Building on 2018’s successful studio program, Tactical Space Lab is hosting an experimental virtual reality lab program with artists Tarik Ahlip, Cigdem Aydemir, Kylie Banyard, Nic Cassey, John Gillies, Grace Kingston, Claudia Nicholson, Jason Phu, and Louise Zhang.
In a two-week intensive workshop format, each artist will be introduced to a range of current VR and immersive technologies, and provided with the tools to explore them through a process of collaborative development, responding to possible forms of integration in their practice.
The lab focuses on developing new tools, new thinking, and new ways of using VR, by providing a context for technology- and concept-driven experimentation. Outcomes and knowledge gained will be shared widely through exhibitions, artists’ talks, adult and youth workshops, video documentation, and the online development blog.
In light of the COVID-19 guidelines and social distancing, we’re experimenting with ways of engaging the wider community and building an online audience. In response to these changes, our VR studios will be ‘launched’ as live-streamed demo’s and Q&A sessions on Facebook Live. Event information and links to the live stream will be posted on our Facebook page.
Tactical Space Lab invites you to join us online for the presentation of work from our experimental VR studio with our participating artists.
This project has received funding from the CreateNSW Covid-19 Quick Response Grant, supporting the provision of equipment (including a supplementary VR headset) and the development of remote collaborative processes that have allowed us to respond to ongoing changes in social distancing requirements, and continue to work with high-risk co-collaborators safely and remotely.
Louise Zhang’s studio outcomes were designed to allow broad accessibility without needing a virtual reality headset. VR content was uploaded to YouTube as a 4k Stereo 360 video that can be viewed on any device compatible with YouTube. If you view it with a 360 and/or VR capable device you can see it with these features. Animated GIFs were also generated of the material/object simulation studies.
Tactical Space Lab has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
The 2020 Virtual Reality Studios are supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.
Documentation produced in partnership with Officedog Productions.
