Welcome to Psychedelics Design – where design meets psychedelics!
In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host Alexandra Plesner the founder of Psychedelics Design, is speaking wit Chris Koehn – a true Renaissance man whose talents span architecture, art, and music.
Chris embodies the idea that creativity transcends boundaries. He believes that art and ideas already exist in the ether, waiting for us to perceive them, capture them through our senses, and bring them into the world.
Chris's journey has taken him from architectural studies in Madrid to the vibrant landscape of Mexico, where he founded the GoKo design firm in 2011. At GoKo, he's developed a diverse portfolio of residential, corporate, and commercial spaces. Notably, he also designed the Chapel Music Studio in Mexico City, a space that embodies his interdisciplinary approach. We'll dive into how his architectural philosophy influences his other creative pursuits.
Beyond architecture, Chris is also an accomplished artist. He began painting minimal pieces as a deeply personal healing process following the loss of his brother. This experience shaped his artistic vision, leading him to explore themes of stillness, emptiness, and emotional expression through minimal elements and chromatics. As a musician, Chris has collaborated with a range of artists, further enriching his creative tapestry.
In this episode, we'll explore Chris's concept of "Sympatheia Universe," which emphasizes unity found in silence. We'll discuss how he draws inspiration from figures like Mies van der Rohe, Brian Eno, and Eduardo Chillida, who embraced simplicity, silence, and the power of void spaces. We'll examine how Chris views himself as a conduit for existing art and ideas, seeking to heal and connect with the creative cosmos through his work.
FROM OUR PARTNER
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Chris will share his insights on how introspection, mourning, remembrance, and the celebration of emptiness and silence inform his "Stillness Paintings." Inspired by Japanese simplicity and the essence of Ikebana, his art, architecture, and music invite emotional evolution through minimalistic arrangements.
He strives to share awareness through his various creative outlets, as well as through running and personal rituals. Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation about creativity, healing, and the power of silence in a noisy world.
Key Themes Explored
The Interconnectedness of Creativity, Healing, and Vulnerability: The podcast explores how Chris Koehn integrates architecture, art, and music as interconnected avenues for personal healing and expressing vulnerability. His brother's death served as a catalyst for him to delve deeper into these creative outlets as tools for survival and sharing healing messages with others.
The Power of Minimalism, Silence, and Empty Space: Chris emphasizes the importance of embracing the void and removing unnecessary elements in his work (architecture, art, and music) and life. He connects this concept to psychedelic experiences, suggesting that creating mental and physical "empty spaces" can lead to spiritual awakening, introspection, and emotional processing.
Integrating Psychedelic Insights into Design Philosophy: The conversation touches on how psychedelic experiences can shift one's perspective and foster a sense of connectedness to a higher cosmic energy and to nature. Chris discusses how this can influence design, leading to a focus on incorporating natural elements or, conversely, removing elements to enhance the feeling of being part of nature. The idea of "reversed Art Nouveau" is introduced as a way to express similar longings for nature through minimalist design.
Ultimately, Chris Koehn's journey reminds us that by embracing silence, vulnerability, and our interconnectedness, we can unlock our creative potential and design a world that fosters healing, awareness, and a deeper connection to ourselves and the cosmos.
GoKo
GoKo is a team of young people with different professions dedicated to materialize ideas through architecture.
“We disagree with the excesses, for us simple is the most attractive and therein lies the luxury. We share our ideals, we know that we must promote a modest life if we believe in the future. We seek perfection of our architecture on every component, every detail and every union by reducing it to the bare essentials. We believe in the omission of not essential things in order to achieve purity in our designs. This is where we luxury in the minimum, in the emptiness.”
IN OTHER NEWS
A Healing Song – Out Now!
Chris Koehn has launched a new song, "A Healing Song," with the intention of elevating our frequency and helping to heal our hearts.
It is a musical piece at 528Hz meant to encourage introspection, meditation, and a raising of personal frequency. Chris Koehn and Barbara Mori created the song with the hope that listeners will enjoy it as much as they enjoyed creating it.The song was recorded at Chapel Studio. Chris Koehn was responsible for Vocals, Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Moogs, Glockenspiel, Bass & Production, while Barbara Mori provided Vocals & Harmonium. Jeronimo Quintana of Chapel Studio did the Mix, and Harris Newman of Grey Market Mastering, Montreal, handled the mastering
More music by Chris Koehn on Spotify here
ENGAGE
Nominations for the MUSHROOM OF THE YEAR AWARD are now open!
Do you know someone who deserves recognition as THE MUSHROOM OF THE YEAR? We would love to hear your suggestions! Please let us know, and we’ll reach out to them to share more about the award.
Nominate your favourite person today!
Also – Applications are still open to all organizations and individuals who have designed projects, companies, initiatives, communities, brands, products, services, installations, concepts, and more. Each application included free access to the online awards event where we will also feature keynotes, a panel and more! As a finalist, you get the chance to speak.
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!
https://www.psychedelics.design/awards
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