Entering the exhibition, visitors are first welcomed by a space dedicated to presenting the Cloud Forest, its ecosystem and its history. This room aims to introduce visitors to the exhibition and provide the scientific and historical background necessary to critically engage with the ecological issues the island of Saint Helena and the Cloud Forest are currently facing.

To achieve this, the extensive research of the Saint Helena Research Institute is presented through a combination of text, images, infographics, and an interactive 3d map of the island. Designed to be accessible and engaging for a diverse audience with varied levels of interest and knowledge of the subject, the tabletop interface allows a straightforward and engaging visualisation of the collecrted data, giving a valuable insight into they key issues.

Stepping into the second room, visitors find themselves walking on the final section of a trail winding through the peaks of the Cloud Forest. A few steps among the lush yet controversial vegetation lead visitors to a clearing opening with a panoramic view of the digitally recreated forest. Here, the ecological history of the island and the efforts to restore this uniqe ecosystem are represented by the carefully constructed environment. An audiguide leads visitors through this space thanks to its immersise 360 soundtrack, allowing them to learn more about this unique forest.

Whereas the first space introduces visitors to the issue through scientific knowledge, this second immersive space creates the opportunity for a more bodily and emotive connection with the forest and the risks it is facing. The immersion is achieved by blending physical and virtual models and extending the landscape beyond the limits of the room, with special care for textures, sounds, and smell in order to address all senses and transport visitors into this fascinating and not easily accessible corner of the world.

LEONARDO MUSSATTO

Leonardo Mussatto

Projects