VWBPE Contribution 2024: Back To The Future - Extraterrestrial Myths Of Origin

Seven artists decided not to visualise past myths of origin, but transfer the imagination to a future on extraterrestrial planets. So it turned out as a multimedia project, because everybody had to invent a textual myth and present that with the  artistic options of virtual worlds.

These are the individual concepts (alphabetical sequence), which include also a description for the interactivity and the immersion, that can be achieved by diving into the specific virtual installation:

1. Asmita Duranjaya (host and artist) visualizes a future planet and the contact of humans with light-beings, the Luminites. 

The Luminites on the Planet Xyron

Visitors can immersively experience the scenery by clicking for the myth-tale and reading the questions; then they can interactively suggest some answers concerning the contact by dropping a notecard into a device.

Interactive task:

- Click on one of the flat lotus-pads (according to your language) and read the "myth of origin" related to the

Luminites.

- Sit on the seat in the middle and press the esc-button: you will slowly rotate and see the Luminites in the colour-rays.

- Open a new nc and write down your answer for the following questions:

   - How would the Luminites react, when humans would arrive on their planet?

   - How would the humans react, when they discover the presence of the Luminites?

   - How can the story continue? Write a future concept for the planet of Xyron.

- Drop your nc into one of the purple lotus- boxes beside this board.

interstellART_exhibitions (570, 369, 2075)

2. Azi Az (artist) has decided to present an external scenery on her own sim. Visitors can tp and return.

The artist visualizes the Mythic Origin of the Planet SunLua , long ago when the Sun crashed with the Moon there was an explosion......the explosion was so strong and powerfull that something very special happened .....LOVE...

What can you do there? Let you surprise ...

interstellART_exhibitions (371, 679, 2075)

3. Barret Darkfold (artist) visualizes a New Catalonia on an extraterrestrial planet.

Myth of the origins of the Catalans of the planet Terros: It is said that the Catalans of the planet Terros are the descendants of the union between the Catalans who lived inside Gemdos and Gemdos itself.  Gemdos was a living galactic supership with all the necessary functions, created by the ancient Catalans to move and terraform uninhabited planets and give them their own life and population. That is why they are not affected by gravity and can move in time.

What can you do here?

- Read the Myth of New Catalonia;

- sit on one of the Sardana-balls and dance with the Catalans;

- tp inside Gemdos and read the myth of origin;

- tp back to Terros and walk around the landscape;

- feel the energy of shape, color and movement in this installation

interstellART_exhibitions (556, 551, 2075)

4. Caro Fayray (artist) visualizes the Mythic Origin of the Planet POD.

A strange new planet rose from the fire in the sky.  With the land still moving and emerging, PODS are the only living growing things. But the pods are evolving into a weird new life form which have learned to use the growing pods to live their lives there peacefully.

High in the single mountain is a fiery glow and myth has it, that if someone can reach the top they can bring back the glow to help protect and advance life on this planet. So all visitors are told of this myth, but so far no one has managed to reach the top.

Was this glow the origin of the planet?...No one knows...But the mountain is a sacred place held in reverence by the planets inhabitants.

There are many immersive and interactive elements in Caro's installation, which have to be discovered by the visitors:

- Where you arrive you can help tend the pods. 3 separate stages of growth.

- Walk through the mountain to read the boards on Mythic Origins.

- Have a hug. 

- Dance with the Pods. 

- Swing with the pods.

- Then climb the mountain through the clouds. 

- Negotiate the ice maze and reach the top to find your gifts from the Glow.

-  Wear your Glow Bird and Fly:)

interstellART_exhibitions (118, 442, 2078)

5. Sanjeewa Kumara (artist) visualizes the mythic origin of the planet Chromia. It is a planet purely born within painterly and with art techniques without the influence of a reflective and subconscious mind.

What can you do here?

- Read Sanjeewa's Myth Of Origin on the board at the landing spot;

- discover Sanjeewa's textures by buying the book for 0 and use it as a hud or

- by walking through the installation;

- dance with Sanjeewa's figures and enjoy the landscape with the moving moon.

interstellART_exhibitions (541, 173, 2075)

6. Shenn Tao (artist) created the Myth of the Zenari, a species on the planet Xyloth, who developed a religion comparable to the Buddhism on Earth.

What can you do here?

- Read the myth at the landing area;

- explore the impressive artistic style of Shenn's sculptures;

- Walk or fly around and let you inspire by the meditative energy of the place.

interstellART_exhibitions (166, 252, 2076)

7. Sujeewa Kumari (artist) visualizes the mythic origin of the planet Zenthoria, where the inhabitants live in highly technologized bubbles, which are floating in the air and like a floating house they can move wherever they want. 

What can you experience here?

- Read Sujeewa's Myth OF Origin by clicking the info-board;

- sit on the globes and discover many sitting, movement and dance-poses and animations;

- buy the art chair on the landing spot for 0 and use it for your purposes;

- sit on the rock for a meditation and enjoy the environment and the Theta-sound;

- read about the artist and her development.

