The Architecture of Virtual Space — by Or Ettlinger — is in fact two studies in one. On one hand, it is a methodical articulation of the elusive idea of virtual space. On the other, it is a historical overview of works of architecture that were made specifically as the content of pictorial works of art. What brings these two seemingly distinct topics together is the realization that they are in fact complementary – that is, that researching one would provide answers for the other, and vice versa. As such, this study is a work of media theory as well as a work of architectural theory.

Media Theory: A theory of virtual space. Presently, the terms ‘virtual’ and ‘virtual space’ are very loosely defined. With all their widespread use in both popular culture and academic discourse, what do these terms actually mean? Computer-generated? Online? Fictitious? Imagined? Metaphysical? Continue reading

Changing Room by Michael Takeo Magruder — A mixed-reality installation exploring the mutability and reusability of artefacts, concepts and situations in the Digital Age.

Changing Room is an evolving artwork that considers the transitory nature of shared, virtual and mixed-reality environments and the creative potential of working within these liminal spaces. Blending the shared virtual environment of Second Life with the shared physical environment of Eastside Projects, the artwork facilitates the realisation, curation and documentation of distinct – yet interrelated – art projects arising from a common pool of virtual and physical resources. Over a seven-week period, a series of resident artists will be invited to use the spaces and materials to realise works of their own conceptual and aesthetic design. Each project will last for a single week, after which, it will be documented in situ and then be handed over to a new artist for repurposing. Continue reading

[Image: Merry-go-Round by Lily & Honglei] Understanding Machinima: Essays on Filmmaking in Virtual Worlds :: Call for Papers — Deadline: August 30, 2010.

Submissions are invited for an edited book with the working title Understanding Machinima: Essays on Filmmaking in Virtual Worlds. Machinima - referring to “filmmaking within a real-time, 3D virtual environment, often using 3D video-game technologies” as well as works which use this animation technique, including videos recorded in computer games or virtual worlds - is challenging the notion of the moving image in numerous media contexts, such as video games, animation, digital cinema and virtual worlds. Continue reading

Center for Contemporary & Digital Performance Research Seminar Series: The Rise of the Bio-Virtual: Non-place, Disappearance, Indistinction (Life in the Digital Kamp) by Matthew Causey :: February 17, 2010; 2:00 pm (GMT) :: Drama Studio Gaskell Bld. 048, School of Arts, Brunel University, Uxbridge/West London, Cleveland Road + The one hour talks and 30-minute discussions are webcast live on dance tech net TV (then archived).

Within the super-saturation of virtuality and technological reproductions in contemporary digital culture are established zones and terrains of indistinction and disappearance (digital kamps). These electronic environments I would nominate as examples of the bio-virtual (perhaps a post-virtual) and model the fields as a space of bio-politics par excellence. Continue reading

[Image: From "Lifetracing: The Traces of a Networked Life" by Anne Helmond] Facebook: The role of the human agent in a non-neutral technology by Dr. Thomas Giagkoglou:

Abstract: It is hard to dispute the popularity of online social networking especially amongst the young generation. Yet there is little consent about the moral dimension of social network sites, such as Facebook, Bebo and Friendster. For social critics they are merely a means of surveillance and control, while for many members of the digital audience they are a fascinating way to create and validate friendships in a virtual world and place oneself on public display in an almost exhibitionist manner. This essay aims to explore the ‘non-neutrality’ of online social networking (Facebook) in contrast to the significance of the human agent and his-her purposeful use of the technology. Light’s argument on the relevance of the Actor Network Theory (ANT) developed in the work of Latour will be examined and contrasted with the social constructivist view that the actual behaviour of the human agent who uses the technology towards a purpose that sustains a personal meaning may render the alleged amoral dimension of the technology less significant for the individual.

Cross_uniVerse by Mario GerosaPyramidOSIta ( Cyberlandia metaverso italiano 3D ) e in altre sim di Second Life e Open Sim :: DIRETTA STREAMING ed INTERAZIONE

VIRTUAL WORLDS, SOCIAL NETWORKS AND AUGMENTED REALITY: The topic of this conference is virtual worlds and augmented reality. More precisely, we will try to understand how we have gradually arrived at this generalise hypertrophy. Today is not enough to live a single life and we create another, virtual identity. In the same way, urban landscapes are multiplied through augmented reality, which adds an increasing number of scenarios to those perceived by our eyes. Art works too are to be ‘read’ taking into account the stratification of comments and meaning they are made of, while the post-kitsch trend, with a large number of allusions, is growing in strength. Continue reading

DarkMatr :: December 17-19, 2009; 2:00 - 7:00 pm :: Opening: December 16; 6:00 -9:00 pm :: iMAL, Center for Digital Cultures and Technology, 30 quai des Charbonnages, 1080 Brussels.

After 2 residencies at iMAL and one year of work, Tom Heene and his colleagues artists, developers and scientists show the results of the research project DarkMatr. DarkMatr investigates the way virtual and physical data can be merged and presented in a total user experience. The resulting installation uses meaningful representations of web data so that we can empathize with. Taking place within an immersive environment, the visualization is lived as an interactive sensory experience, combining body movements to elements from the internet. Continue reading

The Australian Centre of Virtual Art (ACVA) is pleased to announce the launch of ACVA Lab 2010.ACVA Lab is a forward thinking initiative to promote the pioneering work of Australian artists and technologists using virtual world platforms. ACVA Lab advances the development of artistic networks, prototypes and exchange with its central question: “What could a virtual art lab be if it was imagined by artists for artists?”

ACVA was established in 2007 to help promote the work of selected artists working in digital, hybrid and virtual mediums. ACVA’s first exhibition, Babelswarm, won the Australia Council’s inaugural Second Life Artists in Residence award. Continue reading

ETP_body-spaces09 – Exploration of Nearness & Distance :: December 5, 2009; 8:00 - 9:00 pm :: CIANT | International Centre for Art and New Technologies, Kubelíkova 27, Prague, Czech Republic.

ETP_body-spaces09 – Exploration of Nearness & Distance is an experimental performance of four dancers with simultaneous actions in Prague, Dresden, Madrid and Norrköping. The interactive environment is web-linked and divided into four parts. Each part is bound to explore the relationship between proximity and distance in different ways within net-linked virtual environment :: Part I: body-instruments; Part II: body-visiting of Madrid; Part III: bodies & languages; Part IV: re-body-spaces — Dancer: Johana Matoušková.

“The injunction everywhere to ‘be someone’ maintains the pathological state that makes this society necessary.“- The Invisible Committee

“This is the end. My only friend, the end.” - Jim Morrison

A Virus is haunting the busy communication highways of the social networking sphere: the virus of Seppukoo. The infection has been started off last month with a viral marketing campaign for the launch of the homonym notWorking platform Seppukoo.com. The alert has now reached the pandemic state. Nobody’s safe.

EARLY SYMPTOMS. YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR VIRTUAL IDENTITY. Continue reading