"For the world to be interesting, you have to be manipulating it all the time." -Brian Eno

Most people take their senses, and how they perceive the world every day, for granted. It does not occur to them what it would be like not to see, hear, smell, taste or feel - even for a day. I myself don't have a sense of smell and my eyesight is not very good. I have always been aware of this and have learned to adapt - which often requires conscious thought and decision.

Due to my own sensory inadequacies I have taken an interest in Synesthesia - a neurological condition that causes the senses to overlap and mingle. One might see colour when hearing music or associate a taste with each and everything that is seen or heard.

On top of this, Synesthesia is up to eight times more common in creative people. One thing all creatives have in common is the ability to engage in abstract thinking more than others. It comes to them naturally since they have learned to make sensory connections that others wouldn't even dream of.

I have come to understand Synesthesia as a form of enhanced sensory perception. If I was a stage below all those with all senses intact, Synaesthetes would be one stage higher.

In order to harness the potential of this condition, I have attempted to create an artificial form of Synesthesia, allowing 'regular' people to experience new sensory possibilities, which will then, hopefully, result in a heightened ability to engage in abstract thinking. This is highly speculative.

I have built a series of helmets that manipulate the senses purely through form and without the use of electronics. They either block, amplify, direct or combine these properties in order to create unusual and new sensory impressions. I have always liked simple mechanics and therefore decided to create helmets that rely mainly on their form. The shape of the helmet should suggest its function to the point where the user can imagine its effect without actually having to wear it.