By Eduardo da Silva Brito : :
This diptych explores, through an immersive art installation, the pursuit of joy in play, discovery, and learning during adulthood. Alongside this optimistic vision of childlike wonder, the work presents a counterpoint: the gritty reality of adult life. The installation invites the audience to confront the subtle unease that arises when, as adults, they engage in playful, game-like activities rather than focusing on more conventionally “productive” uses of their time.
Through this deliberate dissonance, we aim to evoke introspection, encouraging viewers to question whether guilt or discomfort should accompany their attempts to reconnect with their inner child, and whether joyful exploration can meaningfully belong to adulthood. A central concern for the authors is that participants feel free to explore the artwork without fear, whether of touching, interacting, or being judged, so that they may co-create the experience. Each interaction generates a unique engagement, ensuring that no two encounters are the same.
The development of the diptych itself was also an exercise in self-exploration, a process through which we sought to regain a sense of childlike naivety and wonder. Feelings of detachment, guilt, and disquiet naturally arose during creation, reflecting emotional patterns present in our daily lives. By confronting these emotions in the context of the artwork, we hope the audience can perceive their own reflections, their Jungian shadow, and use that awareness as a catalyst for introspection.
The second piece of the diptych additionally investigates how people experience information overload, a phenomenon we conceptualize as “white blindness,” inspired by Saramago’s Ensaio sobre a Cegueira. In this scenario, participants are placed in a foreign, minimally defined environment where they are left to meander by themselves, while people outside listen to what is happenning in the installation. This sense of being overwhelmed is reinforced through strong lighting, interactivity, and immersive audio, linking back to themes of hustle and grind culture explored in the first piece. Together, the diptych encourages the audience to navigate and reflect upon the tensions between structured adult expectations and the liberating, sometimes disquieting, experience of play.
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