Design Museum London explores ASMR as exhibition experience through October 16
The Design Museum in London is showcasing WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR, an exhibition that delves into autonomous sensory meridian response via curated videos and installations. This event turns individual digital experiences into a shared environment, featuring brain-shaped cushions for enjoying ASMR content, including vintage magazine editing and Virgin Atlantic advertisements. Attendees can produce their own ASMR using everyday items and microphones, complemented by enhanced audio from Bob Ross tutorials. Running until October 16, the exhibition raises questions about ASMR's classification as art or design while underscoring its cultural impact on platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Reddit. A 2018 study from the University of Sheffield highlighted physiological responses, such as lowered heart rates, among those experiencing ASMR.
Key facts
- Exhibition WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR runs at London's Design Museum through October 16
- Show features brain-shaped cushion enclosures for viewing ASMR videos including Virgin Atlantic advertisements and vintage editing demonstrations
- Visitors can create ASMR sounds using microphones with everyday objects like nit combs and toothbrushes
- Headphone stations provide enhanced audio experiences of Bob Ross painting tutorials
- ASMR content has grown significantly with main Reddit community exceeding 250,000 subscribers
- 2018 University of Sheffield study found reduced heart rates among ASMR experiencers watching trigger videos
- Exhibition explores whether ASMR constitutes art form or design discipline
- Show transforms typically private digital experiences into communal museum setting
Entities
Artists
- Bob Ross
Institutions
- Design Museum
- University of Sheffield
- Virgin Atlantic
- ArtReview
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom