Can gaming and virtual reality democratize the therapeutic benefits of Jungian shadow work, making them accessible to a broader audience?
This question serves as the foundation of Rising River, an AI-driven self-analysis VR experience. By integrating Jungian shadow theory with the VIA Character Strengths framework, Rising River offers a creative approach to therapeutic self-exploration, making it both immersive and accessible.
Team
Lois He is a multimedia storyteller blending filmmaking, gaming, and AI to create interactive, participatory narratives. Her work features collaborations with dancers, fashion designers, and experts in psychology and neuroscience, alongside partnerships with brands like GQ (Condé Nast China), CAFA Art Museum, and Tencent.
Her films have been showcased at top festivals, including The Festival de Cannes Rendez-vous Industry, The European Independent Film Festival, and Beijing International Film Festival. Her new media art has been exhibited at LA MAMA, CultureHub, CICA Museum, and the GEN-AI Summit.
Vio Zhu is a multimedia artist based in Tokyo and New York, blending live performance and interactive storytelling. Her live work includes audio-visual performances, architectural projection mapping, and VJ, while her interactive projects integrate psychology, AI, and neuroscience in VR and installations.
Her works have been showcased at renowned venues such as the New York Academy of Sciences, NYU Center for Neuroscience, San Francisco Gen AI Summit, and La MaMa Experimental Theatre. As a live performer, Vio has collaborated with brands and artists like LVMH, DJ Rebolledo, and ASUKA, performing at iconic venues including WOMB, Circus, and Mitsuki in Tokyo.
John Luo is a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist pushing the boundaries of 3D, Mixed Reality, Immersive Experiences, and VFX. Merging traditional physical performance with digital art, his recent projects explore immersive theater and real-time performance, blending storytelling with cutting-edge technology.
John’s work examines themes of post-humanism, Eastern Asian religion, psychology, neuroscience, and the ethics of AI, sparking dialogue on its impact on human experience. His projects have been exhibited at venues like MIT, Stanford University, La MaMa: CultureHub, and The Holy Art Gallery.
Kaiyang Zhao is an audio designer and music producer skilled in crafting immersive soundscapes for interactive media. His work spans from building dynamic audio environments in Unreal Engine and Unity to creating electronic compositions in Ableton Live. With experience in designing virtual audio plugins and custom synthesizers, he brings versatility and creativity to different projects.
Full Credits
Creative Director
AI Integration
Technical Consultant
VR Development
Visual Design
Tech Art
UI Design
Sound & Music Design
Psychology-Guided Design
Title Design & Animation
Special Thanks
AI Integration
Technical Consultant
VR Development
Visual Design
Tech Art
UI Design
Sound & Music Design
Psychology-Guided Design
Title Design & Animation
Special Thanks
Vio Zhu
Xuelong Mu
Lois He, Ellen Chen
John Luo
John Luo, Lois He
Lillian Sun, John Luo
Kaiyang Zhao
Andrew Trousdale
Xing Zhang, Jun Yang
Dan Tomasulo, Victor Morales, Jonathan Turner
Tianqi Yang, Todd Bryant, Chenyi Lee
Exhibitions
01/2025
01/2025
12/2024
07/2024
06/2024
05/2024
05/2024
Press
10/2024