Ooh, La La!

Exploring Pleasure Playfully

“Ooh, La La!” is an immersive XR art installation that reimagines the realm of play by combining traditional notions of “toy” with the charged symbolism of the sex-toy. At its core, this piece subverts societal norms through an interplay of humor, color, and sensory exploration. In doing so, it provokes questions about intimacy, identity, and how we navigate taboos surrounding sexuality. I was compelled to examine the way “sex-toy” as a term is simultaneously familiar and forbidden, and to explore how reframing it simply as a “toy” might radically shift our perceptions.

Visually, “Ooh, La La!” offers a surreal, whimsical environment in which oversized sextoys, bright palettes, and fluid shapes invite viewers to engage with the work on a playful level. In the VR component, forms inspired by sex toys become dynamic sculptures—bold, sculptural silhouettes that move in sync with the user’s perspective. Their exaggerated proportions and unexpected textures create a dreamlike space, urging participants to look beyond any initial shock or discomfort and instead embrace curiosity. The Mixed Reality (MR) extension situates these objects in a more tangible setting, allowing physical touch and real-time interaction. This bridging of virtual and physical domains deepens the viewer’s sense of immersion, transforming the piece into a shared, social experience.

The central concept of combining “sex-toy” with “toy” reconfigures our relationship to objects typically cloaked in secrecy. By placing them in a context of joy and play, “Ooh, La La!” diminishes the taboo often associated with sexual aids, urging us to see them as tools for creative expression and self-discovery. In repurposing the language around these items, the piece becomes a statement on how semantics and visual presentation can alter deeply ingrained stigmas. This reframing does not seek to trivialize sexuality; rather, it recognizes pleasure and curiosity as vital components of our shared humanity.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this project is its capacity to shift cultural dialogue by harnessing the universal language of play. Taboos, after all, thrive in silence and secrecy; when confronted with humor, color, and a disarming sense of wonder, the stigma begins to dissolve. Through engaging mini-games and interactive orchestral compositions, users are encouraged to embrace the comedic and surreal possibilities of these objects, sparking conversations that might otherwise remain unspoken. The VR and MR elements serve as a bridge between the internal and external worlds, illustrating how personal perceptions can evolve when confronted by collective experience.

In creating “Ooh, La La!”, I wanted to highlight the tension between private and public spheres, especially around sexual topics. The installation plays with the dualities of hidden versus revealed, shame versus delight, and passivity versus engagement. The result is an environment where the very items that once symbolized taboo become catalysts for openness and humor. By blurring the boundaries of reality, the work taps into our innate curiosity, challenging us to question our learned inhibitions.

Ultimately, “Ooh, La La!” stands as an invitation: an invitation to step into a vibrant, alternative reality where “sex-toys” are celebrated for their playful potential rather than concealed in darkness. In this sense, the piece is not just a spectacle of color and form—it is a testament to the transformative power of reimagining the familiar. Here, art, technology, and personal exploration converge, offering a shared space to confront and reshape cultural narratives around sexuality. By elevating “sex-toy” to the realm of creative play, we open the door to more candid discussions about pleasure, agency, and the fluid boundaries of human expression.

The MR Orchestra is a phygital playground where the tactile becomes musical. Designed to bridge the gap between physical sensation and digital expression, the installation invites participants to interact with sex-toy-inspired instruments that respond to touch and movement. Each instrument is a carefully crafted hybrid, merging the materiality of physical objects with the dynamism of digital soundscapes. This interplay creates a sensory-rich experience, where every gesture transforms into a note, and the physical act of touching or gesturing directly influences the composition.

Participants are empowered to compose their own unique musical pieces in real time. Whether experiencing the MR setup with direct, hands-on interaction or engaging via projection mapping in a shared public space, users orchestrate their melodies in an intuitive, improvisational manner. The projection mapping option enables multiple people to interact simultaneously, democratizing the creative process and fostering communal collaboration. This dual modality not only amplifies accessibility but also transforms individual expression into a collective symphony, making every performance a unique celebration of play and creativity.

Tagged Personal

Ooh, La La!

Exploring Pleasure Playfully

Mostafa S. Ebrahimi