Sára Várady performed at IMPRESSIONS, held at Southwark Park Galleries, London, in 2022 during the private view organised by the Royal College of Art’s MA Print course, from 11–14 March. The performance accompanied her etching series, which was presented in custom-designed lightboxes arranged in a triangular formation. This spatial configuration played with height and depth, allowing her to perform among the illuminated pieces while inviting the audience to physically navigate between them. One lightbox was placed on the floor, another at eye level, and the third above head height — encouraging viewers to actively engage with the work through movement and embodied presence. The installation reflected the thematic core of the etching series: as each image elevated, so too did the level of represented consciousness.

The etching series explores the expansion of awareness — beginning from a singular perspective and gradually reaching toward a collective experience. The works, titled Bigger than Me, Bigger than You, and Bigger than all of Us, were inspired by the invisible but powerful energy that connects all beings. This force — which some may identify as God — serves as the central motif. Bigger than Me depicts an individual encountering a higher self and ascending to a state of Oneness. Bigger than You broadens this experience to include others, while Bigger than all of Us envisions a universal awareness shared by all.

The live performance delved into this spiritual journey from a deeply personal starting point. At the time, Sára was living in a confined 190 x 280 cm room without natural light — an environment that could have led to despair, but instead became the setting for inner transformation. Motivated to persist and grow, she drew from this period as a metaphor for resilience and spiritual evolution. She believed that many people had experienced similar isolation, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her message: no matter how limiting or overwhelming circumstances may appear, it is possible to move through them — slowly, courageously, and intentionally.

Yoga became her vehicle for this transformation. Over the previous four years, yoga had offered her grounding, presence, and emotional clarity. Within the performance, she practiced Yin yoga — a meditative, slow-paced style where postures are held for several minutes to stimulate the energy channels of the subtle body (known as meridians in Chinese medicine and nadis in yogic philosophy). This quiet, introspective practice formed the backbone of her piece.

Sára performed in a hand-painted bodysuit and wore a VR headset, transforming her personal journey into a shared experience. The virtual reality content — a 3D scan of her small room reimagined by artist Charlie Pannell (Central Saint Martins) — was livestreamed to a screen, allowing the audience to witness her experience in real time. The re-envisioned digital space included organic elements such as a grassy floor and an open sky where the ceiling once was, symbolising possibility, transformation, and spiritual expansion.

The main idea behind this setup was to offer the audience a direct visual connection with her inner perspective. By watching the livestream of what Sára saw in the VR headset, the viewers were not just observing her journey — they were momentarily inhabiting her experience. In doing so, they were invited to become one with her, blurring the boundaries between artist and viewer, and inspiring a shared sense of possibility. This merging was meant to empower others to overcome their own perceived limits, reminding them that transformation is not only possible but contagious.

To close the performance, Sára invited the audience to engage with an interactive offering. She presented a glass bowl filled with handwritten notes, each containing quotes from books she had read or personal reflections and affirmations. Viewers were encouraged to take one — a small gift intended to spark insight, inspiration, or positive change.