Museum of Consciousness at MOOS Space, Berlin

Welcome to the Museum of Consciousness

Calling all curious minds, music nerds, science enthusiasts, neurohackers, magicians, and consciousness experimenters and transcenders. After five sold out shows across the world, and multiple festival cameos, the Museum of Consciousness makes its Berlin debut. This intimate and cutting-edge exhibition will be hosted by the incredible Moos space, near Treptower Park, following the Regens Unite Conference as part of a conscious weekend program. With a complementary approach, the Museum of Consciousness will include five sound experiments spanning five hours, performed by local audio wizards and delivered via a Funktion One soundsystem. The aim: to alter the audience’s state of consciousness through the power of sound alone.

*** This event will sell out and there will be no tickets on the door (online tickets only) ***

The Museum of Consciousness originates from Balliol College, Oxford University, a hub of world class innovation. 

The Museum challenges artists to produce a reliable and measurable Altered State of Consciousness in a live audience, using only sound. Around 100 artists are members of the Museum of Consciousness community, including Orbital, Jon Hopkins, Lisa Lashes, Alexandre Tannous and Tom Middleton.

Expanding on this high-quality precedent, visitors can expect to be transported to a world of sound and imagination.

The Museum of Consciousness is not only a place to experience art, but also to engage in a creative process. 

The museum follows a circular structure which is designed to act as an engine for creative regeneration between the artist and the audience, thereby empowering both in equal measure:

1. Transmission - The artists TRANSMIT their sound to the audience.

2. Integration - The artists then help INTEGRATE their transmission with a mini lecture which explains the piece in depth, and their passion for sound as a whole.

3. Feedback - Where the audience directly COMMUNICATES their thoughts and feelings back to the artistbto help them learn and potentially iterate on their piece.

Video explainer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrDa5qCodJc 
Paper: https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14236/ewic/EVA2021.55

Location: 
The event will take place in the legendary alt-cultural hub MOOS space, located near to Treptower Park in the east of the city. 

The featured artists playing at MOOS space: 

1.) Storm Hartley - Akāshic Machine 
2.) Kristen Myers aka Kreatress - The Voice Alchemist 
3.) Esh Loh - The Piano Yogi 
4.) Kat Polar - The Sonic Healer 
5.) Omer Eilam - The Planetary Conjurer 

Introduction to the Museum of Consciousness (Carl Hayden Smith)

The first session will be an introduction to the aims and objectives of the Museum - its history and trajectory. 
A couple of the best examples from the Museum will be played as samples in order to open the event:

Tom Middleton - “Identifying fundamental frequency and resonance using ceremonial choral toning to explore harmony, synchronicity and human connection in the King's Chamber, Great Pyramid of Khufu, Giza, Egypt”
An interpretation of a unique and fascinating audio recording of improvised voice toning for a ceremonial performance by a small ensemble of male and female voices. Based around an experiment to determine the resonant fundamental frequency generated within the ‘initiation chamber’ that stands inside the King's Chamber deep within the great Pyramid of Giza. The purpose of the rose granite King’s Chamber and the human sized chest largely remains a mystery. Was it for ceremonial initiations? Or an ancient resonance technology for generating energy? Sound is vibrational energy in motion which we not only perceive and decode as noise, information, or music, but also can experience and feel as sensations of vibration. This chamber seems to amplify these vibrations when resonant standing waves activate the quartz crystal in the granite, delivering perceivably potent sensations and resulting higher states of being.

Jose Macabra - “Drilling the Unconscious”
The aim of “Drilling the Unconscious” is to liberate the body and the mind through atonality, improvised vocals, field recordings, drones and noise. The voice is a symbol of the universal body, in search of sensations. Different voice registers are transformed using various techniques: contact mics, filters, granulation and saturation. The intention is to transcend the conscious realm by partly abolishing tonal norms. Some parts of this experience might lead to a void, while other sections might connect the audience with an overload of unconscious matter. The intention is to take you on a journey to explore memories, emotions, and beliefs, which may contain unprocessed or repressed feelings. This existential sonic performance is designed to puncture your chest and wrap its grasp around your beating heart, demanding your total attention as you are bathed in its relentless sonic flux.

