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Megafauna VR

Version 2 2024-06-02, 23:17
Version 1 2023-07-28, 04:36
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posted on 2024-06-02, 23:17 authored by Stefan GreuterStefan Greuter, Simeon Taylor, Thuong HoangThuong Hoang
Megafauna VR

Funding

Information Embodiment Framework for Education using Immersive Technologies | Funder: Australian Research Council | Grant ID: DE200100898

History

Location

Geelong Design Week 2022

Start date

2023-03-17

End date

2023-03-22

Language

English

Notes

Megafauna by Tabor Robak was exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria as part of the NGV Triennial 2020 and attended by approximately 500,000 visitors. 6,343 people attended Geelong Design Week 2022. Because the Night Interactive Archive was exhibited at Deakin University's NYAAL Precinct as part of a Deakin Motion Lab showcase. Megafauna VR is available to an international audience worldwide.

Research statement

Background Tabor Robak's Megafauna at NGV Triennial 2020 showcased intricate computer-generated animations featuring representing emerging AI technologies. COVID travel restrictions prevented the artist to travel to Melbourne for an artist talk, leading to a collaboration between the National Gallery of Victoria, Tabor Robak, and Deakin Motion Lab to digitally preserve the exhibition, offering a virtual reality experience for online viewers to explore the exhibits and engage with the artworks. This innovative approach addressed the challenge of preserving gallery exhibitions digitally while ensuring accessibility and continuity of art in the digital age. Contribution The Megafauna VR experience digitally preserved the exhibition by meticulously reconstructing it into an immersive format. This innovative use of virtual reality, carried out by the Deakin Motion Lab, offers digital users an interactive and globally accessible platform to engage with the artworks and explore the exhibition space. By bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms, this research showcases the transformative potential of virtual reality in representing artists and physical exhibitions. It expands the possibilities for accessing and experiencing art, opening new avenues for virtual engagement and redefining artistic presentation. Significance The project was co-designed with the National Gallery of Victoria and Tabor Robak who has been described by the Metropolitan Museum of Art as the most talented and interesting artist using computer graphics today. The work highlights the importance of innovative archiving and preservation methods to extend the life of transient exhibitions and increase access to a digital international audience. Megafauna VR was selected by a peer review panel for Geelong Design Week 2022, featured on the NGV website, and became available worldwide in 2023 on the Meta Quest App Store.

Publication classification

JR4 Recorded/Rendered Creative Works – Digital creative work

Scale

NTRO Medium

Extent

Megafauna is a VR digital art installation comprising 12 luminous 3D animated sculptures representing AI-related technologies, named Magi. The interactive experience incorporates the entire exhibition space including a responsive digital floor projection and a glowing control console. The project also motion-captured artist descriptions to enhance the exhibition design offering viewers a captivating encounter with the artist explaining the interplay of digital imagery and animated forms, fostering reflection on the implications of AI in society.

Editor/Contributor(s)

Robak T

Event

Megafauna X Deakin Motion Lab, https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/megafauna-x-deakin-motion-lab/

Publisher

National Gallery of Victoria

Place of publication

Melbourne, Vic.

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