Etidorhpa

Etidorhpa is a poetic and critical virtual reality experience that transforms traditional reading into an immersive, interactive journey. Rooted in personal memories of mourning rituals and inspired by collective ceremonies often held in confined spaces, the piece reflects on the tension between silence, ritual, and individuality. Drawing from these early experiences, Etidorhpa reimagines ritual not as a fixed, inherited form, but as a space to question authority, voice, and presence.

The experience begins in mixed reality, where a physical book acts as a portal. Once touched, the user is pulled into a surreal VR world shaped by shadowy architecture, floating text, and mouthless, disembodied figures. Inspired by abandoned Iranian castles and the atmosphere of ritual gatherings, the environment is at once intimate and unsettling. Users move through a series of symbolic spaces—narrow corridors, fields of heads, and ritual circles—guided by the act of reading.

At the heart of Etidorhpa is an experimental reading mechanic that uses eye-tracking and hand gestures. Words float midair and only activate when read, triggering changes in sound, light, and environment. This mechanic shifts reading from a passive act to a spatial interaction—where language not only tells a story but physically shapes the world around the reader. The result is a poetic, contemplative experience where the boundaries between literature, architecture, and personal memory dissolve.

Created as a short-form prototype lasting around 7 to 10 minutes, Etidorhpa invites introspection and presence over action or speed. It is not a game, but a sensory and symbolic exploration of belief, identity, and silence—both personal and collective. Ultimately, Etidorhpa asks: what happens when the words we read not only tell a story but become the world we inhabit?