David Aughenbaugh
I am a visual effects professional in the film industry and also a trained clinical hypnotherapist. I create these works digitally, using years of practical experience as a visual effects artist. My interest in human consciousness and trance states led me to study hypnotherapy. Combining these interests my work is focused on how visuals and sound can be used to affect the viewer’s mental state.
The images and animations are abstract, colourful and feature an infinite zoom experience, with a seemingly impossible amount of detail. It avoids narrative and literal “meaning” but instead uses evocative imagery. The resulting experience puts the viewer into a relaxed flow state characterised by quieting the thinking mind, relaxing the body and activating the creative imagination.
By way of background, my experience includes computer animation for TV in the 1980’s, 8-bit games, streaming video on the web in the 1990’s, and working on the first VR project to be nominated for an Oscar in 2016. I was part of the VFX team that won an Oscar for Visual Effects on the film “First Man” in 2019.
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ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
CREATOR: David Aughenbaugh
SONG: Of These, Hope / Lazarus Raised FROM Passion
ARTIST: Peter Gabriel
CREATOR: David Aughenbaugh
SONG: Of These, Hope / Lazarus Raised FROM Passion
Video info
This animation is an infinite zoom experience, designed to have specific effects on the mental state of the viewer. After a few minutes watching, the viewer’s thinking mind is quieted and the viewer settles into a pleasant flow state, characterised by quiet focus and enhanced creativity. The viewer is relaxed but alert with enhanced mental functioning.
I chose tracks without lyrics, so that the thinking parts of the brain are not engaged and are allowed to go quiet. These tracks from Passion - Music for The Last Temptation of Christ feel both purposeful and forward-moving, but also mysterious and a little bit magical–perfect for these visuals! The piece is over five minutes long and I find that when I get to the end I want it to keep going. Maybe I will do a longer version!
Song info:
Of These, Hope and Lazarus Raised are tracks taken from Peter Gabriel's album Passion, released in 1989. The album was the first release on the newly formed Real World Records.
Written by Peter Gabriel. Produced by Peter Gabriel
Published by Real World Music Ltd. / Sony Music Publishing.