Unsteady Portal

Katryna Marija Čiurlionis’s project delves into the omnipresent influence of pharmaceuticals, specifically Xanax, as agents that not only alter personal body-mind interactions but also shape the fabric of global bio-economies and architectural landscapes. Through a multidisciplinary approach involving 3D modelling, drawing, animation, and sound design, she re-imagined the drug’s effects as a series of seven “scopic” portals, inviting viewers to step into reconstructed memories of its impact.

The technical realisation of this ambitious vision posed a significant challenge—how to preserve the integrity of her spatial drawings while animating them into immersive, fluid experiences. Together with sound engineer Robert Kroos and Katryna as the lead designer, I animated these seven “scopic” portals, crafting a dynamic visual environment that mimicked the dimensionality of architectural spaces. The transition from static 2D surfaces to moving images required not just technical finesse but also a deep understanding of how motion, sound, and spatiality converge to create a sensory narrative.

The resulting combination of constant motion, layered soundscapes, and the interplay of depth and focus not only encapsulated the essence of pharmaceutical influence but also mirrored the ever-evolving relationship between the human mind, built environments, and bio-economies.