Although the Neuroscoiety event sounds like the beginnings of an episode of Black Mirror, we're pretty sure that whatever David Byrne has been thinking about won't go so far as to involve the insertion of some sort of psychologically imprudent ill advised microchip to the head which must be trepanned out with a blunt instrument before the tragic and bloody end of the show.
Of course, we can never really tell you what David Byrne has been thinking...! We can't tell you much about it other than what we're culling from the press release for you below and the EventBrite ticketing page - check this link for a fuller description.
The event is called The Institute Presents: Neurosociety. It's happening in a former car showroom in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley. It’s under the auspices of Pace Art + Technology, which is being run by Pace Gallery's branch in Palo Alto.
"Neurosociety is 60 minute immersive theatrical experience in which groups of 10 people at a time experience recreations of the work of leading neuroscience, psychology and sociology labs. In this iteration there are 3 ½ rooms, and, in each room, an experiment is reformulated in what I hope is an entertaining and surprising way. Guides in lovely arsenic green lab coats meet you in each room. They explain what you are experiencing. You have to book specific times to go through—get your tickets by clicking this link! In an hour you will be embodied in the body of a doll, predict elections, see clearly moving objects as still, deal with moral dilemmas and more.
Is it science, art, theater or what? A little bit of all of the above I’d say. There are overlaps with some recent social art, the SF Exploratorium and with some immersive theater—but this is really it’s own thing." - David Byrne
A Friend of Brian Eno is My Friend
The show came about after Byrne who'd been thinking about something like this for many years, teamed up with Mala Gaonkar, a friend of his friend Brian Eno.
In Vogue
Vogue has called it "Art that exercises the brain."
The New York Times says, "instead of just reading about the latest mind-bending experiments in neuroscience... participate in them."
Anyone in California, nearby, or with some air miles left over should definitely show. Despite those Black Mirror concerns. And hey, we can quite like Black Mirror.
essential info
The Institute Presents: NEUROSOCIETY
350 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
United States
Until March 31st
Tickets are $45
Tickets and way more information from EventBrite