VR Library Project
The "VR Library Project" focuses on the unique and diverse immersive experiences offered by technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) within the broader realm of Extended Reality (XR). Centered on VR works, this platform-based project aims to showcase these creations, promote the evolution of new technological media, and reshape the viewing experience. It also aspires to lay a solid foundation for the narrative development and research capacity of new forms of art.
The exhibition features a total of ten works, presented in two programs.
Path to the Past makes use of algorithms to transform and present the artist's memories of his hometown, Shengang. Dora Ep.1 takes the audience back to a Victorian-era’s “medical theater,” where the injustices faced by women and psychosis patients would unfold before the viewer’s eyes in a bizarre and lavish visual style. All That Remains, by Riverbed Theatre, which presented the one-audience-member immersive performance series “Just For You Project”, converts the liveness and theatrical elements of a performance into an immersive experience, while retaining the intimate sense of watching and being watched. Ferenj: A Graphic Memoir in VR recreates scenes with pointillist-like visual language that immerse the viewers in the creator’s memories. VR Free delves into a social experiment as a documentary while breaking spatial limitations and connecting the inside and outside worlds of prison walls. Time Capsule: VR Photography Project captures the decisive moment among the crowds of everyday people, offering more than a glimpse of a frame but a world of panoramic view. Montegelato uses montage to blend time and space, documenting fragments of Italian film history and showcasing the intersection of old and new media and the differences in the viewing perspectives. Body of Mine uses motion capture technology to let the audience enter the body of “the other,” giving voices to the life stories of the transgender people. End of Night poetically transforms the technical flaws of volumetric photography and gives life to a narrative film about a painful journey of escape and survival. The Actor from Golden Triangle fuses the use of VR and traditional Lanna performances from Thailand, depicting a contemporary scene where tradition and modernity, myth, and geopolitics intersect.
In selecting the pieces, the unfamiliarity with VR to view and use the equipment for some viewers was taken into consideration, and by choosing the pieces whose content and form that is fitting for an art museum, it is aimed for the VR pieces that are less frequently exhibited in such venues to resonate with the audience. Regarding the choice of the themes and genres of works, it is hoped to showcase the potential of VR as a medium—to build empathy, evoke imagination, and revisit history and memory.
Important Directions for Viewing
- Aside from needing to request a number card in order to view End of Night, no reservation is required to view the works in this exhibit. Viewings are offered on a first come, first served basis on-site. Admissions for viewing will close 30 minutes before the museum closes each day.
- Visitors that would like to view End of Night should please request a number card from an on-site staff member. The work is screened on the hour. Visitors that are late for their allotted viewing time by more than 5 minutes will lose eligibility for that viewing slot.
- Due to children’s critical visual development period and sizing restrictions of the VR headsets, children must be both 7 years or older and at least 130 centimeters tall to view these works.
- For the best and most comfortable viewing experience, it is recommended that visitors requiring eyeglasses wear contact lenses instead. The VR headsets can be used with standard size glasses, however TFAM is not liable for any damages caused to visitors’ glasses from wearing the VR headset.
- A very small proportion of users may experience dizziness or nausea when using the VR headset. Any visitors suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, epilepsy, or other major illnesses are advised not to use the VR headsets. All visitors must please first assess their own physical health condition before deciding whether or not to view these works. Visitors whose behavior puts them in danger despite being fully informed of the risks by on-site staff will be responsible for any resulting situations that arise.
Program I ：7.13（Sat.）~ 8.4（Sun.）
Path to the Past
Taiwan｜2019｜6Dof｜Non-Verbal｜Unsubtitled｜recommended viewing time 5-10 min
Artist｜Aluan Wang
Dora Ep.1
Taiwan｜2023｜6Dof｜English｜Chinese Subtitle｜13 min
Director｜Chen Yi-Jung
＊Contains mild sexual content and innuendo, recommended for viewers aged 15 and above.
All That Remains
Just For You Project
Taiwan｜2022｜VR 360｜Chinese, English｜Non-Subtitled｜12 min
Director｜Craig Quintero
＊Contains mild sexual content and innuendo, recommended for viewers aged 15 and above.
Ferenj: A Graphic Memoir in VR
USA, Ethiopia｜2020｜VR 360｜English, Amharic｜Chinese Subtitle｜9 min
Director｜Ainslee Alem Robson
VR Free
Italy｜2019｜VR360｜Italian｜Chinese Subtitle｜10 min
Director｜Milad Tangshir
Program II ： 8.6（Tue.）~ 9.1（Sun.）
Time Capsule: VR Photography Project
Taiwan｜2015 ~｜VR360｜Non-Verbal｜Unsubtitled｜recommended viewing time 20 min
Artist｜Chuan Ming-Yuan
Montegelato
Italy｜2021｜VR360｜Non-Verbal｜Unsubtitled｜15 min
Artist｜Davide Rapp
＊The film contains mild violent scenes. Viewer discretion is advised.
Body of Mine
United States｜2024｜6Dof (Interactive)｜English｜Non-Subtitled｜20 min
Director｜Cameron Kostopoulos
＊Recommended for viewers aged 15 and above due to mild nudity scenes.
End of Night
Denmark, France｜2021｜ 6Dof｜English｜Non-Subtitled｜49 min
Director｜David Adler
＊Contains mild violence, viewer discretion advised
The Actor from Golden Triangle
Taiwan｜2023｜6Dof｜Thai｜Chinese Subtitle｜10 min
Director｜Hsu Chia-Wei
＊Except for 'End of Night,' which requires a numbered ticket, all other films are available for walk-in viewing.
TFAM Net.Open - Commoning #3: VR Library Project
The "VR Library Project" focuses on the unique and diverse immersive experiences offered by technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) within the broader realm of Extended Reality (XR). Centered on VR works, this platform-based project aims to showcase these creations, promote the evolution of new technological media, and reshape the viewing experience. It also aspires to lay a solid foundation for the narrative development and research capacity of new forms of art.
Curatorial Team｜Etat
Curator｜Wu Po-Shan
Assistant Curator｜Huang Hui-Ting
VR Technical Manager｜Tsai Meng-Ru
VR Technical Suppot｜Yang Ming-Da
Administration Coordinator｜Huang Shang-Jung
Visual Design｜Robert Lin
Electrical Planning and Lighting | Piccolo Perfetto Inc.
Partner｜Kaohsiung Film Archive, Graduate Institute of Creative Video and Digital Media Industry, National Taiwan University of Art
* VR Library Project, and XR Technology and Performance & Exhibition Development Project is sponsored by National Culture and Arts Foundation