The exercise that you have to do for class reminds me of james turrell's work called Bindu Shards (2010) at the Gagosian. We couldn't go in cause you had to book in advance to experience the work, But we enjoyed watching the visitors come out of the capsule peaceful but slightly disorientated. I can only image it might be similar to your flotation experience just with light and sound. We did however get to experience this work above Spread (2003), we have to remove our shoes and walk slowly into the light, it made me very happy.
"Through light, space can be formed without physical material like concrete or steel. We can actually stop the penetration of vision with where light is and where it isn't. Like the atmosphere, we can't see through it to the stars that are there during the day. But as soon as that light is dimmed around the self, then this penetration of vision goes out. So I'm very interested in this feeling, using the eyes to penetrate the space".
--James Turrell
