Art in Second Life 2020 (77) MindScape3D

28 Nov 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Art in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

After publishing my post about “Hexagonia” by Amita Duranjaya (read here) I had a chat with Amita and she invited me to visit interstellART, a sim dedicated to the (cyber-)arts, owned and curated by her.

I had never heard of interstellART before but from the information notecards that I got from Asmita I can tell that the sim has several levels full of art and there’s really a lot to see. For my fist visit I decided to see the 3rd level, a landscape-terrain used for special exhibitions. Right now and until the end of 2020 the special exhibtion is “MindScape”, a collaborative project initiated by Asmita Duranjaya. 18 artists have contributed 3D-installations or 2D-pictures and visualize their imagination of the topic MindScape. I visited MindScape3D.

MindScape3D is related to brain research and what can refer to the human mind, how to develop, inspire and care for or manipulate it. 11 artists have created 3D artwork referring to the topic by adding his or her idea, be it more realistic-physical or more mental or philosophical abstract. The 11 artists are: Shenn Coleman, iSkye Silverweb, June Clavenham, Claude Belgar, Kyoko Furse-Barzane (Samara Barzane), Hayden, Melodie Heart (mariemadeleine38), Giselle Seeker (brightlyshyne), Art Oluja (Artistik Oluja), Betty Tureaud and Asmita Duranjaya herself.

The 3D area is a moon landscape that was designed by ShennColeman. Upon landing I met Larita (asmitaduranjaya1), who made writing this report about my visit to MindScape3D way easier:
Welcome at interstellART and the MindScape-project. MindScape is a collaborative art-project initiated by Asmita Duranjaya, curator and artist on this sim interstellART (Nice Atoll). 19 artists have contributed 3D-installations or 2D-pictures to visualize their imagination of the topic MindScape. I am a guide-robot and will lead you through the area with the 3D-art-installatons for an overview.
Each installation has a board with further information, which you can study after the tour on your own.
Please follow me now.

I followed her. There’s a path that lead along the different installation. It starts with the 3D area itself. I use the text from my robot guide Larita along with my pictures for this report.

My robot guide Larita (asmitaduranjaya1)

Our first artist is Shenn Coleman, who has constructed the “Brain-Dome” for this moon-area. He says: “Sharing to reach beyond the boundaries of our imagination is always a fantastic adventure. I like to create to learn and to share, and SL is a wonderful way to do that and i like to explore imaginative ways.
This dome was an attempt to visually represent the function and the genesis of the thoughts in our brain and maybe also to invite other forms of intelligence to come into contact with our human neurons.”

Our next spot is the installation by Danish artist Betty Tureaud. She says: “In computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans. In my art installation I combine AI whith Neuralink, a cable direct into the brain to make a superhuman, a cyborg, where artificial intelligence AI is combined with human intelligence.”
This is an interactive sculpture with a dance-animation, if you sit on it. Jump on it and try it after the tour.

MindScape3D: “Betty Tureaud – AI”

French artist Claude Belgar says: “The sculpture “The Mind Is Free” reflects the freedom of traveling the ocean, using only the natural elements to wander across. The vehicles, ships and a plane refuge from being captured in an abstract head, so it symbolises the flow of mental imaginations – the mind is free.”
You can enter the crater to have a closer look when you come back after the tour.

Artist Kyoko presents her “BLOOD WALL :: Man’s Mind Holocaust-Killing Fields-Hiroshima. I am of the belief that our future will bring many new and wondrous creations, but in the end we will still be capable of turning on each other because of perceived differences or agendas. The 3 parts of this work represent three attempts to solve a problem. All resulting in multiple deaths. In each case methodical and intended.
Kyoko Furse-Barzane
March 2020
Please feel free to enter the dome to see the work from different perspectives.

