Second Life Machinima To Be Featured at the World Expo in Shanghai Next Month!

Only a couple days ago, I noted that an artist who uses Second Life in her work is a finalist for a prestigious art prize, and now here's even more news ratifying the value of SL as an art medium: The Universal Exposition (also known as the World's Fair) has introduced new art and technology to humanity since the 19th century. (E.G., the telephone.) The latest fair is taking place now in Shanghai, China, and next month, another relatively new medium will be introduced in this venue:

"For the first time in history," Spanish art director Cristina García-Lasuén tells me, "machinimas are going to be shown and take part in a World Expo." She is the curator for OPEN THIS END, the Madrid gallery non-profit organization putting together the multimedia for the "Air Tree", one of the City of Madrid's Spain's contributions to the fair. As it happens, Ms. García-Lasuén is also a Second Life user, known as Aino Baar in SL, and she's already compiled a collection of great SL machinima that millions of Expo visitors will see. I'm still getting details on how this landmark event came together, but confirmed the basics with Linden Lab, who are loaning some virtual land for the show.

For now, here's one of the SL machinimas that visitors to Shanghai will see: "No Color", by metaverse artist (and occasional contributor to this blog) ColeMarie Soleil:

Image credit: en.expo2010.cn

Comments

[Ann Otoole]

There is a lot of art in SL. Most of it gets blown off as freaks in weird avatars.

Oh well back to the under culture.

[Maya Paris]

Art made in Virtual Worlds is being taken seriously Ann, take a look at this great series of articles on the Art21 blog by Nettrice Gaskins (featuring many artists working in Second Life such as Bryn Oh, AM Radio and Misprint Thursday)
http://blog.art21.org/author/nettrice-gaskins/

[soror nishi]

Artists will do more for SL than the Lab (with their "imitation RL" adverts).

[Juko]

Keep an eye on Bryn Oh's blog for more details about this amazing opportunity to showcase SL art, and the excellent work of this group of talented artists to bring 5 sims of creativity together: http://brynoh.blogspot.com/

[Chenin Anabuki]

That machinima is intense. This is a very good recognition for the artist.