Transformation of Buddhist Mandalas into a Virtual Reality Installation

Abstract

Technology can translocate traditional art into interactive, immersive experiences. At the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, we transformed Tibetan Buddhist mandalas into a 3D virtual reality mandala installation. Further, we externalized an analog of the meditative experience by recording electroencephalograms that dynamically modulated the visual scene. Using neurofeedback, fluctuations in the alpha power drove the intensity of the fog obscuring the mandala. This creates the illusion of clearing the fog with one's mind in a meditation-like state. The collaboration demonstrated how technology intended for scientific use may be adapted to an artistic installation that enriches the visitor experience.