The Complexity of Touch is an immersive installation designed to be explored through sight, sound, and, most importantly, touch.

The installation probes the role touch and body play in sculpting perception. The visitor is invited on a sensory exploration that aims to ignite the imagination and activate memories. All the art work in the installation can be touched.

The exhibition is the result of an art and science collaboration between artist Madi Boyd and Professor of Psychology, Polly Dalton.

Participant trials took place at The Attention Lab at Royal Holloway University. These trials involved changing the level of complexity in abstract videos, audio and objects and presenting them to participants. The participants rated the experiences for how compelling and memorable they were, how calm they made them feel or if they caused sensory overload. This feedback formed a basis for designing the exhibition and gave us valuable insights into how the senses work together.

Composer Nye Parry created the original score for the exhibition by activating resonant objects in the space. A deep bass sound creates vibrations in the floor and certain objects in the space.