Virtual reality (VR) technology and art have found themselves to be mutually beneficial to one another, whether by way of artists using headsets to display immersive works or VR being used to actually create. The latest instance of this will be found this weekend in London, UK, when the Hayward Gallery curates a special free arts festival across the city called Art Night featuring one-off projects and premieres by 12 internationally renowned artists.
The festival itself will take place in iconic and off-the-beaten-track venues along a trail that runs from Southbank Centre, through Vauxhall and Nine Elms, and Battersea Power Station. These include cultural landmarks such as the Hayward Gallery and the Garden Museum, to New Covent Garden Market, the British Interplanetary Society and Embassy Gardens.
Out of all the exhibits two will use VR technology as a means of transporting guests to new worlds. Halil Altindere will present Space Refugee at the British Interplanetary Society in Vauxhall, creating a multimedia installation designed in a similar way to an old fashion space museum. The installation focuses on Muhammed Ahmed Faris, the first Syrian Cosmonaut in space, now a refugee in Turkey.
The second VR artwork comes from Miao Ying, presented in the Embassy Gardens Marketing Suite, Miao Ying. Called Happily Constructed, Ying’s first work using VR is described as ‘lifestyle hypnotism’, casting attendees as a consumer on a journey in search of utopia and contemporary ideas of home.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Art Night team to present brilliant works by an international range of artists,” said Ralph Rugoff, Hayward Gallery Director in a statement. “Stretching across a deeply interesting part of the city that is being rapidly redeveloped, Art Night will showcase extraordinary performances, installations and films that explore ideas related to “home.” Building on the success of the previous iterations of this all-night festival as well as the Hayward Gallery’s own history of presenting ambitious off-site projects by contemporary artists, Art Night 2018 should light up the night with some very adventurous art.”
Art Night will take place this Saturday 7th July 2018 from 6.00pm to 6.00am in London. For further details on where to go and what’s being shown head to the official website. For the latest uses of VR and art, keep reading VRFocus.
via Mint VR