The Mermaid exists in the in-between space between two worlds: the oceanic and the human. Her curiosity about people manifests visually when she notices someone nearby, yet she can also feel fear or perceive a threat. If the neurointerface detects a sharp rise in stress, the projected "fish" become agitated and high-contrast, their movements restless, like a panicked school. However, when the mermaid senses empathy and connection, her joy is reflected in softer, fluid shapes and gentle hues. This creates the illusion of being in an "aquatic" space attuned to the psychic impulses of a being traditionally seen as mythical.
Participants can sit beside the mermaid and make eye contact with her—looking into her eyes and "listening" to her state of mind. The feeling of interaction is heightened through the "fish"—visual elements flowing across the wall, responding to the mermaid's emotional shifts.
When a participant comes close, they hear a lullaby through headphones. Out of the muffled music emerge quiet voices, the whisper of waves, and melodic humming. This lullaby conveys the mermaid’s half-dream, half-real world: as she sleeps and dreams of the Ocean, she shares her emotions with the listener. The sound vibrations help tune into her emotional state, subconsciously catching the rhythm of her "heartbeat," which is linked to neurointerface signals.
The mermaid, in essence, symbolizes vulnerability, and her unexpected "shyness" or "joy" becomes a mirror for the participant’s own stance. When faced with something unlike ourselves, we experience a range of emotions—and it is our choice which scenario we follow.
