RAPTURE

About

RAPTURE is a short film by Andrea Khôra, opening at Blessed Foundation on 15th May at 6pm.

Opening: 6-8:30pm, 15 May
The exhibition is open to the public 16 May - 27 June, Tuesdays - Thursdays, 3 pm - 6 pm and by appointment: info@blessed-foundation.org

RAPTURE is an AI-infused fiction capturing the darker side of the current psychedelics start-up culture, taking the form of an interview between Ethan Grant, the CEO of a fictional psychedelic start-up, TrandscendX, and Kate Thompson, the host of ‘Mystical Misadventure’ podcast. As the interview unravels, Ethan paints a picture of a business whose ultimate goal is the advancement of human spirituality and wellbeing, akin to some of the common narratives behind psychedelic infrastructures currently developed in Silicon Valley. The belief in one product’s power to advance humanity as a whole, is reminiscent of the other field of investment, that of AI. 

AI and a psychedelic experience are two key components of the visual language of the work. Although Khôra's inputs and AI’s outputs merge seamlessly, there is an impressive amount of labour and research from the artist poured into this piece. 

Khôra introduces the touchstones of the current psychedelic healing landscape and asks crucial ethical questions about the power relations within it. Through the character of Kate, she interrogates the use of Indigenous knowledge for profit and the wellbeing of patients in inherently hierarchical church-like congregations conceptualised by Ethan.

Besides the video, the exhibition at Blessed will present the research and process behind the piece bringing more attention to the complex work dynamic between an artist and AI. The exhibition will also be accompanied by a public programme looking deeper into the institutionalised psychedelic experiences, and the intersection of AI and psychedelics.