Creating reflective spaces and secular rituals with Matt Warren

In this interview, learn how to create immersive atmospheres that evoke self-reflection and emotional engagement in audiences.

This conversation features Matt Warren, an artist, musician, and educator based in Nipaluna/Hobart, whose work has been exhibited internationally in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the USA, and across Australia. 

Matt shares insights into the creative and conceptual processes behind Secular Ritual (selfie), his recent installation at Sawtooth Gallery in Launceston.

Drawing from ancient practices of using reflective surfaces and water for introspection, Matt’s work reimagines these rituals in a contemporary context. Incorporating everyday objects like selfie rings, mirrors, and fizzy water, he creates meditative spaces where participants can pause, reflect, and explore fluid identities. 

We also explore how flexible spaces like ARIs (Artist-Run Initiatives) enable experimentation, the role of soundscapes and lighting in shaping immersive experiences, and the lessons Matt has learned from creating open-ended works that encourage personal interpretation.

Listen to this episode to learn about:

• How Matt reimagines ancient rituals using modern tools to craft reflective installations.
• The impact of soundscapes and mood on immersive art experiences.
• The benefits of using flexible spaces like ARIs to refine and experiment with new ideas.

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Highlights with from this interview with Matt Warren

• (00:03:40) Exploring secular rituals through art and selfie rings

• (00:08:31) Exploring sound as a catalyst for visual art creation
• (00:11:12) Exploring the concept of Stimmung in German expressionism
• (00:11:32) Creating authentic art spaces through flexible installation
• (00:15:07) Creating spaces for personal reflection

About Matt Warren

Matt Warren is a Nipaluna/Hobart-based electronic media artist, musician, and educator who creates installations, sound art, and single-channel video. His practice explores themes of memory, transcendence, and fluid identities, drawing on influences like psychedelia, hauntology, and digital abstraction to craft evocative, thought-provoking experiences.

As a musician, Matt performs and records electro-acoustic and drone music both as a solo artist and in collaborative projects. His work has been exhibited internationally, including in Canada, Germany, New Zealand, the USA, and across Australia.

Matt teaches sculpture, time-based media, and creative lab units at the University of Tasmania. His contributions extend to public art projects and festivals such as MONA FOMA, Dark MOFO, and The Unconformity.

Key takeaways from this interview with Matt Warren

Secular Ritual (selfie) is an installation that combines everyday objects—such as selfie rings, mirrors, and fizzy water—into a meditative space. The work invites participants to engage with the fluidity of their own identity through the reinterpretation of ancient divination practices. By blending sound, light, and visual elements, Matt crafts an atmosphere where audiences can pause, reflect, and explore their inner states. 

Transforming the ordinary

“A lot of my work is about the elevation of something that’s very everyday or very commonplace and kind of elevating it to something a little more reverential.”

Matt reimagines familiar items as tools for self-reflection. Presented within a contemplative, immersive environment, these everyday objects take on new significance, encouraging audiences to experience them in unexpected ways.

Crafting immersive spaces

“I like to create immersive spaces and spaces where a ritual or something may happen; you know, an experience may happen.”

Atmosphere as mood

“It is more about the atmosphere of a place or of a composition, like the frame in a film. It’s all the little elements that actually make the stimulant, the mood of a piece.”

Matt sees atmosphere as a key part of his installations. Through careful attention to detail—such as the way light interacts with objects or how sound fills a space—he creates works that evoke specific moods.

The role of experimentation

“I just set it up in the space, essentially, and it sort of came together, and it helped make some decisions about the work.”

ARIs (Artist-Run Initiatives) offer artists the flexibility to experiment, enabling them to make creative decisions directly during installation. These spaces foster a dynamic environment where works can evolve and adapt in real time.

Advice

“I do feel like the more we immerse ourselves in what we’re interested in and our interests, and just look around and listen, I think we find places that really touch other people as well.”

Matt reflects on the importance of following personal passions and interests as a way to connect with audiences. He emphasizes that meaning in art doesn’t always emerge immediately—it often develops over time. By staying open to discovery and grounded in what inspires them, artists can create work that resonates deeply with others.

Links from the podcast interview with Matt Warren  

• Visit  Matt Warren’s website
• Follow Matt on Instagram
• Visit Sawtooth AIR website 
• Follow Sawtooth on Instagram
• Read Robin’s reflection on this conversation – Rethinking artist’s statements as journeys

 

Trannscript of this interview with Matt Warren

Robin Petterd: What's it like for someone to experience Secular Rituals Selfie?

Matt Warren: It's an interesting one because I'm not entirely sure what individual people get out of it. With all my work, I figure out what I'd like to experience and hope others get their own interpretation. Whether it's installation work, single-channel video, or sound for headphones, I aim to create immersive spaces where a ritual or experience might occur.

How sound creates immersive experiences

Robin Petterd: When someone walks into the gallery, what do they see, feel, and hear?

Matt Warren: This particular work is an immersive soundscape with a deep rumble—something I often return to. It’s not a signature, but it feels integral to my work. The space has black curtains around it, with a small table in the centre containing a glass bowl of fizzy water and a mirror. Looking into the water, you see your face slightly distorted. Behind the table, on the back curtain, is a circular ring of light—a selfie ring. The bowl is also lit by selfie rings.

The role of scrying in Matt Warren practice

Robin Petterd: Conceptually, what were you aiming to do?

Matt Warren: It relates to scrying, a divination process where people seek visions or knowledge beyond the physical. One version involves staring into water; another involves gazing at your reflection to see beyond the surface. My approach was to explore a secular version of a ritual—something occult or magical. The connection to selfies emerged from the idea of scrying and staring at oneself. Much of my work elevates everyday elements to something more reverential.

Recurring visual motif of a circle in Matt’s work

Robin Petterd: You mentioned a signature low drone in your work, but I also see the circle as a recurring theme. This time, you’ve connected it to the selfie ring, but I’ve seen circles appear in your work before.

Matt Warren: That’s true. The circle has been a recurring visual theme for about 10–15 years, and I’m not sure where it originated. It might come from my fascination with eclipses—where a glowing circle appears around a black void. If you take a Jungian perspective, the mandala is a universal symbol, and there’s likely some psychological depth I haven’t fully explored. But it's something I keep returning to.

Developing ideas for installations

Robin Petterd: I'm always interested in the first fragment of an idea for a piece. How did this work begin?

Matt Warren: It started as two separate pieces that eventually merged. The first was the bowl of water in a dark space, which led to the title Secular Rituals. Titles often come to me early in the process. Then, I saw a selfie ring in Kmart for $15 and thought it could be useful. I found it beautiful in a dark room—just this glowing object. I experimented with it using a process I call the Mondo Box, where I place LED lights or objects inside a box, fill it with fog, and film it through a small hole. The result was compelling, and at some point, these elements merged into Secular Rituals Selfie.

The importance of creating art for yourself first

Robin Petterd: You invite people into a ritualistic space. Some people might resist that, preferring the choice to engage or not. Are these spaces built for you?

Matt Warren: Absolutely. I think most artists create for themselves first, hoping the work resonates with others. Even if it reaches just one person, that's a success. The more we immerse ourselves in our interests, the more we create work that connects with others.

Why artists should trust their creative instincts

Robin Petterd: What’s your advice for other artists working in this way?

Matt Warren: Follow your interests. Immerse yourself in what fascinates you—it will feed into your creative process. The meaning of a work might come to you immediately, or it might take years to reveal itself. Meaning also changes over time, shaped by your own experiences and perspectives.