Soul Paint is a VR expertise that mixes 3D drawing with private introspection.
Launched throughout SXSW 2024, Soul Paint is a venture created by Sarah Ticho & Niki Smit and narrated by Rosario Dawson, the place members can “uncover, meet and choreograph their very own feelings” by immersive know-how. As a 3D physique in an ethereal house, Soul Paint offers you the instruments to bodily draw throughout this 3D house onto your digital physique.
Soul Paint makes use of body-mapping strategies blended with digital actuality, which the creators state is a way of exploring and gaining consciousness of our emotions. Its intent is to “foster empathy and social connectedness by witnessing the lived expertise of others,” supplying you with the choice to share these emotions with others as soon as you have reached the tip.
I jumped in for a hands-on session throughout NewImages Pageant 2025 by the XR Marketplace for 20 minutes, and this expertise begins with a potent query: “The place are you feeling?” An attention-grabbing thought that I wasn’t so certain on on the time, however Soul Paint would not take lengthy to really feel extra religious. Throughout this nearly heavenly realm, the expertise welcomely encourages you to bodily specific your self.
What follows feels calming, enjoyable, and you’ll really feel that self-actualization. My drawings aren’t profitable any prizes anytime quickly, and I am definitely no artist, but I did what I wanted at that second. You may then draw throughout your digital physique and depart a voice be aware on the finish, which you’ll be able to select to avoid wasting for others to come across. It is a beautiful concept for sharing your sentiments with others when phrases aren’t sufficient.
Soul Paint goals to be a mirror for your self in VR and whereas there’s solely a lot you are able to do in an ephemeral linear expertise, there is a sturdy sense of embodiment and participant company that I am keen on. It is a totally different technique of speaking ourselves to others, which does not maintain a lot depth as a straight expertise, but that is made up for by considerate, nearly meditative nuances. I hope we find yourself seeing extra experiences like this.
It is unknown if Soul Paint will ever obtain a house launch, however we’ll replace this text if we study extra.
