Extended reality takes visitors from the ruins of West Bank to 17th-century Amsterdam at Venice Immersive
From frivolous to serious, virtual nosy passersby to the impact of climate change, the groundbreaking festival draws to a close – but this year the exhibits live on
TL;DR
- Venice Immersive is a 10-year-old showcase for new media, evolving from a small side-show to a thriving 10-day event.
- Exhibits range from interactive installations like Celine Daemen's 'Nothing to See Here' to documentaries like 'Raj’in (We Shall Return)' and 'Out of the Ashes'.
- The emergence of lightweight XR glasses signals a new trend, though some projects still lag behind the technology in storytelling.
- Space constraints on Lazzaretto Vecchio island inspire creative installations that cleverly utilize confinement.
- Many works address pressing real-world issues, including climate change, settler violence in the West Bank, and the impact of wildfires.
- The challenge of exclusivity for these immersive experiences is being addressed through location-based exhibition spaces and museum partnerships.
- The future of Venice Immersive is uncertain but has proven to be an equal to traditional cinema in entertainment value and groundbreaking storytelling.