Biography: 
Carl Hayden Smith is Associate Professor of Media at the University of East London. He is also the Founder of the Museum of Consciousness at Oxford University and co-founder of the Cyberdelics Society. His research concentrates on the relationship between technology and the human condition. Raising over £10 million in research funding, Carl has worked on numerous large-scale Leonardo LifeLong Learning, Erasmus+, FP7, Horizon 2020 projects and the XPRIZE. He has given over 300 invited public lectures, conference presentations and keynotes in 40 countries and published more than 50 academic papers. His research interests also include Contextology (Context Engineering), Embodied Cognition, Spatial Literacy, Umwelt Hacking and Sensory Augmentation.

More information: 
https://www.themoc.org  
https://www.cyberdelicsociety.com

1.) Akāshic machine - Oversoul 

The language of sound speaks in transcendent tongues - a potent dialect to entice the art of unrestricted channelling. This quantum container ritual is designed as a technological experiment to emanate sound encodings through an open-source conduit, uniting the listening experience in a field of quantized consciousness. In this Harmonic universe of the oversoul, volatile matter is transposed within a pulsating sanctum, honouring the transformative qualities of dance music and dance rituals, channelized beyond the body and into a collective mind field of pulsating energy and ancient memory. 

Biography: 
Through channelling abysmal atmospheres, subliminal frequencies and a wide-screen orchestration of sonic dramatics, kā’s curatorial approach is inspired by a world where techno and the supernatural meet. Highly regarded for evoking frequencies that derive from obscured psychedelic foundations, the sound of kā entices an unworldly edge that merges futurism and mysticism together on the dance floor. The creation of such a devious psycho-acoustic archetype anchors itself betwixt mentality and the art of confrontational listening - undeniably saturated in divinely guided spirit and rinsed down with a relentlessly hypnotic concoction of time-winding deep techno infused with intention and vibrational medicine.

(Insta): @stormhartley  
(SoundCloud) : https://on.soundcloud.com/o2efuPZWvY38QTEZA 
 

2.) Kreatress - Sympathetic Resonance: Sea of Sound

When a mother sings to her newborn child, her voice calms and soothes her baby through what is called Sympathetic Resonance. What happens when two (or more) humans come together and tone using their voices? What kind of sympathetic resonance is possible? How do the frequencies of the voice affect the body as a whole? On a micro (self) level and macro (communal & universal) level.
"I use my voice to induce different states of consciousness, layering the voice through loops. Creating different sound landscapes for people to journey with. What different states can we induce using just the voice? I would take them through a variety of vocal soundscapes to induce different sensations & emotions. How does sympathetic resonance work in such a situation?"

Connecting to your body as a vibrating vessel using the only naturally vibrating instrument in the world, your voice. While simultaneously connecting and vibrating with the voices around you. How does your voice affect your state of consciousness? What kind of sea of sound can we create together? What textures will present themselves? What sounds will come forth? What emotions? What will emerge as we melt into unity through sound? Each experience is a uniquely felt-sense occurrence, no two journeys sounding alike. Allowing the sound to develop naturally as a co-creation and authentic expression of the group-being.

Biography: 
Kreatress is a vocal alchemist, sound oracle, and performance witch. She holds a Masters in Vocal Performance and has dedicated many years to exploring the multi-layered forms and facets of the voice. As she delves deeper into her work, she recognizes the profound importance of the voice. Kreatress embarks on a quest to infuse life and inspiration into every voice she encounters.

More information: 
https://linktr.ee/kreatress 

3.) Esh Loh - Consciousness: The essence of existence 
 

‘Consciousness’ is an extraordinary musical live performance by Esh Loh that aims to explore and celebrate the essence of existence: the trinity of consciousness, love and music. ‘Consciousness’ takes the audience on a transformative journey that delves into the depths of human experience and connection. The universal consciousness is the creative outpouring force of divine love and intelligence. As consciousness descends into the material realm, it undergoes a process of veiling or forgetting its true nature. This forgetting allows for the genuine exploration of individual experiences, challenges, and growth. As consciousness descends into individual existence, love is the essential aspect of the human experience. Love is seen as the unifying and transformative power that connects the individuals with their divine nature.

Love is considered the highest virtue and the path to self-realization, as it enables individuals to transcend their egoic boundaries, cultivate compassion, and recognize the divinity within themselves and others.
Music, as the universal language of emotions, is the binding force, the remembering force, that allows the human to experience the unity of love and consciousness. Music is the unifying power that transcends separation, nurtures spiritual growth, and propels the consciousness to its ultimate purpose and fulfilment of the evolutionary ascent.

