(The Netherlands, 2020)
Virtual Reality film

Location: virtual environment

Symbiosis is a multi-sensory and performative VR installation in which the human body is redesigned. Polymorf investigates how the exchange of genetic, cultural and technological traits between people and other living entities can increase and change the agency of all entities (agency they have but which is not always acknowledged by humans). How could ‘becoming cyborg’ enable us to empathize with other species, and as such affect future mutual relationships and legal rights between humans and other living entities on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level?

Audience: Adults and children under supervision
English
Accessible for people with hearing impairment.

Marcel van Brakel|concept, scenario and art direction
Mark Meeuwenoord|coding, pneumatics engineering and sound design
Luciano Pinna and Frank Bosma|interaction, coding and hardware integration
Roberto Digiglio and Edwin Kuipers|3D modeling and animation
Maurice Spapens|wearables
Karpendonkse Hoeve|food design and creation
Corine Meijers/Studio Biarritz |producer
Marieke Nooren |sales and partnerships
Additional design team, design research, 3D modeling and coding: Gal Kinan, Richelle Smits, Bram Ockeloen, Elja Rutters, Wouter van Meegdenburg, Paul Staring, Audrey Ristawati

Symbiosis is created by POLYMORF and commissioned by STRP
Produced by POLYMORF in collaboration with Studio Biarritz
This project is supported by: NL Film Fund and Creative Industries Fund NL, and the Sundance Institute, New Frontier Story Lab program and Breda Photo.

Thanks to: Donna Haraway and Duke University Press for allowing the use of ideas from The Camille Stories: Children of Compost in Staying with the Trouble, written by Donna Haraway. Copyright 2016, Duke University Press.

Special thanks to: Rob van der Veeken & Ingrid van Eeghem, Wander Eikelboom, Theo Andriessen, Ton van Gool and the STRP team, Gieske Bienert and Synchron.