Virtual Reality Performance (unfinished proj.)

                                                                                                                   

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Year: (2020)



This thesis project is a “Virtual Reality Performance Exhibition” I developed based on my performance video called “One who cannot live in the present (Stability)”. When viewer wear the VR device, they can enter a labyrinthine dark space. In the center of this labyrinth there is a room where they can experience the performance video.
‘What does it mean to watch performance video in the exhibition?’ Since this question has always remained in my work, I felt a strong necessity to expand the experience of watching performance video to spatial and sound experience. Since my performance was a lot about emotional experience of “getting lost” and “losing direction”, there was a limit of just showing performance video to deliver the claustrophobic and desperate feeling that I am experiencing inside my costumes. Also, since the site specificity was an important part of
my performance, I wanted viewers to feel the live atmosphere on site. Thus, I came up with this “Virtual Reality Performance Exhibition” Project where viewers can not only watch the video, but also experience my emotional landscape through VR images, sound and space.

As you can see in the image, there is an empty 10’ x 10’ x 10’ dark room (real space). Only one person could go in at a time wearing a VR device. When audiences enter the room, there will be long and dark passage ways like a labyrinth (virtual space). It is totally dark space so they would feel like getting lost in the darkness without knowing where they are heading to. This labyrinth creates frustrated and uneasy feelings that I am feeling inside my costume. However, as they get used to the darkness, they will gradually see things. After wandering around searching for the destination, there is a room at the end of the passageway, which is located in the center of the maze. When they open the door, they can see the rock creature struggling to find its way moving forwards and backwards. It is an hour-long performance where viewers can experience it as if they are watching the performance in real-time on site. The binaural sound will make the virtual experience more real.