Voices of VR #1682: Preview of IDFA DocLab’s 2025 Selection of “Perception Art” & Immersive Stories
Nov 13, 2025
Nina van Doren, a co-curator at IDFA DocLab, and Caspar Sonnen, its founder and lead curator, discuss the upcoming theme, 'Off the Internet,' which critiques online culture while showcasing immersive installations. They introduce the concept of 'Perception Art,' blending fiction and documentary elements. Notable works include a nostalgic web-walking game, an interactive hip-hop album experience, and a VR piece that animates scanned specimens. The conversation also highlights the importance of reclaiming personal digital spaces in an age of social media.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Websites Restore Context And History
- Building personal websites restores archive and future context lost to social media's perpetual present.
- Curators see durable websites as antidotes to algorithmic instantaneity and ephemeral attention.
VR Can Reclaim Focus
- VR headsets isolate but can focus attention on a single story and restore context lost in feed-driven media.
- DocLab selected a 38-minute Gaza 360 piece as an example where VR's isolation enhances witnessing.
Queer Joy In VR
- The Lesbian Simulator uses candy-colored VR and playful exaggeration to convey queer coming-of-age moments.
- Nina notes the piece foregrounds queer joy and optimism rather than trauma alone.