3-D Experimental VR and Art Practices: Untangling Another Dimension

The book explores the themes of visual perception, 3-D, and stereo in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and how artists have used these technologies to address themes such as consciousness, the human-machine relationship, and mapping reality. It includes an introduction, summary of chapters, 86 anaglyphic 3-D images, and a survey of artists working in 3-D and virtual reality.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2023
Publisher: Intellect Books

The book delves into profound themes such as visual perception, the perception of 3-D and stereo, and the captivating evolution of vision and perception in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This era witnessed the rise of stereoscopes and the theatre, along with the emergence of dioramas and panoramas, which effectively marketed visual experiences to a mass audience. As a result, the spectacle created by stereoscopes and other optical devices can be considered a precursor to the widespread dissemination of media today.

However, artists have embraced the stereoscope and virtual reality (VR) not just as tools for entertainment but also as means to explore and express profound ideas. They utilize these technologies to signify the spectacle, clairvoyance, vision, and the intricate mechanisms of sight. Moreover, artists employ the stereoscope and VR as symbols for the act of looking, being looked at while looking, and the gaze within the realm of art new media practices.

Other artists have ventured into the realm of 3-D and virtual reality to address a wide range of themes. These include theories of consciousness, embodied consciousness, the human-machine relationship, and the exploration of mapping reality, alternative networked realities. The book encompasses an introduction and summary of chapters, accompanied by 86 anaglyphic 3-D images, providing a comprehensive survey of artists working in 3-D and virtual reality. It also explores the convergence of other fields such as new media art, video art, and early virtual reality art through numerous examples within its scope.

The book features discussions on renowned artists who have made significant contributions to the field, including Mert Akbal, Zoe Beloff, Geoffrey Berliner, Lygia Clark, Dan Graham, Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, Scott S. Fisher, Rebecca Hackemann, Perry Hoberman, Daniel Iglesia, Ken Jacobs, William Kentridge, Susan MacWilliam, Patrick Meagher, Rosa Menkman, Jim Naughten, Tony Ousler, Alfons Schilling, Joel Schlemowitz, Christopher Schneberger, Judith Sönniken, Ethan Turpin, Aga Ousseinov, Colleen Woolpert. Additionally, a pair of 3-D glasses is included with the hardback edition of the book, enhancing the reader's immersive experience.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 169 x 244 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789388756