- touch the objects and find out, whether there is a specific sound.

interstellART_exhibitions (244, 631, 2074)

And as an additional ennvironment:

Enter OS Grid, create or modify your avatar, choose the profile of Asmita Duranjaya, go to her recommendations and choose VWBPE - enjoy!

Caro Fayray - Worlds Within Worlds - interstellART_exhibitions

Caro Fayray lässt den Besucher teilhaben an ihren ausgedehnten Reisen und benutzt ihre Reisefotos, um eine beeindruckende Kunstinstallation damit zu schaffen. Man fühlt sich an einen Irrgarten erinnert, doch weisen Pfeile den Weg ziemlich klar. 

Caro Fayray lets the visitor share in her extensive travels and uses her travel photos to create an impressive art installation with them. One is reminded of a maze, but arrows point the way quite clearly.

Caro Fayray fait partager au visiteur ses longs voyages et utilise ses photos de voyage pour créer une installation artistique impressionnante. On a l'impression d'être dans un labyrinthe, mais les flèches indiquent clairement le chemin.

Caro Fayray hace partícipe al visitante de sus extensos viajes y utiliza sus fotos de viaje para crear con ellas una impresionante instalación artística. Uno recuerda un laberinto, pero las flechas señalan el camino con bastante claridad. 

Die Künstlerin gruppiert eigene Fotos zu Themen-Kombinationen, wodurch interessante Überlagerungen und 3D-Collagen entstehen, wie zum Beispiel religiöse Ausdrucksformen in verschiedenen Kulturen.

The artist groups her own photos into thematic combinations, creating interesting overlays and 3D collages, such as religious expressions in different cultures.

L'artiste regroupe ses propres photos en combinaisons thématiques, ce qui donne lieu à des superpositions et des collages 3D intéressants, comme par exemple les expressions religieuses dans différentes cultures.

La artista agrupa sus propias fotos en combinaciones temáticas, creando interesantes superposiciones y collages en 3D, como las expresiones religiosas en diferentes culturas.

Die Fauna in unterschiedlichen Weltgegenden oder architektonische Beobachtungen werden durch direkte Überlagerungen zu spannenden Fusionen.

Fauna in different parts of the world or architectural observations become exciting fusions through direct superimpositions.

La faune dans différentes régions du monde ou des observations architecturales deviennent des fusions passionnantes grâce à des superpositions directes.

La fauna de distintas partes del mundo o las observaciones arquitectónicas se convierten en emocionantes fusiones mediante superposiciones directas.

Caro Fayray möchte ihre unzähligen Eindrücke dabei gleichzeitig als dreidimensionales persönliches Fotoalbum verstanden wissen als auch anderen die Möglichkeit einräumen, die Ausstellungswürfel als Schutzräume zu verstehen, in denen man Abstand gewinnen und Neues entdecken kann.

Caro Fayray wants her countless impressions to be understood as a three-dimensional personal photo album at the same time as giving others the opportunity to understand the exhibition cubes as shelters in which one can gain distance and discover new things.

Caro Fayray souhaite que ses innombrables impressions soient considérées à la fois comme un album photo personnel en trois dimensions et comme la possibilité pour d'autres de considérer les cubes d'exposition comme des abris dans lesquels on peut prendre du recul et découvrir de nouvelles choses.

A Caro Fayray le gustaría que sus innumerables impresiones se entendieran como un álbum de fotos personal tridimensional, al tiempo que ofrece a los demás la oportunidad de entender los cubos de la exposición como refugios en los que se puede ganar distancia y descubrir cosas nuevas.

Es wird empfohlen, den interstellART-Hud zu benutzen, um zu der Ausstellung zu gelangen:

It is recommended to use the interstellART-Hud to get to the exhibition:

Il est recommandé d'utiliser le hud interstellART pour accéder à l'exposition :

Se recomienda utilizar el interstellART-Hud para llegar a la exposición:

x-grid-info://osgrid/region/interstellART_exhibitions/126/364/2022 .

Caro Fayray - Light in The Darkness

 

1. What was your first association, when you heard about the topic "Reconnaissance In Times Of Darkness"?

Answer 1: We are in the middle of Darkness right now, in so many ways. The planet. Humanity. Global warming. Greed. Inequalities. Suffering. So to me the topic was immediate and very broad.

2. Reconnaissance is exploration conducted to gain information with observation, surveillance and knowledge. How did you 'explore' the darkness.

Answer 2: I made lists and I researched articles and looked at images of different ways the problems could be addressed and outcomes reversed or improved.

3. How long did the process of creation last for this exhibition?

Answer 3: I was invited to join the team in January and the exhibition opened at the end of March, so 2 to 3 months. But I used and adapted stuff I had made before as well as creating new ones.

4. Which were the biggest obstacles?

Answer 4:  Mainly frustration at myself when I failed to make stuff work.

