Designing audio-reactive visuals for The Rasa Jar, a production rooted in the Natyashastra an ancient Indian dramaturgical text that defines emotions (Bhavas) and their corresponding Rasas emotions, was a beautiful experience that left my soul joys and energized. Inspired by South Indian classical music and dance, the visuals were created to respond dynamically to the live performance, bringing the emotional journey to life. The integration of reactive visuals with the rich Indian cultural traditions of music and movement offered a layered, immersive experience for both the audience and performers.

My favorite part of the design was how the projection patterns fell on the performers, resembling henna a beautiful gesture towards Indian tradition that brought a tactile, cultural richness to the stage.

My role was to develop an interactive system and UI that empowered the projection designer and assistants to experiment with different colors for each pattern layer and seamlessly respond to the live performance. The interface allowed real-time audio reactivity, enabling visuals to dynamically respond to singers and live instruments. It also included cueing features to transition during the show between emotional states, aligning each visual layer with the show’s evolving moods. Through customizable reactive parameters, this tool helped create an immersive experience that connected the audience to the rich traditions of Indian music and dance.

The Rasa Jar
Book and Music by Shyama Iyer

Set Designer: Patti Panyakaew
Lighting Designer: Celia Chen
Sound Designer: Emilee Biles
Projection Designer: John Horzen
Projection Assistant: Ke Xu
Interactive Media Designer: Christian Killada
photo credits to Kim Zhou