Check out the original contest announcement and rules here: https://qri.org/blog/contest
We strongly recommend viewing the content at its highest resolution on a large screen size to perceive the effects in their entirety.
Methodology
The Inspirational Piece Contest (Inspire) was determined by a public Twitter poll where one like was the equivalent of one vote for an artist’s submission. To help compensate for the network effects and inherent challenges in running a contest poll on social media, we recalled the panel of judges from the Replication Contest to evaluate the Inspire entries for additional prizes based on the following criteria:
Judges: A panel made up of members of QRI’s international phenomenologist network rated from 0 to 10 each piece by these three criteria:
Originality: This criterion emphasizes the importance of presenting a unique and innovative perspective on the theme of consciousness and possible experiences. Artworks that bring fresh ideas or offer a novel interpretation of the subject matter can be given higher consideration.
Impact: The criterion of impact focuses on the emotional, intellectual, or visceral effect the artwork has on the viewer that are able to expand the mind to conceive of new ways art and consciousness research can interface. Artworks that are able to create a lasting impression, provoke thought, or elicit strong emotions are likely to stand out and be highly regarded.
Execution: Execution refers to the technical skill and craftsmanship demonstrated in the artwork. High-quality execution showcases the artist’s ability to effectively convey their vision and message. Attention to detail, proficient use of materials, and mastery of technique contribute to the overall success of the artwork.
Twitter Poll Results
1st Place
195 votes - winning $2,000 + QRI’s Magical Creatures “Cutting-Edge” Scent Line + QRI Swag:
Artist: The_Dyey
— Qualia Research Institute ((QualiaRI?)) May 29, 2023
Title: Layers of Being: Explorations of Consciousness
Brief description of the piece: An attempt to capture the voyage of self-discovery as brave and curious psychonauts fearlessly venture into extraordinary and non-ordinary states of consciousness, driven by… pic.twitter.com/Evo1DJzc2c
2nd Place
190 votes - winning $500, QRI’s Magical Creatures “State-Space Explorer” Scent Line + QRI Swag:
Artist: Nat Sharpe
— Qualia Research Institute ((QualiaRI?)) May 29, 2023
Title: Trickster
Brief description of the piece: An unsettling trip into DMT hyperspace.
Description of what this piece is about: Grating sound, jesters and sharp geometry. Are you scared or curious? Made using animations I generated with a custom Stable… pic.twitter.com/lVdVRFesYW
3rd Place
168 votes - winning $500, QRI’s Magical Creatures “State-Space Explorer” Scent Line + QRI Swag:
Artist: Gydravlik
— Qualia Research Institute ((QualiaRI?)) May 29, 2023
Title: The TRIP
Brief description of the piece: Short 3D animation created in Cinema 4D and visualized in Redshift. The sound design is also created by me and is directly part of this art.
Description of what this piece is about: A brief look at the trip,… pic.twitter.com/4r0BOz21Vt
Judges Panel Results
Each winner receives $500 + QRI Swag:
1st place
Artist: Raimonds Jermaks (Symmetric Vision)
Title: Having a little chat with your own reflection
Brief description of the piece: A brief audio-visual memory of talking to an entity while having a breakthrough psychedelic experience, all subjective, of course.
Description of what this piece is about: An attempt to replicate a multidimensional experience using a 2D screen
2nd place
Artist: George Hoeylaerts (Natural Warp)
Title: The Monk and The Artifact
Brief description of the piece: True connection is transcendental.
Shut down the chatter of the mind to dissolve the imaginary barriers between the self, the object, the moment and the universe.
Description of what this piece is about: This piece is an attempt to visualize the effect of a transcendental meditation on the mind and the experience of the now by the observer within.
The video I uploaded is being used as an augmented reality ‘overlay’ when the fine art print of it is scanned with the AR app called Artivive.
3rd place
Artist: Nuwan Shilpa
Title: Cyber Shaman
Brief description of the piece: Cyber Shaman is a representation in the exploration of the intersection of technology and spirituality. Also suggestive of a merging of ancient wisdom and modern science, as a path of possibility in using technology to connect with the ancestral wisdom and gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.
Description of what this piece is about: This piece is the latest iteration of a series of work that started by the title of “Plastic Shaman” its a further deeper exploration and critique and a self-reflection on Neo-shamanism
4th place
Artist: Gydravlik
Title: The TRIP
Brief description of the piece: Short 3D animation created in Cinema 4D and visualized in Redshift. The sound design is also created by me and is directly part of this art.
Description of what this piece is about: A brief look at the trip, which includes the stage of entry through the lattice of sacred geometry and the transition to the plateau where the death of the ego occurs. The sound design was created by me according to my experiences.
I also refer to the great teacher Timothy Leary “My advice to people today is as follows: if you take the game of life seriously, if you take your sense organs seriously, if you take the energy process, you must turn on, tune in, and drop out.”
5th place
Artist: Scry Visuals
Title: Valent Space
Brief description of the piece: A sprawling toroidial space with so much symmetry that you can barely tell if a given area isn’t in fact a reflection. Octahedrons pulsate and flow and transform through the space
Description of what this piece is about: Inspired by many experiences on different psychedelics, in part it is a replication, but of no specific effect but the myriad of different complex events that might be seen in an NSC, showing an example of how beautiful the geometry can be, even if appreciated in an ordinary state of consciousness.
6th place
Artist: Nuwan Shilpa
Title: Biomechanical Enlightenment
Brief description of the piece: Biomechanical Enlightenment (A vision from an ancient future)
By Nuwan Shilpa Hennayake
Art is the highest form of spiritual technology we have to express our consciousness. As we reach for higher consciousness and embrace the interconnectedness of all things, we must take into consideration how much we (humans) are allied by nature with technology and machines. “Biomechanical Enlightenment” is a vision which embraces this synergy between human and machine, and sees this symbiosis as the stepping stone of the spiritual technology leading to the transcendental experience.
Description of what this piece is about: “Biomechanical Enlightenment” is a visionary artwork that explores the powerful connection between art and consciousness research. (The artwork is full of detail, I would encourage you to download the full image and zoom in and explore in all its details!)
The piece features a series of intricate and organic forms that are born of shapes and textures that are reminiscent of both the natural world and the world of technology, merging together as a seamless whole.
Through this artwork, the viewer is invited to contemplate the potential of a future in which technology and nature are inextricably linked, and the boundaries between the two become increasingly blurred, representing a new kind of consciousness, one in which the technology and us humans coexist in perfect harmony and Synchronicity, leading to a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.”
This piece was born directly out of the experiment process of making an artwork for the Inspire piece for the QRI contest! I felt that this unfolding of this synchronistic moment is perfect for the QRI Inspire Contest!
Closing Remarks
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and thank each and every one of you who participated, voted, and made this contest possible.
Stay tuned for more exciting initiatives from QRI.
Infinite Bliss!