Voices of VR

Maarten Isaak de Heer, an animator and immersive artist, delves into his innovative work, We Are Dead Animals, where he 3D scans and reanimates found dead animals. He shares fascinating insights into his scanning process and the creation of a dome installation reflecting the cycle of life and death. The discussion also touches on gameplay mechanics, empathy towards animals, and incorporating stories into scanned creatures. Maarten's unique blend of art and technology offers a playful and thought-provoking exploration of mortality and renewal.

Luna Maurer and Roel Wouters, artists at the forefront of interactive design, delve into their participatory film, Deep Soup. They advocate for 'human friction' in digital spaces, critiquing tech's push for seamlessness. Their Designing Friction manifesto emphasizes the importance of physical engagement and social interaction. The film utilizes community contributions to explore themes of gravity and embodied experiences, challenging the ease of AI while celebrating true creativity. Maurer and Wouters call for a return to collective experiences that reconnect people in the physical world.

Victorine van Alphen, a director and philosopher specializing in immersive experiences, shares her insights on blending technology and art. She explores the evolution of her project, The Oracle: Ritual for the Future, discussing themes of vulnerability and transition. Victorine delves into post-humanity, using AI to critique its biases, and emphasizes the importance of ethics in immersive storytelling. With a focus on creating emotional journeys and fostering post-show reflections, she ignites discussions on the potential of immersive rituals and the future of our bodily experiences.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Victorine van Alphen, a transmedia artist and curator, dives into her unique blend of immersive technology and philosophy. She shares how her diverse background influences her work, particularly her project IVF-X, which provocatively merges reproduction and post-humanism. Victorine explores complex themes like gender, cyborg identities, and the ethical dilemmas of genetic selection. Her insights on creating digital presence in VR challenge traditional storytelling, inviting deeper philosophical reflections on existence and agency.

In this conversation, Dutch artist Sjef van Beers delves into his creative journey with the Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece series. He explains how he transforms RGB keyboards into animated displays, discussing the intricate hardware hacking involved. The talk also covers the intersection of gamer culture and politics, exploring empathy in online interactions and the rejection narrative surrounding gamers. Sjef shares insights on curating digital artifacts and previews his innovative projects like hacked self-scanners, making for a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary digital art.

Matt Romijn, a performance artist and theatre practitioner, dives into the innovative world of hybrid stage pieces and interactive narratives. He discusses his recent project, MILKMAN ZERO, a live text-adventure performance, drawing inspiration from fifty years of text games. Romijn shares insights on audience interaction, his unique performance style, and the technical workflow behind creating his theatrical experiences. He also explores the future of interactive performance, emphasizing a generational shift towards blending gaming with theater.

In this conversation, Jeroen van Loon, a Dutch artist dedicated to documenting digital culture, delves into his fascinating long-term project, Life Needs Internet. He shares insights on how a 2010 offline experiment transformed into a global archive of handwritten letters. Jeroen highlights generational shifts in attitudes toward the internet, with letters revealing both connections and critiques of technology. The importance of preserving physical archives over digital ones is also discussed, along with thoughts on the future of communication and AI's potential impact.

Albert Johnson, known as Vile, is a music artist and immersive creator renowned for his photorealistic 3D environments. He discusses the inception of his immersive album AÜTO/MÖTOR, blending web 1.0 aesthetics with interactive experiences. Johnson shares his journey of self-teaching code to create a visual album, highlights the inspirations from his Chicago roots, and critiques the music industry's traditional formats. He anticipates a future of immersive music shaped by bespoke 3D and AI-generated content, advocating for impactful storytelling in music.

Nathalie Lawhead, known as Alien Melon, is an experimental game designer and net artist exploring internet culture and anti-big tech themes. In a fascinating discussion, she delves into the nostalgia for early internet creativity, critiques the social media's mental health toll, and highlights artists’ struggles against the tech industry. Lawhead also advocates for reclaiming decentralized networks and discusses her innovative playable essay, showcasing how art can restore empathy in a commodified digital landscape.

Claudix Vanesix, a Peruvian performance artist and director of Feedback: An Antifuturist Musical, joins digital artist Aaron Medina to discuss their innovative project. They dive into the concept of anti-futurism, exploring its political implications and how it challenges dominant narratives. The duo shares their creative processes, including the fusion of diverse musical styles like reggaeton and vaporwave. Technical challenges, such as CGI and motion capture, are tackled, highlighting their unique artistic collaboration. They call for solidarity to support local creators and promote inclusive platforms.