Soul Paint Promotes Self-Reflection with XR Technology

Soul Paint offers a unique VR journey that merges 3D drawing with self-reflection.

Debuting at SXSW 2024, this innovative creation by Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit, featuring narration by Rosario Dawson, invites users to explore and express their emotions through immersive technology. Participants become a 3D form in an ethereal realm, where they can artistically paint onto their virtual selves.

Utilizing body-mapping techniques within virtual reality, Soul Paint is designed to help individuals uncover and understand their emotions. Its goal is to “enhance empathy and social connection by observing others’ experiences,” and it provides an opportunity to share your feelings with others as the journey concludes.

I had the chance to engage with this during the NewImages Festival 2025 via the XR Market for a brief but impactful 20-minute session. The experience begins with a thought-provoking question: “Where are you feeling?” At first, this felt a little abstract, but Soul Paint quickly proves to be spiritually uplifting. In a realm that feels otherworldly, it encourages genuine self-expression.

What unfolds is serene and soothing, leading to a sense of personal growth. Though my art won’t win any awards—and I’m certainly no professional—I discovered what I needed to in that moment. You can sketch on your virtual body and end the session by leaving a voice message, preserving it for others to experience. It’s a beautiful concept for expressing sentiments beyond words.

Soul Paint serves as a VR mirror to one’s inner self. While the experience is somewhat linear and ephemeral, it offers a compelling sense of embodiment and personal choice that I appreciate. It’s an unconventional way to communicate with others, lacking depth as a pure experience, but enriched by thoughtful, meditative elements. I hope to see more innovations like this in the future.

There’s no word yet on a home release for Soul Paint, but we’ll keep you updated with any new developments.