Embodied States: Immersive Practice and Somatic Experience in 360° Video

Embodied States: Immersive Practice and Somatic Experience in 360° Video is an installation by coVR Videos, a Romanian immersive media studio founded by visual creator Konrad Mihat, presented as a joint practice with psychotherapist Loredana Larionescu. The installation brings together three 360° video works—Danstopic panoramic (2021), amniotic artheraπ (2023), and touch XRtheraπ (2024)—developed through artistic research and therapeutic practice. Experienced through VR headsets, the works place viewers inside live-action 360° scenes that invite attention to breathing, posture, and subtle movement. Rather than emphasizing narrative or spectacle, the installation approaches immersive video as a form of somatic inquiry, encouraging participants to reconnect with their own bodily sensations.

Each piece explores a different experiential context—from dance-based movement exploration to therapeutic containment and guided tactile gestures—creating space for introspection and non-verbal participation. By fostering awareness of the participant’s own physical body during the experience, the installation situates immersive media within the discourse of healing arts and experiential practices.

Larionescu, a psychotherapist specializing in experiential and dance movement therapy, and Mihat, a creator of panoramic video and immersive media, have collaborated since 2021 on projects exploring the intersection of VR, embodiment, and therapeutic arts