MindScape3D: “Claude Belgar – The Mind Is Free” and Kyoko Furse-Barzane (Samara Barzane) “BLOOD WALL :: Man’s Mind”

This MindScape-version of the RL nano-graphic novel “The Pool”, written by German author M. K. Iwoleit/Hayden in SL, presents an audio-version in English and German and visitors can listen to the nano-story by clicking the specific keyboard. The installation contains also a virtual book-version. The English version of the human is spoken by Dodge Threebeards, the robot is an artificially produced voice. The German version is spoken by Dick H. G. Read more on the nc and return to the spot after the tour to listen.
Remark: The installation at MindScape3D was created by Asmita Duranjaya. The ambient etude as a background music has been composed and recorded by Hayden who is interested and active in several kinds of artistic expression.

MindScape3D: “Hayden – Der Pool / The Pool”

Artist Giselle Seeker has mystic mind-experiences. She says: “When the mind is at rest, the creative processes can flow more freely with daily stressors and distractions put to rest, as the brain repairs and restores exhausted brain cells. This allows for brain waves to flow more freely with less disruptions in the electro-neurological processes. It also seems to become more aware and open to things of the Spiritual nature. These may or may not be proven by Science, and may not be the proper terminology, but these have been my own observations and experiences in my own lifetime.”
Enter the crater after the tour.

MindScape3D: “Giselle Seeker (brightlyshyne) – The Mind’s Increased Perceptiveness To Spirituality Including Creativity When Asleep Or At Rest”

“The Clover Plant” of artist Melodie Heart refers to the idea, that Shenn’s brain has occupied a dead star and is going to fill it with new life. Melodie says: “Replant a desolate planet with natural seeds. Ban genetically modified organisms, reduce the use of pesticides”. Make it a better world. Study the installation when returning after the tour.

Artist iSkye Silverweb says: “For most people, this is a world full of sound: birdsong, voices, engines, and music. MindScape is a perfect project to demonstrate just a little bit of the experience I have, navigating in a silent world. For me and others who are deaf like me, the world is filled with seeing and feeling. With this installation you may get a taste of how people living in a world without sound come to see the rhythms of life. We can “see” many of the sounds that you hear.”
Study iSkye’s work closer after the tour.

MindScape3D: “Melodie Heart (mariemadeleine38) – The Clover Pant” and “iSkye Silverweb – Visible Rhythms”

The statement of artist June Clavenham is: “‘State of Mind’ intends to be a visual representation of how the thoughts we choose to entertain in our minds affect our emotions, the way we perceive our realitiy, the way we interact with others, and in general, all of our being and our lives.”
Enjoy this sculpture after the tour.

MindScape3D: “June Clavenham – State of Mind”

Artist Asmita Duranjaya says: “After surviving mankind, robots will start to construct their own culture by taking over forms of expression of the HipHop-culture e.g., visually, sonically and kinetically. Culture is the mental shape of beings and the result of mental efforts. No culture without mind.And now listen to the rapper TrippLee and his rap “Robot” or/and dance with the robots.” Enjoy it later.

MindScape3D: “Asmita Duranjaya – No Culture Without Mind”

Artist Art Oluja/Littlewing says: “‘Aural Blossoms’ is an visual-audio experiment in which I’ve played with a collage of colourful textures, incorporating kaleidescope patterns I created out of second life snapshots as well as music visualization wave patterns produced in the iOS beta app ‘Endlesss.’ The idea is to portray the sensation of music that blossoms in your headspace, evoking a landscape of emotion as you listen to different sounds that guide your mood.” Read more on the notecard and interact with the sculpture, when you return for an individual tour.

MindScape3D: “Art Oluja/Littlewing (Artistik Oluja)- Aural Blossoms”

That was our tour to get an overview over the MindScape-exhibition in the 3D-area. I hope you have enjoyed the tour and if so we would be glad about a small donation.
Thank you and have a good time.

I could add a lot more as some of the mentioned notecards contain a lot more information about the artists and about their work. But on one side this entry would become way too long and on the other side, you can go there yourself and read what you’re interested in. In my personal opinion the showcased art did express a lot more to me knowing the thoughts of the artists, for example “Visible Rhythms” being created by a deaf artist.

