“Somnus” is a virtual reality experience designed to immerse users in the profound emotional states of helplessness and familial longing through the unsettling phenomenon of sleep paralysis. Utilizing a fixed 180-degree camera perspective to represent the viewpoint of a person confined to their bed, the project leverages the immersive potential of VR to vividly depict intense nightmares and surreal visions. By placing users directly into the vulnerable state of sleep paralysis, “Somnus” evokes empathy and a deeper understanding of emotional isolation and the inherent human need for familial connection.
Concept
“The central concept of “Somnus” revolves around the portrayal of sleep paralysis as a metaphor for emotional and psychological paralysis associated with separation and the yearning for family. The experience restricts the user’s movement, mirroring the immobilizing nature of actual sleep paralysis, and incorporates dream-like sequences that blend reality and surreal imagery. The viewer’s static perspective, limited to the confined position of lying in bed, emphasizes vulnerability and amplifies feelings of helplessness. Distorted visual and auditory cues enhance the nightmarish atmosphere, representing internal anxieties and unresolved emotional conflicts related to family absence. Ultimately, “Somnus” seeks to create a visceral, empathetic experience that highlights the deep emotional impact of familial separation and psychological isolation.
