Mihai Grecu

Francisco Goya’s painting “Saturn Devouring His Son” is considered one of the most terrifying in the history of art. It is indeed so disturbing one might want to turn away, as it is nearly impossible to look at Saturn’s face distorted in madness, at his mouth open to consume his own child. According to the myth, Saturn devours because of fear to be devoured – or rather overthrown – by his son; the fear of losing power makes Saturn lose control over his mind. The plot of the presented VR experience based on Goya’s painting includes running from and running towards something, suggesting the cyclicity of life, the same that brings night after day, counter-revolution after revolution, children after parents. This experience offers to figuratively dive into fears (of Saturn, of the child, and of the witness) and reach the bottom of them, by putting on a VR helmet resembling Saturn’s mouth, jumping inside the depicted scene, and living it through.