Peer-review of Taavi Varm’s project “The Plant Walker”

On February 9, 14.30-16.00 the public peer-review of Taavi Varm’s doctoral project “The Plant Walker” will take place in Zoom.
Zoom LINK  (Meeting ID: 616 6458 4084, Passcode: 182273).

Reviewers of the project: Dr. Liina Unt, PhD (University of Tartu), Dr. Steinunn Hildigunnur Knúts-Önnudóttir.
Supervisors: Dr. Varvara Guljajeva (Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar), Dr. Helen Uusberg (University of Tartu).

The Plant Walker is the third part of Taavi Varm’s doctoral thesis, “Designing Video Games as Experiential Practice: Co-Creation and Sustainable Psychological Well-Being.” Game was created during the 2024/25 academic year as part of the EVA Lab’s ‘Small Lives’ course and research project at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Project reflects on the video game’s creation process and outcome through a video essay as a Work Story.

The Plant Walker became a turning point in the research, where the researcher turned back to being a creator and artist.  The creative process consciously used theories of mindfulness and flow theory, later enriched by ecological, societal, and political valuation through practical analysis. Therefore the project views creation as a process that supports the artist’s mental health and creative sustainability.

Creating slow, ecologically sensitive game meant deliberately rejecting patterns based on competition, optimization, and constant performance. The Plant Walker offers a playful space for slowing down, being present, and ways of being in harmony with nature.

The video essay is available via a YouTube link. Headphones and viewing on a smartphone are recommended.
Youtube link (english version): https://youtu.be/zw6Cfy6PNpc
Small lives games:
Apple App Store / Google Play