Vortex of Unconditional Love
Vortex of Unconditional Love is a First Order Ambisonic work responding to the extreme dietary cult known as Breatharianism. Breatharianism teaches that humans do not have to consume food to sustain life; instead, they can gather their life energy by breathing alone. This group draws influence from various fasting and breathing techniques found throughout religions and spiritual practices but is a new permutation of these ideas filtered through Western pseudoscience and capitalistic business structures with high-priced seminars, books, and products. Once, Breatharianism founder Wiley Brooks was caught eating McDonald's fast food. Rather than admitting the truth, Brooks chose to work McDonald's into his sacred doctrine, stating that "McDonald's Restaurants are living, breathing, vibrating, consciousness buildings of love, abundance, creativity, immortality & well-being. When you walk into McDonald's, just know you are in a vortex of unconditional love." This acousmatic work samples ambient recordings from various McDonald's locations, whose sonic environments are ironically described as torturous by former employees. These samples are then hyper-processed in an attempt to uncover the imperceptible vibrations Brooks speaks of. The hyper-processed sound reflects the hyper-processed food that reflects the hyper-processed spirituality.
Installation view, The Engine Room 2025 Morley Gallery, London