Extra/Ordinary Senses - Panel Talk

Sensoriality is the study of how we experience the world through our senses. Far more than channels of perception, the senses shape our emotions, cognition, creativity, and sense of self. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are not isolated functions but deeply interconnected systems that guide our relationships with others, with our environments, and with our inner lives. Increasingly, both science and art reveal how sensory experience not only grounds us in the present moment but also expands the possibilities of human imagination and connection.

This panel discussion brings together artists and scientists to explore the extraordinary nature of sensoriality. From the perspective of neuroscience, the senses are gateways into understanding the brain’s complexity, offering insights into memory, perception, and the fluid interplay between body and mind. From the perspective of the arts, sensoriality opens new avenues for expression, experimentation, and embodied practice, showing us how perception can be stretched, reimagined, and celebrated.

Together, our panelists will ask: What does it mean to live as sensory beings in a world of constant stimulation? How can we heighten our awareness of the sensory dimensions of everyday life? And what role do cultural, technological, and ecological contexts play in shaping how we perceive?

By weaving together scientific knowledge and artistic practice, the discussion will highlight the senses as sites of both discovery and creativity. It will invite participants to reflect on their own sensory lives while engaging with new perspectives on embodiment, imagination, and the aesthetics of experience.