Ala Leresteux

Hemathurgy

Hemathurgy is inspired by posthumanist philosophy — the idea that the human body is not a closed, isolated entity, but part of a larger, interconnected system. It is a virtual reality journey into the inner landscapes of our own biology. The experience begins in front of a painting depicting blood cells in surrealist style. The image seems still—until you step through it. Suddenly, you are inside the artwork: walking through arteries that branch like forests, past rivers of red and white blood cells, and encountering a figure that is part human, part myth — representing every human as a construct. Many elements are alive, interactive, and educational. Our research investigates how VR can change the way we feel about our own bodies. Using Blender, Unity and XR hardware, we study embodiment, user experience, and emotional impact. The goal is not only to test VR as a medium for bio-inspired art, but to see if such experiences can shift perception of the body, foster empathy, and even ease feelings of loneliness.