Cabinets of Wonder

The title Cabinets of Wonder refers to a space full of treasures—in this case a collage of photographs, paintings and 3D objects—where the user can just watch, listen or interact. From there, the user can enter the fantasy worlds of four children who, each for their own reasons, feel out of place in the real world.

This interactive virtual reality experience has been made for, with, and by children. Their art and input are captured in the colorful 3D environments of their imagination. As a user, you glide along the river with Wisdom, a German boy of Cameroonian heritage, and hear the story of his grandfather the lion slayer; you sink into the threatening sea in which Roya, a refugee from Iran, becomes a mermaid and overcomes her fear of drowning; and you explore the planet of Elias, diagnosed with autism, which is populated by UFO ventilators, guinea pigs, and an intelligent voice system. In Joline’s world the user can transform letters into shiny blue bugs—creating a piece of music out of something which normally makes her feel uncomfortable.

This project is a virtual reality experience.