Recent studies have shown in test series how museum experiences can significantly increase mental well-being. The Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy estimates that around 30% of the population will struggle with psychological symptoms at some point in their lives, and more than half of Austria’s young people already suffer from depression. Immersive experiences allow people to discover their inner child and take their creativity to a whole new level, giving both mind and body a break from everyday worries
The fast pace of everyday life often makes it difficult to find activities that allow us to switch off from the worries of everyday life for a moment. However, studies have shown that small changes in our everyday lives can have a significant impact on our mental well-being. Regular breaks, mindfulness exercises or even activities that stimulate our imagination and creativity can significantly improve our quality of life.
A vivid example of this is immersive experiences, a trend that is on the rise in Austria. In this sense, IKONO promotes a unique type of experience that aims to stimulate the imagination and creativity by allowing interaction with the objects – being able to touch, hear and smell them, to name but a few.
‘At IKONO, each of our spaces is designed to stimulate creativity and imagination, develop our senses and give our bodies a break,’ explains Fernando Pastor, CEO and co-founder of IKONO. He emphasises the importance of creating happy and playful spaces to promote mental and emotional well-being.
The Austrian Federal Association for Psychotherapy estimates that almost 30% of the population will struggle with mental health symptoms in the course of their lives. In addition, more than half of Austrian adolescents suffer from depressive symptoms. Recent studies by renowned foreign universities, such as Verona in Italy, have shown at an early stage how museum experiences can significantly improve mental well-being.
‘We encourage people to step out of their comfort zone and have their own personal experience when exploring the different worlds of experience at IKONO. We do this because we believe that everyone has their own feelings and interpretations, their own story to tell. The best way to unleash this superpower is to be in places that invite you to be yourself,’ Pastor affirms.
IKONO differs from traditional experiences by putting the visitors at the centre. In this way, we encourage people to create their own experiences rather than having them imposed on them. We believe that everyone has their own feelings and interpretations, so each experience is different from the others.
The key to mental well-being:
Press pause: Breaks are important for our mental health – something that is often overlooked in the hectic carousel of everyday life. Breaks are a valuable opportunity to recharge your batteries and get back on track with more motivation and creativity. IKONO Vienna on Mariahilferstraße invites you to take such a break. Here, 12 different rooms are waiting to be discovered in peace and at your own pace. All rooms focus on creativity and active experience. According to the Oberösterreichische Gesundheitsholding, creative work contributes significantly to mental health.
Being in the moment: Living mindfully means consciously utilising the senses – seeing, hearing, feeling – and thus giving our mind the opportunity to arrive in the here and now. In Persephone’s Return Labyrinth, one of IKONO’s most popular rooms, visitors can move along artistically designed paths. There are small details to discover everywhere and the interplay of light and shadow stimulates the senses in a creative and exciting way. Be somewhere else in your head? Not a chance. Here, visitors have almost no choice but to be in the moment and perform a ‘mental reset’, which specifically helps to reduce stress.
Discovering your inner child: creativity is the key to mental health. At IKONO, people have the opportunity to rediscover their playful selves, whether it’s light painting in the footsteps of Picasso or jumping into the giant ball pool in the Purple Metal Room. The immersive experience is not just for adults accompanied by children; anyone, regardless of age or current personal situation, can immerse themselves in eclectic worlds where art and play transcend the boundaries between generations.
IKONO was founded in 2020 by David Troya and Fernando Pastor and is now represented in six major European cities, including Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Barcelona, Madrid, Copenhagen and, since May, Vienna. The company continues to work on its expansion plan to open new spaces across Europe.
| Adresse: Mariahilferstraße 54, 1070 Wien Öffnungszeiten: Montag bis Sonntag: 10:00 Uhr bis 20:00 Uhr Ticketpreise: Erwachsene (ab 14 Jahren): ab €19,00 Kinder (4-13 Jahre alt): ab €13,50 Kleinkinder bis zu 3 Jahren: frei Website: https://ikono.global/de/vienna Instagram: @ikono.vienna |