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| Seo Hyun-suk's VR performance "X (Indifferent Spectacle)" at MMCA Seoul / Courtesy of Seo Hyun-suk |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Virtual reality (VR) bridges the physical and digital world in many different fields, and it has entered art museums to push the boundaries of contemporary art.
Wearing a VR headset and lying down on a bed leads the user to explore the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA) in a completely different way, in Seo Hyun-suk's new artwork "X (Indifferent Spectacle)."
Seo scanned the venue, Gallery 5 of MMCA Seoul, in 3D, using light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology, and made the VR version in the gallery's actual size. In the participatory performance, users can take a stroll around the gallery space reproduced in the virtual world, stepping into some unlikely sensations as they explore a familiar museum in an unfamiliar way.
The "X" in the title comes from philosopher Immanuel Kant's concept of the transcendental object, as users will feel the gap between the actual museum and its virtual, illusory representations.
This artwork is part of the "MMCA Performing Arts 2021: Multiverse" program, which runs throughout the year, featuring six projects by five artists and teams.
MMCA has been embracing multidisciplinary art since 2017 through the MMCA Performing Arts program. This year, the program expands to state-of-the-art technologies, to have a fresh look into contemporary art under the theme of "Multiverse," or the physical hypothesis that there are multiple universes.
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| Kwon Ha-youn's participatory VR performance, "XXth Attempt towards the Potential of Magic," at MMCA Seoul / Courtesy of Kwon Ha-youn |
MMCA director Youn Bum-mo said that Multiverse is "a program that further expands the scope of art while reflecting the spirit of the present era ― convergence."
The hands-on approach to art created with state-of-the-art science technology will stir up people's imaginations and sense of possibility concerning art.
"I tried to find artists with critical perspectives about the effects of media and technology, instead of showcasing spectacles of technology," said Sung Yong-hee, the curator of the exhibition.
"Art and technology function as the joints that connect different worlds. As joints, technology and art will not only connect, but also reveal the gaps between the two worlds ― each filled with its own deficiencies and anomalies."
The project will continue throughout the year.
Kwon Ha-youn's "XXth Attempt towards the Potential of Magic" kicked off the program in February. The participatory VR performance invites three people at a time to explore an artificially created world in the VR headset, while actual performers interpret the movements within the VR experience in reality.
An Jung-ju/Jun So-jung's "The Ghost in the Machine" will be presented in May. Utilizing self-driving technology, a racing drone will fly around the space at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour, taking videos of various structures of the exhibition. The images will be displayed in real time.
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| Kimchi and Chips' "Halo" was installed at the Somerset House Edmond J. Safra Fountain Courtyard in London in 2018. The robotic mirror installation will come to MMCA Seoul in June. Courtesy of Kimchi and Chips |
Korean-British artist duo Kimchi and Chips will bring two of their works, "Halo" and "Untitled," to the museum in June. "Halo" visualizes the sun, using both artificial elements ― 99 mirrors developed based on mathematical principles ― and the natural factors of sunlight, wind and water. "Untitled" is a metaphorical presentation of an infinite world using telescopes and mirrors.
Artist Jeong Geum-hyung will reveal "Toy Prototype," her DIY robot-making project, in August, with the aim of exploring the relationships between robots, objects and humans.
In October, Hoonida Kim will present "Landscape being Decoded," which employs LiDAR technology and the vision sensors of self-driving technology. It will provide a new perspective on humans' ways of thinking in comparison to machines' recognitions of space.
