Forest Dancer at Quoz Arts Fest: ENESS’s Psychedelic Light Jungle in Dubai

Art18-07-2025

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Summary

Forest Dancer, by Australian studio ENESS, transformed Dubai’s Concrete at Alserkal Avenue into a glowing, walk-through jungle during Quoz Arts Fest 2025. Using projection mapping, responsive lighting, and motion-triggered visuals, it created a dreamlike world of light that captivated thousands. Created by artist-technologist Nimrod Weis, the installation blended 1960s psychedelic art with modern tech, making every visitor’s movement shape the environment. More than a spectacle, it was a deeply emotional, immersive experience that blurred the line between art and audience. Reflecting a growing trend in immersive art, Forest Dancer showcased Dubai’s evolving cultural scene. Though only live for two days, Forest Dancer’s impact lives on as part of ENESS’s touring series Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness, cementing Dubai’s role as a leader in experiential creativity.

In Dubai’s desert, a jungle unlike any other burst into existence—crafted entirely from light and imagination. ENESS’s Forest Dancer took center stage at the Quoz Arts Fest in early 2025, transforming a humble space into a dazzling neon wilderness that beckoned visitors to step inside and lose themselves. Though fleeting, this psychedelic spectacle quickly became the festival’s crown jewel, captivating crowds with its hypnotic blend of technology and nature. Forest Dancer revealed the true magic of immersive art—how it can whisk us beyond reality, spark new ways of seeing, and leave lasting impressions long after the lights fade. It wasn’t just an installation; it was an invitation to dream, wonder, and rethink what art can be.

What Was Forest Dancer? A Psychedelic Jungle That Briefly Lit Up Dubai

For two unforgettable days in January 2025, the halls of Concrete at Alserkal Avenue were transformed into something utterly unrecognizable: A glowing, breathing jungle born not from soil and sunlight, but from pure light and imagination. Titled Forest Dancer, this temporary installation by Australian art and design studio ENESS became one of the most talked-about highlights of the Quoz Arts Fest 2025, drawing thousands of visitors into its hypnotic embrace.

Far from being a static sculpture or a gallery piece to be observed from a distance, Forest Dancer was a fully immersive, walk-through experience. Through the use of projection mapping, responsive lighting, and motion-activated sequences, ENESS constructed a kinetic environment where every step invited a new discovery. Fluorescent vines appeared to sway. Light-petals shimmered as though touched by a digital breeze. The space pulsed with energy—vivid, surreal, and totally unlike anything else at the festival.

The concept behind Forest Dancer leaned heavily on psychedelic visual language, taking cues from 1960s op-art and reinterpreting it with modern tech. But this wasn’t nostalgia—it was evolution. ENESS, known for fusing playfulness with cutting-edge design, built the piece as an exploration of how nature could be reimagined in the age of sensors, software, and LEDs.

What made the installation stand out wasn’t just its aesthetics, but the way it invited connection and reflection. Audiences lingered longer than they expected—captivated, surprised, and in some cases, visibly moved. In a city known for spectacle, Forest Dancer managed to be more than impressive. It was transformative.

Though it was live only during the festival weekend, its impact echoed far beyond, adding a luminous chapter to Dubai’s ever-evolving relationship with interactive public art.

Behind the Magic: ENESS and the Making of Forest Dancer

The mastermind behind Forest Dancer, ENESS, is a Melbourne-based art and design studio renowned for blending digital technology with whimsical, experiential art. Founded by artist and technologist Nimrod Weis, the studio has gained international recognition for turning physical spaces into living, breathing narratives—where sound, light, and movement react to human presence. With Forest Dancer, their debut at Dubai’s Quoz Arts Fest, ENESS brought this philosophy to an entirely new stage—and to an entirely new audience.

Known for their installations across Australia, Japan, and Europe, ENESS's work often explores the intersection of human emotion, interactivity, and urban space. Past creations include musical footpaths, talking sculptures, and light creatures that respond to passerby movement. With Forest Dancer, the studio pushed its boundaries further by diving into the surreal—designing not just an artwork, but an alternate ecosystem built from algorithms and LEDs.

The creative process behind Forest Dancer spanned months. The team developed a bespoke system of projection-mapped animations that responded to movement, creating the illusion of a living forest that danced with its visitors. Unlike pre-programmed displays, the light sequences were designed to react in real time, making each journey through the space slightly different from the last.

While the visual effects stole much of the spotlight, what truly grounded the installation was its emotional accessibility. Weis has often stated that ENESS's goal is to "bring joy and wonder into public life"—a vision clearly felt within the glowing walls of Forest Dancer. By fusing advanced coding with playful, dreamlike design, the installation delivered something rare: a digital experience that still felt deeply human.

