Worldbuilding and the Nature of Reality

Keiken will delve into themes of interconnectedness, perception, and immersion. Drawing from their expansive worldbuilding practice, Keiken will explore how relationships, energy, and sensory experience shape reality—both in digital and physical space. With a keen focus on exploring how we translate emotional and tactile perception into a virtual realm, Worldbuilding and the Nature of Reality will seek to deepen their research & development of an intimate, sensory-driven gaming experience.

The work is a key component of their larger project and world in development Morphogenic Angels Chapter 2 – the upcoming second installment of their game, informed by their connections with marginalised communities in Japan. Through their ongoing interest in sensory and perceptual understanding, Keiken will aim to create a gaming experience inspired by a key collaborator and deaf-blind queer artist, Sakura Sky. This current inquiry seeks to bridge sensory and communication gaps with Sakura Sky whilst also fostering empathy, understanding, and direct interaction for players through innovative technology.

What’s on as part of Worldbuilding and the Nature of Reality

Join us for a free play-through of Morphogenic Angels Chapter 1 with Keieken on 26 April, 11-3pm. Find out more.

Join us on Wednesday 7th May to hear Tanya Cruz and Hana Omari from Keiken discuss their working practise and developments during their time at SODA on 7 May 6-8pm. Find out more.

About Commons

Commons is a unique programme fostering innovative approaches to digital practice, inviting digital practitioners to draw upon new opportunities for collaborating, making and resourcing. Selected practitioners have been invited to showcase recent works whilst developing new and ambitious works, nurtured by a community of artists, researchers, and technologists. Find out more. 

Commons is a collaboration between Abandon Normal Devices (AND) and the School of Digital Arts (SODA). AND is supported with public funding from Arts Council England.

Image credit: Niclas Warius