Effection 2.0
by Hansika Mangwani
Pune
Project Description
Effection 2.0 is an intimate biofeedback journey where two people connect through breath and heartbeat, shaping light and sound as they slowly attune to each other in presence and emotional rhythm.
Expected Impact
Effection 2.0 offers a new kind of cultural experience in India - one that blends art, science, and wellness to create meaningful human connection. In a fast-paced, hyper-digital world, this project invites people to slow down, tune in to their bodies, and experience each other through presence, breath, and biofeedback. The experience transforms physiology into a shared emotional language, creating space for reflection, empathy, and emotional regulation. Rooted in the science of psychophysiology and inspired by the natural bio-synchrony between close humans - like a mother and infant - Effection 2.0 makes visible the invisible bonds we form through shared presence. It invites participants to experience connection not through words, but through breath, pulse, and stillness. The project contributes to local and global cultural conversations in three key ways: 1. It centres emotional literacy and non-verbal communication - skills that are vital yet rarely taught or cultivated in traditional Indian cultural spaces. 2. It bridges neuroscience and contemporary art, making research on HRV, biofeedback, and neuroaesthetics accessible through sensory storytelling. It promotes art as a tool for wellness - a growing global movement that India is only beginning to embrace. We hope to inspire a new kind of cultural space in India: one that is intimate, interactive, and emotionally intelligent. A space where technology amplifies human sensitivity rather than numbing it. Effection 2.0 invites artists, scientists, and wellness practitioners to reimagine connection as both an art form and a form of care.
Applicant Background
Effection 2.0 builds upon the foundation of Effection 1.0, a solo biofeedback art installation showcased at Method Gallery, Mumbai (2023) and later featured at India Art Fair (2024). The installation used real-time heart-rate data to transform a participant’s physiological state into a multisensory experience of light, sound, and vibration. Designed for one person at a time, it offered a 15-minute journey from internal chaos to coherence - making visible the relationship between mind, body, and emotion. From technical programming in TouchDesigner and sensor integration to spatial and emotional design, Effection 1.0 served as a proof of concept for how biofeedback and immersive media can create powerful inner shifts. The experience received attention for its ability to elicit calm, connection, and self-awareness through non-verbal, sensory input. Effection 2.0 naturally evolves this into a relational format - extending the same sensitivity into the shared space between two people. You can read more about the science of Effection on the website (www.effectionart.com). Alongside my immersive art practice, I am a trained art therapist and yoga teacher with extensive experience facilitating workshops and retreats across India. My work centers emotional safety, embodiment, and presence. Whether guiding teenagers through emotional regulation sessions or holding space for adults in reflective art retreats, I bring a trauma-informed and deeply compassionate approach to every experience I design. These skills in emotional facilitation, combined with a strong grasp of interactive media and psychophysiological principles, allow me to shape Effection 2.0 not just as a technological installation, but as a profoundly human journey of attunement, resonance, and connection.
Resources Needed
- Funding
- Mentorship
- Visibility
Support This Project
Connect with Hansika or learn more about the project or support in making this come to life.