SAVE lab captures menthol crystallization on human skin

‘crystal’ cultivates menthol dendrites on the human body

Converging art and science, SAVE lab’s ‘CRYSTAL / the mental body of menthol /’ is a video uncovering the transformative interactions between the human body, consciousness, and the chemical substance of menthol. Through an immersive performance art installation, the project offers a lens into the hybrid realm where the physical, mental, and material worlds intersect. The performance submerges a person in a glass tank immersed with vapors that gradually form white polycrystal dendrites on his body. Over the span of an hour, he enters into direct subtle, quantum contact with the matter, experiencing different stages of crystallization both bodily and consciously.

all images courtesy of SAVE lab

save lab captures chemical and conscious connections

CRYSTAL by art-science laboratory SAVE lab explores themes of spiritual growth posed by Marina Abramovic by cultivating chemical and conscious interactions between the human body, mind, and menthol. Within the glass tank, the substance characterized by its crystalline and cooling properties, undergoes a transformation as the heat emitted from a heating device interacts with the menthol crystals. As they melt, they give rise to a gaseous form, enveloping the space in an ethereal blanket of fog which begins to condense on the cooler metal frame, aquarium walls, and human skin, manifesting as intricate dendritic crystals. This distinct communication showcases the symbiosis of human and natural matter, nodding to the potential for shared experiences on a subtle, telepathic level between individuals and their surroundings.

menthol crystals (dendrites) growing on the performer’s hand

video art of CRYSTAL displayed as a part of an exposition in Moscow

performance show of Crystal project in Munich as part of the exhibition

project info:

name: CRYSTAL / the mental body of menthol /
designer: SAVE lab

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom