around the exhibition and went through every section taking time and going at a slow pace. I did find myself relaxed. The room had huge pillows everywhere and was white, everyone was whispering. It gave me a calming sense of peace. The first section had visuals of animations of 3D art. One of them gave me a warm feeling on my back and made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
It had a small clicking sound effect going on behind it. Even as I watch it now it makes my back feel weird and warm. I’m unsure why but it reminds me of other feelings I get sometimes.
Then we went into the next section which had two TVs and a projector all playing different episodes of Boss Ross. A famous painter who has a very calm presence and speaks very quietly while he paints on television. I have watched his show as well and when I saw it there I was excited to watch it. I sat and listened through headphones to one of his episodes being played for over 20 minutes and got completely lost in it. They also had his paintings on the episode behind the TV. I was totally captured by the attention of the TV. I think the audio helps a ton, you can really hear the texture of the paint and him scratching his paintbrush into the painting. As well as his voice being and feeling very close to the ear.
After this section, there was a set of TVs playing a short documentary on why ASMR is important to them and how they use it. Alongside this, there was an installation. A tongue dripping water into a big bowl of water. It confused me but the texture of the tongue with water really made me feel weird and uncomfortable.
So this last section was really interesting a wall and floor of pillows and numerous TVs with multiple accidental and intentional ASMR audiovisuals. I found myself really enjoying this one with the slow-mo videos being the most enjoyable. This entire thing had me thinking about more importantly my own practice and my sensitivities to ASMR. I thought I didn’t feel it but I do. I love the sounds of vinyl crackle, tape compression and wobble. I love the texture of certain sonic effects and I think I really want to capture this within my portfolio. How can I create something that has similar outcomes to ASMR by subtly including things that give me a warm feeling? Things like the sound of rain on a window, wind and cycling on gravel. I want to field record sounds that I can use within my portfolio work to include this enhanced feeling of relaxation perhaps.