There’s also a lot more information on the web and the links are provided at the landing spot. I looked up a website about CyberArt: “Introduction, how to define and produce it”.

Thank you Asmita Duranjaya for this special exhibtion MindScape3D and for pointing it out to me. And thank you for providing the space for the arts and your passion for it.

Landmark to MindScape3D
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nice%20Atoll/190/142/3687
A webpage about CyberArt – Introduction, how to define and produce it
http://www.ethnomusicscape.de/cyber/CyberArt.htm

Dio’s 12th year in Second Life Feb 11th, 2019 – Part II

12 Feb 2020 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in anniversary blog entries, Art in Second Life, Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yesterday, I had my 12th anniversary of joining Second Life.
It has become a tradition for me to write a longer blog post on the occasion of my rezzdays, to have a look back on the last year and to realize the changes in my Second Life as well as the things that didn’t change. Yesterday, I published Part I of my anniversary entry and talked about my closer family and the changes in my family. Today’s part II is about the simploring tours I made in my 12th year.

12 years in Second Life – part II: My simploring tours

Let me start with my simploring tours about art in Second Life. I admire the creativity of artists in this virtual world, I visited galleries like Lyric Art Gallery, La Masion D’Aneli, 20][21 gallery, Rey’s Gallery, Shui Mo Gallery, Milly Sharple’s Fractal galleries, Daphne.Arts and Deva Westland’s Galerie Des Beaux-Arts. I visited and wrote about 7 installations of Cica Ghost, who continues to conjure a smile in my face with every of her funny whimsical creations. I saw fewer art installations since the Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) is on hold. But some private initiatives luckily provide space or the artists themselves dedicate their own space. Just recently I saw an exhibition of Mistero Hifeng’s art at Valium Creek Art Park. I saw “The Mind Melter” by Thoth Jantzen at VeGeTaL PLaNeT, I saw “Lalawood” by Theda Tammas, Yoon (onyxxe), Iono Allen and JadeYu Fhang at La Maison d’Aneli as well as “Binary Radiation” by Nino Vichan. I saw Twilights Doors by Bo Zano (Bozanonl Resident), “The Outer Garden” by bisou Dexler, “Inferno” by Noke Yuitza, “Avaloir” by Eupalinos Ugajin, Undertones by Oluja (artistik Oluja) and “Delicatessen – Tell Me a Story” by Meilo Minotaur.

Shui Mo Gallery (upper left) / Aneli Abeyante’s art at La Maison d’Aneli (upper right) / Delicatessen – Tell Me a Story (lower left) / INFERNO by Noke Yuitza (lower right)

Since January 2020 the blog has a new category for blogposts about art in Second Life, I won’t categorize old entries though.

I found many cosy and lovely sims where people built their own dreamworld, peaceful and picturesque. You don’t need many prims or a large place for it, Nevgilde Gaard or Black Mire – around hi-cafe are examples for that. Most of these dreamworlds were homesteads: Florence Bay, Authors Point, Secondlife National Park, Maderia Springs, Blaylock Island, Scarlett Isle, Carolina, Broken, Alternate Reality, Fleur Nederland [Dutch], La Digue, Northern Shore – Skärgården, Soul of Dreams … just to name a few. In these sims I spent relaxing hours and enjoyed the views and the peace.

Northern Shore – Skärgården (upper left) / Scarlett Isle (upper right) / Secondlife National Park (lower left) / Black Mire – around hi-cafe (lower right)

Some were really particular. I want to mention Last Dove, a sim like a movie. It’s setting is based on Lonesome Dove, a 1985 Western novel by American writer Larry McMurtry. Last Dove is still open if you haven’t seen it yet. I also liked Kun-Tei-Ner, a sim that provided a scary view into mankind’s future, a place with no land, a city that grew up on a huge mountain of containers filled with broken technological stuff. And just recently I visited the SS Galaxy, the largest cruiseship in Second Life – impressive, in particular when you consider it’s history.

