Testing of The Oxytocine Machine by Studio Vrij and Zalán Szakács

Last week, Katoenhuis hosted a live testing session of The Oxytocine Machine, an art installation developed by Studio Vrij and Katoenhuis community artist Zalán Szakács that uses virtual reality to facilitate intimate connections between people from diverse backgrounds and social bubbles. 

This installation, evolving from a 2021 Pilot Project at the Espronceda Institute of Arts & Culture, accommodated a total of 12 participants, all paired in duos for a shared virtual journey. Within this setup, two participants stepped into separate inflatable cocoons at different locations. Inside, they put on VR headsets and found themselves in a shared virtual space, face-to-face with their companion. The cocoons created a safe and intimate setting for this encounter, encouraging the release of oxytocin (the “hormone of love”). This approach gave people the chance to form meaningful bonds with someone they would not otherwise meet. The project was shaped by a post-futuristic, post-utopian design language, visible both in the inflatable structures and the virtual worlds participants entered.

With this testing, the installation created a virtual bridge between Katoenhuis in Rotterdam and Studio Vrij's office in Amsterdam, helping to refine the VR experience, participant flow, spatial lighting, and installation based on a live setting. 

About the collaborators:

Studio Vrij is a design studio for immersive experiences based in Amsterdam. The studio creates experiences that inspire, move, and connect people through innovative XR experiences, interactive installations, and conversational AI projects.

Zalán Szakács is a post-digital artist, audiovisual performer, and researcher who explores media theories through light, space, and sound. His conceptual approach is translated into interactive and immersive environments, creating atmospheres that challenge human perception.

Credits

Director: Mila Moleman

Technical Artists: Joelle Galloni & Sammy Speulman

Light, Scenography & Spatial Design: Zalán Szakács & Mila Moleman

Sound Design: Sammy Speulman

Creative Producer: Eszter Novák

Partner: Katoenhuis Rotterdam 

Photography: Boudewijn Bollmann

With the support of Cultuur Loket Digitaal, the Netherlands Film Fund, and the Creative Industries Fund NL (Immerse/Interact).