Ryoji Ikeda’s data-cosm [n°1]: Immersive Art & Sound Installation – London 2026

Ryoji Ikeda’s immersive installation, data-cosm [n°1], initially slated to conclude its run earlier this month, has been extended at 180 Studios in London until February 1, 2026, due to continued demand. Tickets are currently available via the 180 Studios website. The extension offers a further opportunity to experience the artist’s latest exploration of data, sound, and the intersection of art and physics.

The installation isn’t simply a visual display; it’s designed as a “total sensory encounter,” transforming vast datasets into an audiovisual environment. Visitors are invited to lie down and glance up at a massive LED screen covering the ceiling, while Ikeda’s meticulously crafted soundscapes envelop them. This unique setup aims to chart the full spectrum of data, moving from the microscopic world of particle physics to the immense scale of astrophysics.

Expanding on a Previous Vision

data-cosm [n°1] builds upon themes Ikeda first explored in his acclaimed data-verse project. As Fact Magazine noted in 2021, data-verse similarly sought to visualize and sonify complex data sets, establishing a foundation for the even more ambitious scope of data-cosm [n°1]. Ikeda’s work consistently grapples with the essential characteristics of sound and visuals, employing mathematical precision and aesthetics to create immersive experiences.

Ikeda, a leading Japanese composer and visual artist born in 1965, has cultivated a reputation for seamlessly blending visual and sonic media. His elaborate orchestrations incorporate sound, visuals, materials, physical phenomena, and mathematical concepts into both live performances and installations. He’s been collaborating with 180 Studios and The Vinyl Factory since 2015, beginning with the UK premiere of his audio-visual installation supersymmetry at Brewer Street Car Park in Soho, London. The interactive work test pattern followed in 2017, drawing over 100,000 visitors to 180 The Strand.

A Unique Immersive Experience

The experience, as described by Still Listening Magazine, is profoundly affecting. Reviewers have likened the sensation to being “inside a supercomputer’s dream,” noting the overwhelming collision of light, sound, and scale. The visuals pulse and fragment with mathematical precision, accompanied by Ikeda’s signature sound design – a blend of sub-bass hums, piercing frequencies, and rhythmic bursts. The installation functions as both a microscope and a telescope, collapsing the scales of the universe into a single, dizzying moment of perception.

The setup is intentionally simple: visitors recline on floor pillows beneath the expansive LED ceiling. Once the lights dim, they are plunged into Ikeda’s world, witnessing a torrent of data that begins at the microscopic level and gradually expands to encompass the vastness of the cosmos. The effect, as one visitor described to Berkeley Square Barbarian, is to have one’s mind “blown.”

Beyond data-cosm [n°1]: A Broader Exhibition Context

data-cosm [n°1] isn’t the only offering at 180 Studios. The installation is currently running alongside Paradigm Shift, an exhibition exploring revolutions in moving image culture. Paradigm Shift features work from artists including Mark Leckey, Arthur Jafa, Derek Jarman, JulianKnxx, Martine Syms, and Andy Warhol, providing a broader context for Ikeda’s exploration of visual and sonic media.

What’s Next for Visitors

For those seeking to experience data-cosm [n°1], tickets are available for purchase through the 180 Studios website. The installation runs until February 1, 2026, with shows occurring every 30 minutes for groups of up to 40 guests. Each 17-minute indicate offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in Ikeda’s audiovisual world. Given the popularity of the installation, early booking is strongly recommended to secure a preferred time slot.