Last Dove (upper and lower left) / Kun-Tei-Ner (upper right) / SS Galaxy (lower right)

Then there were the sims that have a real background, where a place in the physical world was build in Second Life. This way I got a picture, an idea of the real places and my visits gave reason to do a little bit of research. Venice in Italy was one of these impressing places and I spent some time exploring it.
I had never heard about Ukivok before and now I have the feeling that I’ve been there already. I had heard of Huntington Beach before but wasn’t aware of it’s oil industry history. I also had heard and read of North Brother Island, yet I haven’t been there in real life (yet). Now I somehow feel like I’ve been there. I learned a lot about Chesapeake Bay, a place I’ve been to twice in reality already being not aware of it’s history.

Ukivok (upper left) / North Brother Island (upper right) / Chesapeake Bay (lower left) / Huntington Beach (lower right)

I also discovered many places related to my kinky side, to BDSM. That’s another dream you can live in Second Life and I do. Unfortunately some of these places don’t stay long like the Elevate Femdom Lounge, Windhaven or Meadow Rose. Also some adult places, that we liked to visit every once in a while, are gone now like The Apostasy or Angel of Pain’s BDSM island (Remark: Angel of Pain has a successor sim)

Gone: The Apostasy (upper left) / Angel of Pain’s BDSM Island (upper right) / Dungeon at Windhaven (lower left) / Meadow Rose (lower right)

Just recently I discovered Caged Elegance, a club with many member, lots of events and all sort of kinks. I enjoyed my visit to Catena et Cavea, an adult sim that is also really picturesque. Amrum is another place I not only went to for simploring but also for a session with Mistress Jenny when I had a green light. I like in particular the BDSM vacation home there.
We visited The Obliviation Hole RLV Prison of Starbright Wingtips who gave us a full tour. The prison and what is going on there is a regular subject when we chat during our Friday night parties.

Caged Elegance (upper left) / Catena et Cavea (upper right) / Amrum BDSM vacation home (lower left) / The Obliviation Hole RLV Prison (lower right)

Thank you all for building, for creating and for sharing your dreams (kinky or not kinky) with the rest of the community. And please apologize if I did not mention all of my tours, it were simply too many. I did really enjoy all of my simploring tours!

End of part II, tomorrow’s part III will be about the other highlights of my 12th year.

Simploring 2019 (23) Avaloir – Eupalinos Ugajin

28 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , ,

I came across Eupalinos Ugajin during my last visit to La Maison D’Aneli (read here). Saturday, February 16th, I visited Eupalinos’ sim – Avaloir.
Avaloir is french and translates to gully. Of course Avaloir is full of Eupalinos’ particular art. The landing is in a skybox which is itself worth seeing – zoom out to see it’s extraordinairy shape and the the planet with the outside with an attached paper. There’re also some interesting objects in the box. You’re asked to accept experiences – and I did. Then I used the very particular teleporter, that animates your avatar in a funny way. I got several destinations offered and selected “Catapult”.

Avaloir – the landing skybox

The catapult is on the ground level….
“Catapulte: Click the water planet above to select a projectile and Jupiter to fire the catapult.” I did and selected “bishop by Haveit Neox” …and a bishop dropped down into the catapulte and then was ejected by it. Haveit Neox? The name rang a bell. I just came across other pieces of art from Haveit Neox, when I explored Undertones, Art Oluja (artistik Oluja) place and gallery the day before (read here Simploring 2019 (22) Undertones)

Avaloir – Catapulte (upper left) / at “The Plant”

I continued exploring using the teleporter and visited all desinations. Avaloir is an interactive installation of various smaller art installations. Each of them is unique, surreal and mostly also funny. For example when you enter “The Plant” your avatar is animated to wait ….
“The Plant: Please switch off your AO and by the way are you wearing the safety equipment found at the entrance ?
Waiting room A: The manager is in a meeting. You have no choice but to wait 30 minutes (lucky for you converted in SL time this gives 30 seconds). Please enjoy some delicious background music composed by one of our employees in his spare time.“

Avaloir – the concrete kite

Or the bathtube …. once I sat in it, I fall …. and then I saved (clicked) the floating images as instructed and each gave a comment:
Aston Leisen: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!
Alpha Auer: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!
AM Radio: Diomita Maurer wants me to LIVE!

