Margaret Watson: Liquid Meditation

Artist(s):

• Margaret Watson

Collaborators:

• Erik Butkus

Title:

Liquid Meditation

Exhibition:

• SIGGRAPH 1999: technOasis

Creation Year:

1997

Medium:

CAVE Virtual Reality Installation

Size:

10 feet x 10 feet x 10 feet

Category:

• Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality

Keywords:

• abstract
• virtual environment

Artist Statement:

Within Liquid Meditation, an immersant encounters abstract water reflections in a unique architecture that expresses a narrative philosophy. As the immersant journeys through the structure, meditative experiences within the reflections foretell the upcoming revelation. Conclusion of the narrative is based on individual navigational choices within the virtual experience.

As a philosophical narrative, this virtual experience is representative of growth in life. Various elements in the narrative structure express a scenario symbolic of attaining awareness. In virtual reality, abstract concepts can be visualized and reality can be re-experienced from a first-hand perspective. Through experience with these concepts in a virtual world, immersants could potentially achieve renewed awareness of their existence in reality.

Other Information:

Art Concept and Realization
Margaret Watson

Sound Design and Musical Composition
Eric Butkus

Graphics and Audio Implementation
Margaret Watson

Production
Electronic Visualization Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago

Ars Electronica Research & Residence Program