What we experience as nature is a representation, a mediated version of itself that has been manufactured to suit cultural perceptions and understandings. This (re)invention of a natural world, and the iterative improvement of the human experience, form a reflexive loop of continuously modified relationships. Branching [e]motion is an interactive visual and sonic environment which is concerned with both simulating and demonstrating these relationships at work.

A webcam and computer track the movements of participants and translates them into simulated organic growth projected into space. Participants gesture, pose, dance and play to form forests of individually crafted trees while composing a soundscape of birdsong.

The visual theme is that of an oriental ink painting, an idealised vision of nature that bridges themes from Genetic engineering to idyllic scenes. Game like and playful – the user interacts and uncovers the algorithm, gaining control within loops of seeing, moving, developing understanding and ownership of the image and sound generation processes.

A computer simulation of organic growth that is determined by the most natural source, the embodied movements of users. Through their dance the user personalises a vision of nature through the mediation of technologies.