Avaloir – Zirkus (upper left) / Star! (upper right) / Library (lower left) / Play me (lower right)

I tried “Anything” and got my avatar floating agravic among other objects. I visited the “Concrete Kite”, the “Egg” and “Star!”. I had fun not only because of Euplinos’ particular humor but also with the little activities and by looking at all the surreal objects. Some of the installations have also a touch of steampunk – like the “Zirkus Bar”

Avaloir – Chutes d’Ima (bathtube) (upper left and right) / Anything (lower left) / Zirkus Bar (lower right)

Avaloir is a unique experience and hard to describe, particular for a non-native English speaker like me. But that results in what might be the best to do – see Avaloir yourself. My pictures should give you an impression of what to expect and should be a teaser. Enjoy!
Thank you Eupalinos Ugajin for creating and keeping alive your sim. I like your art and your humor. And a visit is for sure an experience you don’t make daily in Second Life.

Landmark to Avaloir
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Ravage/128/129/3001

Simploring 2019 (22) Undertones

26 Feb 2019 Leave a comment

by diomitamaurer in Exploring sims in Second Life Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, February 15th, I picked “Undertones” from scoop.it SL Destinations. The short article and the short landmark description of “Undertones“ did tempt me:
“Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect – a public gallery, garden, music, videos, artwork, and little shops to explore, snap, and hangout. Welcome all friendlies!
On the docks: T3T Rez zone, gacha yardsale and random freebies 🙂”
In addition, I hadn’t heard or read before about the artist, who owns “Undertones”: Art Oluja (artistik Oluja)

Undertones – overview and entering the gallery

At the landing point you can grab some freebies and a landmark at a raft, that is close to the landing point (one freebie is the raft itself). Getting up the stairs you enter a labyrinth of connected modern buildings with a lot of space for the art. In the first hallway one wall is full of posters of galleries. Seems, as if I will never be able to discover and see all of them.

Impressions of Undertones – the art of Art Oluja (artistik Oluja)

Apropos missing – I looked up Art Oluja’s profile to find out about her art. She says about herself: “Addicted to mental stimulation, synesthetic appreciation, and art in all its forms. I admire creative processes, online and off, inside and out. Im an explorer and admirer of all the many creative experiences here, but sometimes I zone out enough to experiment myself :)”
I learned that Art Oluja had participated in the LEA program, having own installations and collaborated with other artists. I didn’t see any of it though.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Silas Merlin, Pearl Grey (pearlgrey) and Elle Thorkveld

At Undertones Art Oluja has exhibited her art as well as art from other artists. I came across Pearl Grey (pearlgrey), Klaus Bereznyak, Silas Merlin, Mistero Hifeng, Elle Thorkveld and Haveit Neox. I’m pretty sure, there’re more.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Mistero Hifeng, Silas Merlin, Klaus Bereznyak and Haveit Neox / Diomita posing at Undertones

I visited the garden, the event area, the shops and some nice spots to sit and enjoy. I had fun looking at all the art, there’s so much to discover that my one hour visit was by far not suffient. I grabbed some of the freebies, some of Art Oluja own work is given away for free as well, some are sold – and yes, I got one piece for my own collection of art.

Impressions of Undertones – featuring the art of Pearl Grey (pearlgrey) and Klaus Bereznyak / Diomita trying out the freebies (lower left and middle) and placing the art of Art Oluja (artistik Oluja) at home (lower right)

And at home, I had a look at the freebies – funny!
I enjoyed my visit to Undertones and seeing Art Oluja’s work as well as the work of other artists arranged thoughtfully and I had fun looking around. Thank you Art Oluja for sharing your place, for the freebies and for a very enjoyable visit.

Landmark to Undertones
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Catocala/149/86/22