Daniel J. Sandin: Neither Here Nor There
Artist(s):
Title:
- Neither Here Nor There
Exhibition:
Creation Year:
- 1996
Category:
Keywords:
Artist Statement:
Virtual reality creates environments where the meaning resides primarily in its immersive and interactive qualities. These interactive works engage the viewer in experiences that break the traditional boundaries of art, by actively involving participants in a series of visually compelling environments. They extend the traditional arts by encouraging the viewer to actively participate in the creative process.
In this work, virtual reality becomes accessible to digital artists through the lmmersaDesk, a projection-based, drafting-table-sized virtual reality system. The size and position of the screen give a sufficiently large wide-angle view that the viewer feels fully immersed in the visual scene. Head tracking allows the participant to experience a first-person view as opposed to the third-person view that is experienced with other visual media. The hand position is tracked by the “wand”, the main device with which participants can manipulate the scene. Additionally, the area around the desk is surrounded by a directional sound system.
The physical installation of the lmmersaDesk creates an evocative setting for viewers to experience and participate in the worlds that unfold before them. It merges aesthetic and conceptual concerns with high- resolution display technology, network connectivity, and advanced visualization techniques. Moreover, participants at remote sites have the opportunity to explore the same worlds and interact with each other.
Neither Here Nor There is a series of collaborative events utilizing advanced networking, software and hardware to interconnect the lmmersaDesk environments in The Bridge: SIGGRAPH 96 Art Show, an lmmersadesk installed in the Digital Bayou, and a CAVE™ at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria. The title of this collaboration reflects the ethereal status of the cybercommunication in current society. It also characterizes the notion that while on a bridge you are between locations. It is a state of being that is time-based, where geographic location (space) is irrelevant.
These virtual reality environments create a new form of communication that offers a presence not ever experienced in traditional forms of communication. By digitally connecting to other VR platforms, users experience the potential of networked interactivity. The use of interactive applications opens a window into the probable future of high-end telecommunications. The fusion of disciplines is the basis for this unique collaborative effort. In this model, technology and art collaborate to create highly interactive and immersive virtual environments.
Affiliation Where Artwork Was Created:
- University of Illinois at Chicago
Other Information:
This was an on-screen exhibition organized by Dan Sandin.
Participating Artists
JIM BARR
BOR-TYNG LIN
KEITH BEU
GARY LINDAHL
JEFFERY BROOKS
DEBRA LOWMAN-MELCHIONDA
DREW BROWNING
ERAN MILLER
ORLANDO CARNATE
ALAN MILLMAN
TOM COFFIN
DAVE PAPE
ALAN CRUZ
KYOUNG PARK
MAREK CZERNUSZENKO
SO YEN PARK
GREG DAWE
CLAIRE PRUCHER
MARGARET DOLINSKY
MAGGIE RAWLINGS
TERRY FRANGUIADAKIS
JOE REITZER
ROBERT GRZESZCZUK
MARIA ROUSSOS
YUN-WEN HSU
DAN SANDIN
Ml LANA HUANG
GRIT SEHMISCH
JOE INSLEY
VINCENT SHINE
KA LEUNG JARK
MARCUS THIEBAUX
ANDREW JOHNSON
BOVORNPOL THIENSIRI
LOUIS KAUFFMAN
SELENA TRAMAYNE
JOHNNY LAWSON
CHRISTINA A. VASILAKIS
JASON LEIGH
MARGARET WATSON