How do poison dart frogs perceive their surroundings? What does it feel like to be a caiman, floating motionlessly in the water, lurking for prey? Or to fly as a harpy through densely overgrown treetops? Inside Tumucumaque allows you to discover the unique ecosystem of the Tumucumaque nature reserve from the perspective and with the perception of animals living there. Ultraviolet color spectra, super slow motion, visualizations of echolocation and colour night vision as well as spatial 3D sound are used to interpret the perception of animals as a sensual experience comprehensible for humans.

All the visual elements present in Inside Tumucumaque are fully computer-generated and were meticulously crafted by hand. In total we created 7,500 plants based on 80 models. The flora and fauna as well as the creatures’ perspectives were developed in close collaboration with scientists from the Berlin Natural History Museum. With the help of ultraviolet color spectra, movements in super slow motion, visualizations of echo sounder locations and colour night vision as well as spatial 3D sound, the perception of animals was interpreted as a sensual experience comprehensible for the human perception system.

The extraordinary style of the world that comprises Inside Tumucumaque is inspired by nineteenth-century scientific illustrations and artists such as Albrecht Dürer and Peter Doig, Analogue painting techniques were merged with digital 3-D design techniques during the development phase. This illustrative, artistic style creates a unique atmosphere.

The project celebrated its premiere as an atrium-filling, expansive installation in the ZKM | Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe from April 6th, 2018 until May 27th, 2018. The exhibition was the latest in the center’s ongoing series titled “The Art of Immersion”, a program featuring contemporary work in the field of visualization and immersive experiences. Visitors to the space were invited to step into a simulated environment and undergo a multisensory transformation of their reality. Towering fourteen meters over spectators and reaching over three stories in length, the projection surface dominated the physical space, a humble nod to the impression of standing at the base of the forest canopy - a distinct experience of verticality. Following the successful premiere at ZKM, the interactive installation was then exhibited at international festivals and exhibitions, including Me Convention (Stockholm), Future of Storytelling (London), Raindance Film Festival (London). Red Dot Designer’s Night (Berlin), Japan Prize (Tokyo) and CPH:DOX (Kopenhagen, March 2019).