The revival of Dreamachine was spearheaded by Jennifer Crook, a participatory art specialist and founder of Collective Act. Crook, fascinated by the device’s impact on perception, conceived the idea in 2014 and spent seven years bringing it to life, ultimately achieving this through a £10 million commission from Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, a groundbreaking nationwide festival in 2022. Crook’s late-night search led her to a paper by David Schwartzman and neuroscientist Anil Seth, whose research at the Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science laid the scientific foundation for the new Dreamachine. In collaboration with architecture collective Assemble, who created a cocoon-like meditative space, and composer Jon Hopkins, who scored an immersive 360-degree soundscape, Crook’s Dreamachine reproduces Gysin’s flickering-light experience in a sophisticated, modern form. Participants close their eyes as kaleidoscopic visuals unfold uniquely within their minds, shaped by their brain’s response to the light and sound.

The impact of Dreamachine was profound, drawing tens of thousands of testimonials from participants who described transformations in how they viewed themselves and their lives. Many felt a newfound acceptance of themselves and reported experiencing colors and sensations they’d never imagined, with some blind and partially sighted visitors even describing color perception for the first time. Dreamachine welcomed more than 2,500 community participants during its year-long design process to ensure inclusivity for people with disabilities and those who are neurodivergent. It also provided interactive tools for self-expression through art and writing. As a result, over 15,000 illustrations were created by participants, representing a remarkable public art collection with tens of thousands of distinct colors.

Between May and September 2022, Dreamachine hosted sell-out shows in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, drawing over 38,000 visitors. Each venue included Guardians trained in empathy, mental health awareness, and disability inclusion who guided visitors and provided support throughout the experience. After each event, visitors could join Campfire, a digital discussion space that fostered connections among participants who had experienced strong emotions, such as grief, love, and awe. With inquiries from over 40 cities worldwide, Dreamachine was set to tour internationally from 2023 onward, continuing to collect and share the universal experiences of wonder, connection, and introspection that transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.