What is the idea behind the Love Machine?

“The inspiration came from a so-called ‘miracle healing’ my father underwent many years ago whilst traveling in the Philippines. Unable to walk without a stick due to a sudden, unbearable pain in his hip, a chance sequence of events led him to a faith healer. The woman dug into his flesh, at the source of the pain, with her bare hands. My father claimed he could actually feel her tugging at something inside of him. Eventually she pulled out a ball of roots covered in blood “You have been cursed!” she exclaimed as she dramatically threw the bloody mess into a bin. What actually happened is hard to say, but what is certain is that the pain was cured and my father no longer needed a walking stick. 

This got me thinking: if physical pain could be dispelled by transferring it to an object then throwing it away, perhaps the same principle could be applied to emotional baggage. So by deliberately imbuing an external object with fear and trauma, for example, then subsequently letting it go, one could thereby rid oneself of the psychological pain it caused. In addition, once these negative afflictions are cast aside, there would be more space available for positive assertions. This became the first step of the Love Machine process; to chose an item to signify external pain and/or limiting beliefs to be cast aside and offered to The golden Elephant of Love. What then follows is a series of rituals to harness the placebo effect and introduce more love; hence the name the Love Machine.” – Dominic Snow

The evolution of the Love Machine

Following an artist residency at the Highway Sanctuary in California back in 2022 courtesy of fellow artist and good friend Shrine, The Love Machine concept became a reality. The first version featured at the Art With Me festival in Miami and was so successful that it was re-created at subsequent festivals across the USA, with thousands of visitors to date. It was clear from the outset that the ritual involved did indeed enable people to shift themselves into a better space; “literally, everyone came out smiling!” Dominic then returned to the US in 2024 to create the ‘Love Machine Emporium’ for the Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, which expanded on the original idea to incorporate several interactive devices in one installation; thereby becoming a multifaceted journey into self empowerment.

Following its success in America, Dominic created a pop up version of the Love Machine which he toured around the UK, appearing at the popular family festival Camp Bestival as well as featuring annually at the local Thamesmead festival in London and other private events.