The piece ‘Consciousness’ and is played in 60 BPM (Beats per Minute), this is the middle tempo of the resting heartbeat of a human. Studies have shown that slower music with a tempo of about 60-80 (bpm) tends to have a relaxing effect and increases the likelihood that theta waves will occur in the brain. Such slow rhythms can calm the mind and contribute to a meditative state.

»Consciousness is the earth
Love is the seed & Music is the water
to allow life to blossom in its full beauty.«

Biography:

Esh Loh is a pianist, composer, and sound mystic. He studied percussion & piano at the renowned Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy" in Leipzig. Esh loves to reach people at their core through his music and inspires them to live a conscious life, in harmony. A bout with cancer in 2008 triggered a transformation process for Esh and he began composing music in the New Classical genre. For Esh, music is more than the stringing together of beautiful sounds. For him, music is the strongest expression of an all-pervading power, and anyone who has seen him play live can testify to how a concert can became a musical and emotional ritual.

"Music is the sound of universal love and leads the listener from the outside to the inside. Conscious listening brings us into the moment and can provide deep insights into our own existence." (Esh Loh)

More information: 
https://www.eshloh.com 
 
 

4.) Kat Polar - Deeper layers

Experience the transformative power of sound and movement in the interactive performance ‘Deeper layers’ that transcends the boundaries of conventional artistry. Step into a world where the harmonious interplay of sound, movement, and collective energy creates an immersive journey of self-discovery and healing. This unique performance is a result of extensive research and collaborative workshops that emphasize the profound impact of unconditional connection among individuals. At the core of this experience lies the belief that our spirits mend when we are bound together in an unbreakable tapestry of shared emotions and experiences. As the performance unfolds, you are invited to surrender to the moment and embrace the rhythm of your own heartbeat. The ambiance of the space transforms into a sanctuary of serenity, encouraging participants to slow down and shed the burdens of their daily lives. Guided by the artist's soothing voice, a gentle meditation lays the foundation for what is to come.

Biography:
Katrine Bregnum, known by her artistic alias Kat Polar, is a multifaceted artist hailing from Berlin. Throughout their artistic exploration as a dancer, choreographer and musician, Kat has been involved in numerous collaborative projects, but it was their solo-artistic venture that allowed them to venture into their own artistic voice. However, Katrine’s artistic journey took an unexpected turn when they delved into electronic music production. Their fascination with synthesizers, drum machines, and endless sonic possibilities captivated them, and they found a new avenue to channel their emotions and experiences. In 2017, “Kat Polar” was born – a name chosen to embody the essence of a profound personal experience. During a transformative moment, Katrine underwent an altered state of consciousness that led to the dissolution of their ego, the breaking down of conventional norms, and the shattering of creative boundaries. Their soundscapes are a fusion of organic and synthetic elements, blending spacious melodies and hypnotic beats and basslines. With each track, they aim to take the listener on a transformative journey.

More information:
https://www.instagram.com/kat_polar__ 
https://linktr.ee/KatPolar 
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4RuE02iWklFRXfKsQdFJCY?si=MBSJ2Z6cQ1OfxMjXGdHFGQ 
https://soundcloud.com/katpolar 

5.) Omer Eilam - Solar System Meditation

As the name implies, this piece is a Meditation on the solar system. It is a meditation both in the Western Cartesian sense of the word, i.e. an invitation to contemplate on a certain topic and it is also a meditation in the Eastern spiritual sense, wherein one concentrates on a given subject while observing their thought processes. We therefore invite you to this meditation on the sonic nature of our solar system: its origin, formation and being.

Biography: 
Omer is a modern nomadic polymath exploring human consciousness through sound and music. With works ranging from the sonification of heavenly bodies to the destruction of forests, Omer’s focus remains on what it means to be human in our day and age. Integrating music with other art forms, some of his past projects were in collaboration with other musicians, poets, visual artists and community organizers. Besides his composition practice he also gives workshops to groups which aim to balance individual self-expression and group connection. As an author Omer writes about his own experiences in relation to music, spirituality, activism and philosophy.

More information: 
https://omereilam.com