5. What are the most important techniques, that you use for virtual art? How did you use these to interpret the theme?

Answer 5: Textures, movement, immersion and interactivity along with prim torture are what i use.  For this display I used moving textures and particles to lead you through it. I like to use sounds as they are very underestimated, I think, in creating the immersion of the experience. I like art that is interactive as it makes you feel it. To me it seems kind of a waste of virtual to just stand and look.

6. What does it mean for you to create art in virtual worlds? Is it different from creating art in RL?

Answer 6: Creating in virtual worlds is my 'meditation', as my daughter calls  it. I am absorbed completely. I will have something in my head that I then try to make happen in virtual.  Not being bound by RL restrictions you can 'fly'. The only restrictions being your imagination and your ability to make it happen.

7. What are your former experiences with art in virtual worlds? Have you taken part in themed  group collaborative projects? Or is your art usually more singular?

Answer 7: My 'art' started out as explorations with torturing prims, textures and particles I had a few displays in small galleries around SL.  I discovered events and did displays for SLBs and Burn2 . Then moved on to opensim. I made OSgrid my home and did events in various  grids.  I enjoy the process of building to a theme and being part of a whole. I have a sim dedicated to art in OSgrid (mine and others).  Recently I took part in a Virtual/RL event for Dutch Design Week in SL and this one in OSgrid.

8. Which role does virtual art play in your country of origin according to your experiences?

Answer 8: During the last year 'virtual art' has become more mainstream. Galleries and  museums have, out of necessity, gained online virtual presence.

9. In which way was the creating of art helpful for you in the covid-crisis?

Answer 9: Once again I could enter 'my world' (as my 4 year old granddaughter calls it) and escape reality:)  Virtual also gave the interaction with others which was missing at this time.

10. Which topic would be interesting to you as an artistic challenge in the  future?

Answer 10: mmmm....this question is hard. Usually I get given a theme and then work to it. I really don't know. There are so many i would be happy to explore:)

Sneak Preview: "Reconnaissance In Times Of Darkness" in OSGrid

 

Wailing women surround a polluted water puddle. They are dressed like figures from an ancient Greek tragedy or like wailing women, who were hired to mourn during funerals in many cultures. Why do they mourn?
In the puddle we see the garbadge of civilization, bottles, plastic bags and paper, chemicals etc. and, when we look closer human bones. A pandemia? A crime? Suicide? Carelessness? An accident? A symbol for the status of mankind and humanity in a threatened world, on a tortured planet. Our values and convictions are emerging in times of darkness and reveal our true achievements.
Dark times can insofar be seen as an advantage: they help to achieve reconnaissance.
Art in its divers options of expression is an optimal medium to express the emotional part of darkness. The additional features of virtual worlds are the immersion and interactivity, which help to dive deeply into the context and process the traumata and threats of the dark sides of life. Art can help to become aware of all variants of negative impacts.
As its best it can wake up the power to resist and lay the seed for a better future.

10 artists have taken the opportunity to create huge installations related to the given topic. Here is a sneak preview of the ones, who are already or nearly finished and could be visited already. Landing spot is: x-grid-info://osgrid/region/interstellART_exhibitions/387/338/24, from where the gates to each artist are available.

Victoria Logan's (Argentine) focus is on "Mental Health In Pandemic Times" (Spanish and English):

The pandemia is also the focus of Tina Bey's (Argentine) installation "Pandemic Darkness":

The British artist Caro Fayray tries to shed "Light On The Darkness" on our planet:

French artist Claude Belgar shows in his minimalistic style the topic "Science In Dark Times" and goes back in history to Galileo Galilei:

Shenn Tao has created a mysterious orb with a dark power inside, an imagination of anti-matter and a "Dark Artistic Exploration":

Photo-artist Fuyuko Amano shows photos, taken in Cyber-Punk environments in Second Life and which show the function of "Darkness In Cyber-Punk":

"Threats To Freedom" is the topic of host and artist Asmita Duranjaya. Examples are the umbrella-movement in Hongkong and the general threat to cut down the freedom of media all over the world:

French artist lalie Sorbet focuses on the topic "Dark Shadows On Diversity" and shows brilliant macro-photos of endangered species:

Kuveni Kalakaruwa's "Garden Of Sadness" invites persons, who have lost a family member or a friend during the pandemia, for meditation by sitting down and lightening a candle for their beloved ones.

More topics related to "Reconnaissance In Times Of Darkness" will follow; the following artists are working on their installations:

iSkye Silverweb - Being Deaf In Times Of Darkness

Sujeewa Kumari - Feelings Of Isolation And Distance

We invite all interested hyper-travellers to visit the var-sim interstellART_exhibitions:
hg.osgrid.org:80:interstellART_exhibitions

https://opensimworld.com/hop/85547 .

Visiotrs, who have no open sim-avatar yet can register here, choose an avatar and login.

Look for the profile of Asmita Duranjaya and for VWBPE in the picks. There will be the tp to the welcome area. 

You need a 3rd party viewer for OS:

- http://www.singularityviewer.org/downloads

- https://wiki.firestormviewer.org/doku.php?id=downloads#current_release_for_opensim .