Directed by: Jan Michelini Produced by: Ambika Hinduja Jan Michelini
The Sublime Nature of Being’ is an immersive, multi-sensory group exhibition of innovative works by contemporary artists that explore the universal human experience of awe and reverence inspired by nature, and its ability to conjure an emotional understanding that transcends rational thought, words and language.
Curated and produced by Ambika Hinduja Macker, artist, founder and creative director of art and design firm Impeccable Imagination, in collaboration with ICD Brookfield Place, 'The Sublime Nature of Being' invites the viewer to participate emotionally, imaginatively and sensorially while exploring our relationship to the surrounding environment. From the ethereal and divine to the ephemeral and personal, the exhibition is an Alchemic Sonic Environment that features a variety of sculptures, modular components and spacial sound to stir hope and deep reflection.
What is the sensation we experience while interacting with nature when words fail or we find ourselves awed beyond reason? How does an artist convey the indescribable and translate the metaphysical to material? ‘The Sublime Nature of Being’ explores the humbling, purity of the natural cosmos and our relationship to it by creating imagined, transportive worlds, conjured through the magic of creativity.
For centuries, scholars have debated the term ‘Sublime’ in relation to works of art, and artists have sought to evoke or respond to it. But what is ‘The Sublime’? The sublime is a philosophical approach and state of mind often defined as having the quality of such greatness, whether spiritual, physical, aesthetic or moral, that our ability to perceive or comprehend it is temporarily overwhelmed by a sense of the wonder and impermanence of the universe.
‘The Sublime Nature of Being’ explores aspects of this philosophy and the modern interpretation of the Japanese term ‘Ukiyo’ meaning ‘living in the moment, detached from the bothers of life,’ and examines the belief that contemplation of these themes leads to the subsequent feelings of admiration and responsibility. This allows for the intertwining of aesthetics and ethics, two key elements that are relevant to society today, especially in light of change and apprehension as we consider the future of humanity.
Creating an immersive and multisensory experience that includes three-dimensional installations, sound and scent, a play on time and space, contrasts of light and shadow, elemental materials and fluid forms, ‘The Sublime Nature of Being’ invites the audience on a unique journey with a contemplative dimension – a search for a higher truth. By stepping into the space, one is transported into a utopian sanctuary of tranquility and beauty, providing a temporary reprieve and poetic antidote to the external chaos of the present day.
Jacob Hashimoto Fred Eerdekens Nadim Karam Janaina Mello Rowan Mersh Mathieu Lehanneur Hadieh Shafie Michelle Mckinney Xavier Lust Ambika Hinduja
Most of the artists’ works have been featured in The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, LACMA - Los Angeles County Museum of Art in California, MOCA - Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, MACRO - Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome, showcased in solo shows around the globe, and won multiple, prestigious awards.
ALCHEMIC SONIC ENVIRONMENT Satya Hinduja is a composer, sound artist and producer working with a range of musical instruments, voice, field recordings and alternate tunings for spatial sound environments. Satya’s artistic practice embodies the synthesis of multiple trajectories: scoring for films and mixed-media installations and production, remixing and DJing (as Sound Underground). It was during this journey she discovered the interconnectivity between Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Kinesiology, Quantum Theory and Vedic philosophy. This path has evolved into her current project as founder of Alchemic Sonic Environment [ASE], a multisensory deep listening experience designed to invoke states of reflection, receptivity and exchange.
Merging her mother cultures' origin of meditative sound with the art of music, ASE is steadily evolving into a research and education platform exploring the nature of health as a process. Bridging ancient practices of sound and energy medicine with emerging technologies, Satya’s work researches the essence of resonance and seeks to redefine the transformative power of sonic perception.
Where does sound come from?
A question that kept persisting during her research revealed the metaphysical Hindu concept of Nada Brahma (the primal sound of being). She then began incorporating the symbolism of ancient wisdom and yoga sutras within her minimalist and experimental music.
In 2014 these influences integrated to form Alchemic Electronica - compositions following specific guidelines that intend to invite a sense of wholeness in the receptive listener; leading to the neuronal regeneration of the intelligent body.
Satya’s conversation with the arts and health organically expanded into offering sonic meditations, public presentations, drawing and listening workshops with the engagement of collective learning and wellbeing, which has been gradually evolving into the ASE Method.
Since 2011 she has been collaborating with artists, neuroscientists and healing arts practitioners while exhibiting at various platforms such as Sages & Scientists Symposium, World Government Summit, Berklee India Exchange and the International Yoga Festival.
She is a formally trained musician with a Bachelor of Music in Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music (Boston) and a Masters in Electronic Music Production from Dubspot (NY). An ardent learner, she is in continuous studies with respected international sound arts and healing specialists including Aurelio C. Hammer (Svaram Musical Instruments & Research), EMPRES (Electronic Music Practice and Research Collective) Oxford University, Dr John Belieu, Joshua Leeds, Alexandre Tannous and Raz Mesinai.
Alchemic Sonic Environment is a multisensory deep listening experience designed to invoke states of reflection, receptivity, and exchange. An intimate and subtle journey informed by ancient wisdom and quantum theory. Alchemic Sonic Environments are positive experiences rooted in sound work and guided by rapidly emerging studies in the fields of epigenetics and cognitive neuroscience. Alchemic Sonic Environment explores the nature of health as a process rather than event. It is actively working to redefine the transformative power of sound and is steadily evolving into a cross-disciplinary research and education platform, informed by our partners across the arts, sciences, health, and technology industries.
Founded by composer and sound artist Satya Hinduja, ASE materializes through performances, installations, and education.
The artist's work focuses on the sensory processing system and its impacts on human potential while reframing the collective memories of our communities and potentializing the future of sound within integrative medicine.
ASE collaborates with communities, conferences, galleries, festivals and more.
AEROME Aéromé scent diffusion systems function basis a 'Dry Air Micro/ Nano Atomization Technology. Fragrances developed by Aéromé comply with IFRA Standards (International Fragrance Association) and are free from VOC's, Aerosols or any other harmful content, thus, making them safe to inhale in any environment.