The success of Forest Dancer marked a turning point—not just for ENESS, but for Dubai’s appetite for interactive, emotionally resonant art. It was a strong reminder that behind every pixel and beam of light is a powerful story waiting to unfold.

Quoz Arts Fest 2025: The Cultural Canvas Where Forest Dancer Thrived

Held annually in the creative heartbeat of Dubai—Alserkal Avenue—the Quoz Arts Fest has grown into one of the UAE’s most anticipated cultural events. By 2025, the festival had not only matured but evolved, offering a carefully curated mix of visual art, performance, music, design, and food. It’s here, amidst this vibrant creative ecosystem, that Forest Dancer came to life—adding a surreal shimmer to an already eclectic program.

Spanning two days—January 25 and 26, 2025—the 12th edition of Quoz Arts Fest drew tens of thousands of visitors, including families, artists, collectors, and tourists. With over 200 activations spread across Concrete, The Yard, The Fridge, and numerous gallery spaces, the festival positioned itself as a celebration of experimentation, accessibility, and community-led engagement. Forest Dancer stood out as one of the most Instagrammed and written-about installations from the weekend, with features appearing in The National, Designboom, Time Out Dubai, and global art platforms.

Housed inside the Concrete building—an award-winning minimalist structure designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)—Forest Dancer was perfectly situated to amplify its immersive potential. The raw, open interiors of Concrete allowed ENESS’s glowing jungle to unfold without distraction, creating a stark contrast between the industrial shell of the venue and the lush, synthetic wilderness it contained.

Festival-goers queued to enter, and once inside, they often lingered—some dancing, some lying on the floor to soak in the visuals, others simply wandering in silent awe. It became a shared space not just for observation, but for interaction and contemplation—a fitting embodiment of the festival’s 2025 theme: “Pathways to Pure Creation.”

In a city often associated with monumental scale, Forest Dancer proved that intimacy and immersion can be just as powerful. At Quoz Arts Fest, it didn’t just entertain—it enchanted.

After the Glow: The Legacy of Forest Dancer and the Rise of Immersive Art

Though Forest Dancer existed for just one luminous weekend, its impact continues to ripple through conversations about immersive art in the Middle East and beyond. As one of the standout installations of Quoz Arts Fest 2025, it helped signal a cultural shift—a growing appetite for experiential, tech-driven storytelling that blurs the line between viewer and artwork.

Amid this surge in immersive experiences, companies like Sentient By Elysian (SBE) have been redefining event design for brands and organizations. Their team transforms ordinary venues into fantastic, interactive worlds, skillfully combining motion sensors, kinetic structures, and multimedia to spark curiosity and emotional connection. From trade shows to product launches, SBE’s bespoke installations leave audiences not just watching, but participating in the story. Watch their MIIT 2025 event transformations for EDB and Osmium and get wowed!

What set Forest Dancer apart wasn’t just its dazzling aesthetics, but the emotional resonance it sparked. Attendees left the space describing feelings of wonder, nostalgia, and calm—some even comparing it to stepping into a waking dream. In a fast-paced city where overstimulation is common, the installation offered something rare: stillness through spectacle.

Its influence has already extended beyond Dubai. Since the Quoz Arts Fest, Forest Dancer has become part of ENESS’s larger touring series titled Modern Guru and the Path to Artificial Happiness—a body of work that explores human emotion in a digitized world. The installation, or components inspired by it, have appeared in art festivals and digital museums across Asia, Australia, and Europe, evolving with each location while retaining its core essence: light as a language of connection.

On a broader level, Forest Dancer contributed to a rising trend in the UAE’s cultural landscape. Institutions are now increasingly commissioning works that invite participation, emotion, and multisensory engagement—from immersive digital domes to projection-based storytelling in heritage sites. As the line between gallery and playground continues to blur, the success of works like Forest Dancer proves there's real value in art that’s not just seen—but felt, moved through, and remembered.

In Essence!

The exhibit was more than a fleeting installation—it became a benchmark for what immersive art can achieve in today’s fast-evolving creative landscape. Through ENESS’s fusion of responsive technology and emotional storytelling, Forest Dancer offered a rare moment of wonder, introspection, and connection—resonating with everyone who stepped inside its luminous jungle.

Its success at Quoz Arts Fest 2025 not only spotlighted Dubai’s growing appetite for experiential culture, but also set the stage for future innovators in the region. Agencies like Sentient By Elysian (SBE) are now building on that momentum, creating transformative environments that engage the senses, challenge expectations, and bring audiences directly into the narrative. With works that span festivals, branded events, and public installations, SBE is helping redefine how art and technology intersect in the Middle East and beyond.

As Dubai continues to position itself as a global hub for digital creativity, Forest Dancer stands as a shining example of what happens when imagination, engineering, and emotion collide. It may have lasted only a weekend—but its glow, and the conversations it sparked, are sure to endure far longer.

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