Thomas Luton
Features Editor, London

Since the mid-2000s, renowned electronic musician and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda has been reimagining vast datasets into immersive art installations that invite viewers into the hidden realms of science.

During my visit to his latest project, Data Cosm [n°1], I found myself surrounded by an array of sprawling LED screens pulsating with strobe lights. This exhibition, intent on “charting the myriad data of nature,” created an atmosphere that felt both familiar and exhilarating as I navigated through visuals of our planet, our minds, and the cosmos, all synchronized with glitchy soundscapes.

Ikeda’s innovative approach offers an exhilarating experience, reminiscent of virtually traversing a DNA strand at hyper-speed, serving as a visceral reminder of the vastness of the human genome. However, amidst the sensory overload, one can feel detached, raising important questions about our connection to the overwhelming data presented.

Don’t miss this captivating exhibition at 180 Studios in London, running until February 1st.