Paper short abstract:

The paper reveal findings from a research study data conducted in the ‘High Arctic’ immersive installation at National Maritime Museum in London. The installation has no images, photographs and information panels with an aim to take the visitors in a personal journey on issues of climate change.

Paper long abstract:

The paper reveals findings from a research study data conducted in the 'High Arctic' immersive installation at National Maritime Museum in London. 'High Arctic' installation lies in the intersections of art and science with no images, photographs and information panels with an aim to take the visitors in a personal journey on issues of climate change. In order to render these issues visible to the public not only resources of the social and natural sciences but also those of art are demanded (Latour, 2010). The installation invites audiences to be moved through non-linear stories and narratives enduing embodied, affective and personal experiences to arise. Movements and encounters trigger emotions as changes in feeling and thoughts; leading to affects as transitions (Massumi, 2002). The ability to affect and to be affected is inherent to emotions as well as body movements. Interactive art approaches stimulate immersion characterized by diminishing distance from what is shown with the ability to heighten emotional investments in it (Popper, 2006). Can these encounters integrate intuitive experiences and productive space for transformating the visitors' relationship with the given debates? How audience perceives the installation's resistance to representation of climate change? The paper exposes audiences' responses when immersed in the interactive installation revealing imagination and narratives related to ongoing social discussions.

Keywords: interactivity, immersion, climate change, affect