Experiential Manifesto : On Authenticity

The idea of copying and recreating nature has been around before we realize we have been doing it. Modern Technology has been developed, tested and repeated to challenge the limit that would get us closest to natural creations. In the Art market where forger fakes paintings of famous artists, in the labs artificial objects are produced to replicate the outlook of an actual object. But no matter how close it can get to the real thing, one can never replace another. The value that embodies in the actual objects whether in a form of physical traces or emotional importance is a quality that the copy will never have.

This does not only refer to small objects but architecture as well. People experience architecture on a daily basis in their routines but when they get tired of those routines, there is a need to escape to a place where their minds are taken far away from their mundane lives. Theme parks and parks are built to satisfy these needs but the question is: Is the experience from these artificial places authentic?

It may be argued that everything is artificial, but if we define the question towards the creations that are made to replicate actual objects. A contained space in a dome is built completely devoid of the site’s context, every elements in there is constructed. But people are willing to go there even when they know what the whole place really is, they choose to enjoy the fakeness.

The question goes deeper into the exploration of sensorial quality of a space, resulting in the realness that can be obtained from full artificial sensory. In contrast to this, would knowing the history can make an experience more authentic, as it validates the existence of that object or place?

By taking out one’s vision, it makes their focus go to the rest of their senses which intensifies the experience even more. This also makes the experience easier to control and manipulate the reality that is only projected through sound.

Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the root of the reason that humans crave for this ‘real’ experience. We yearn for the true quality of an experience to the limit that we fake something up and drive it closest to the real, we make a perfect copy. Nevertheless, we have the satisfaction of knowing the possibilities and outcomes of the scenario as we are the one who created this ourselves. Perhaps it is this gratification that continues to make people develop the authentic replica.

Capriccio Sketch #1 unreal layering of vision & imagination

Capriccio Sketch #2 collage of imagery throughout the route