Soul Paint is an intriguing virtual reality experience that artfully blends 3D drawing with deep personal introspection. It made its debut at SXSW 2024, thanks to the creative minds of Sarah Ticho & Niki Smit, and features narration by the talented Rosario Dawson. This innovative project invites participants to explore, encounter, and choreograph their emotions through captivating immersive technology. In Soul Paint, you embody a 3D form within an ethereal world, equipped with tools to sketch across this space and onto your virtual self.
The experience employs body-mapping techniques intertwined with virtual reality, offering a novel method for exploring and understanding our emotions. The creators aim to “foster empathy and social connectedness” by allowing participants to share their experiences with others once they’ve completed the journey.
I had the opportunity to try out Soul Paint for 20 minutes at the NewImages Festival 2025, through the XR Market, and it opened with a thought-provoking question: “Where are you feeling?” Initially, I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. However, it didn’t take long for the experience to reveal its spiritual side. Located in a seemingly celestial environment, the experience encourages you to express yourself physically and freely.
The journey exudes calmness and relaxation, fostering a sense of self-discovery. Although my art skills won’t win any awards—I’m definitely not an artist—I found the process personally fulfilling. You get the chance to draw on your virtual body and leave a voice note at the end, which you can choose to share with others. This feature provides a meaningful way to express your sentiments when words alone fall short.
Soul Paint strives to serve as a mirror reflecting your inner self in VR. While the experience follows a linear path with limited interactivity, it excels in offering a strong sense of embodiment and player agency, which I thoroughly appreciated. It’s a unique way of communicating with others, supplemented by thoughtful and almost meditative layers. I certainly hope more experiences like this emerge in the future.
At this point, it’s unclear if Soul Paint will ever be released for home use, but rest assured, we’ll keep this article updated with any new developments.
