1. Digital Forest An installation by artist Madi Boyd and composer Nye Parry
Dr Harriet O’Neill

2. ‘An art and psychology collaboration exploring the attentional effects of forests through an immersive installation’.

5. Created by artist Madi Boyd and composer, Nye Parry, in collaboration with cognitive psychologist, Professor Polly Dalton.
Informed by the latest attention research – specifically ‘soft fascination’ provided by natural environments can restore people’s mental resources, helping them to focus their attention.
A ‘natural’ environment, created through sculptural forms, tactile encounters, multiple projections and sound, in a constructed performative space which functions as an artwork and a research environment.

6. Health and Mental Wellbeing
Interacting with nature can reduce stress and improve well-being and increasing access to green spaces could be a means of improving public health – the project askes whether similar effects can be achieved in a constructed performative space?
Impact measured through computer-based reaction time tests before and after experiencing the work, questionnaires and comments.
Held in the exam term to support students.

7. Comments ‘Peaceful and physically engaging. Loved it’
‘Fascinating experiment’
‘Beautiful – made my skin tingle. Loved the depth’.
‘Very relaxing’
‘This was the best, very calming during my exams’
‘So restful. I loved it’
‘I need a good place to chill and this was perfect’
I felt restored and very relaxed after leaving. What an enchanting space’.
It’s incredibly easy to spend a good chunk of time in there (at least 30 minutes this time). An incredibly important installation. I’ll be back. Wonderful’.