Mixed Reality in Culture

In this episode I talk with Prof David Bassuk speculating on the future narrative directions in the age of mixed
reality. Looking at the osmosis between theatre and MR experience design, we talk about how immersive reality is likely to change storytelling across different media further, the potential for new narrative forms, and their challenges for cultural production.

Links talked about:

David Bassuk is a Professor of Theater, Transmedia, and Immersive Narrative and Experience Design, including Game Design and location-based technology. He specializes in creatively exploring Spatial Storytelling in live and virtual settings focussing on developing meaningful and engaging interactions between designers and participants using layers of technology within performances and theme parks.

In this episode Christiana Kazakou and me talk about the curator's role expansion towards transdisciplinary creative production for Mixed Reality installations/experiences.

Christiana Kazakou is a trans-disciplinary Researcher, Curator & Producer. She is the Program Engagement Specialist for LEONARDO/ISAST and LASER Talks; a program of international gatherings that fosters interdisciplinary dialogue and opportunities for community building in over 50 cities & 5 continents worldwide. Her current research with i-DAT, funded by the UK Arts & Humanities Research Council, explores transdisciplinary curatorial models and spatial trajectories within the art & science discourse.

Links mentioned in the episode:

New Media Curating list

computer arts society

Further links:

Ars Electronica Open Calls - https://ars.electronica.art/news/en/opencalls/

S+T+Arts Open Calls - https://starts.eu/calls/
Leonardo Opportunities Hub - https://leonardo.info/calls-jobs-and-events

Residency Opportunities - https://resartis.org

Art Quest - https://artquest.org.uk/opportunities/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9IayBhBJEiwAVuc3fgDETpDX0F_NZshOga9Coh6RtwvJrKJynkl6Wi_n_W7BbPJARgBfLBoCJUkQAvD_BwE

In this episode I talk to Dr Kai Lukoff about designing AR experiences with and for indigenous communities. We talk about co-creations models, ethics in co-design including the Design Justice principles, research with respect to the community's self-determination rights, and how to handle data management in funding applications for projects where the community takes the lead in research.

I talk with Prof Marientina Gotsis about the challenges that VR/MR environments pose to how we understand movement and use our locomotor and vestibular abilities in virtual spaces. Marientina discusses some of her projects on sensory motor rehabilitation and the knowledge gained from them in terms of interaction design in VR.

Marientina Gotsis is an artist, designer and technologist. She is Professor of Practice at the Interactive Media & Games Division of the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. She has a broad background in arts, design, and engineering with a special interest in interactive entertainment applications for health, happiness, and rehabilitation.

In this episode I talk with Andreea Ion Cojocaru about the current challenges of the MR tools development landscape and we look at the potential for shaping a healthy business ecosystem for tools developers and tools users.

The VR tool we talk about in the episode developed by NUMENA, the company that Andreea has co founded:

How can we design relaxing and nurturing, safe spaces in VR that can be social as well? I talk with Maf’j Alvarez about her recent project to design a VR co-maker space, its design challenges, and the vision for future developments.

Holonspace: http://www.limbicfish.net/holonspace-with-etienne-le-comte/

Maf'j Alvarez is a digital media artist and creative technologist based in Brighton, UK. Her work focuses on ecology, cultural and gender diversity in relation to open access to technology. She also works as a user experience designer on large-scale digital transformation projects for government services. She has helped other women learn VR through hack days, mentoring, talks, and collaborations.

Season 4 is here and starts with an in depth conversation on the gender data gap in medicine and how VR can address it.

Mariza in conversation with Camille Baker, an artist-performer/researcher/curator within various art forms and maker of participatory performance and immersive artwork. Camille develops methods to explore expressive non-verbal modes of communication, extended embodiment and presence in real and mixed reality and interactive art contexts, using XR, haptics/ e-textiles, wearable devices and mobile media.  Camille is a Senior Tutor for the Digital Direction Masters Programme at the Royal College of Art and Professor of Interactive and Immersive Arts. 

Camille's works that are discussed:

Mammary Mountain: https://mammary-vr.art/

In this episode Dr Maria Saridaki and I continue our discussion on our latest work where we approach MR experience design through the lenses of ceremonial Magick practices. 

In this episode I talk with Dr Maria Saridaki about our latest work to approach MR experience design through the lenses of ceremonial magick practices. We discuss in depth our exploration in what we can borrow from occult practitioners that will offer new perspectives for MR design and reflect on a framework we recently created that can be read here: https://t.co/rPyyEg60QF  (another full scale academic article will be published in a couple of months): 

Apart from an excellent colleague and friend, Maria is an academic and cultural manager. She has a PhD in inclusive playful interactions and digital games from University of Athens, a post-doc on myths and Digital Storytelling for women in vulnerable social groups and an Msc in Information Management where she researched friendly interactions in MMORPGs. she currently works on XR and magickal rituals and is currently based in Berlin. You can find her over at https://www.morethangames.gr/ and on Twitter as @StrangeLilleris.

Where do you start with Mixed Reality if you have little or no development experience? How do you engage with the medium critically when you approach it from an artistic perspective? Lucas De Wold (aka Nearly Norman), artist, educator and facilitator exploring and creating immersive realities talks to me about his journey in Mixed Reality. Follow us along for a discussion about support networks, creating and sharing tools, communities and social MR, and a critical engagement with the medium as a catalyst for human connection.

Lucas Dewulf (Nearly Norman) is the founder of XRT. He is developing his artistic practice creating experiences where human connection is central. Key to his work is using the affordances of digital technologies to explore the physical world and to question our analog nature within virtual space.

Currently he lives in Ghent, Belgium (which I pronounce completely wrong!).