054

Authors:

 Davies, Char.

Title:

 The Immersive Virtual Environments Osmose & Ephemere: Towards a De-objectified Interpretation of Being in the World

Keywords:

 immersive virtual-reality,counter-space ,embodiment , Nature

Abstract:

 I will present video documentation of the immersive virtual environments Osmose (1995) and Ephemere (1998) for the first time to a South American audience. I will contextualize these works in terms of Henri Lefebvre's call for the construction of "counter-space" in the face of the de-humanizing, homogenizing absolute space of "King Logos". I will discuss how these works facilitate an experience of paradoxically disembodied yet embodied being whereby habitual perceptual boundaries between subject-object and self-world are transcended, providing temporary releasement from the Cartesian worldview into a de-objectified, process-based interpretation of the natural world.


(Henri Lefebvre, The Production of Space, Oxford: Blackwell, 1991)
Davies,Char Char@immersence.com www.immersence.com Char Davies (Canada) has achieved international recognition for her work in virtual reality, fusing art, nature and technology. Trained as a painter and filmmaker, in 1988 she became a founding director and vice-president of the software company Softimage Inc. While at Softimage, she constructed the virtual environment Osmose (1995), renown for its embodying interface and psychologically-transformative effects on participants. In 1998, she co-produced the virtual-environment Ephemere which premiered at the National Gallery of Canada. An extensive bibliography on the works can be found at www.immersence.com. Davies is currently completing doctoral research at University of Wales College, Newport, Wales (CAiiA: Centre for Advanced Inquiry in the Interactive Arts).