Art in Second Life 2023 (3) Lines of Light by Gem Preiz

13 Jan 2023 Leave a comment

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

I got an invitation from Gem Preiz to visit his newest installtion “Lines of Light“, that opened January 12th. I visited early on January 10th.
I follow Gem Preiz and his work for several years already. His installations and exhibition are unique. Gem works with fractals and his work has brought fractals closer and aroused my interest in this form of art.

Together with the invitation I got a notecard from Gem in which he wrote about “Lines of Lights“:

Lines of Light is the first of 3 installations that will be exhibited on SLEA 3 full sim grant during the first half of 2023.
It marks a new stage in the evolution of my work on SL. The fractals, although still present under a new aspect, continue to progressively give way to the build. The latter, invaded by lights and reflections in the spirit of “Borderless” (read my post about this installation here / this installation is is available for an visit here), revives the highlighted drawing of the “Anthropic Principle” (an installation I missed, you can read about it on Inara’s blog here), of “Skyscrapers” (read my post about this installation here) and of “Exoplanet” (read my posts about this installation here and here). It is directly in line with the Neon Art theme, using the popular pink and blue colour code and some very classic patterns.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (1)

Lines of Light is an artwork focused on the structure and interior design. Though it is not a space station it has all the elements that we expect to see in a space station because of sci-fi films we saw: large halls with artificial colourful lights, strict geometric forms on the floors, walls and ceilings, long and illuminated corridors connecting the different rooms.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (2)

It takes some time to understand the structure of halls and corridors. As you can see elements of the next hall through the corridors you’re literally attracted to walk through the corridors to see what’s in the next hall. One hall features 6 fractal pictures of Gem. This kind of pictures of Gem were new for me. They look like reliefs in the light (use Advanced lighting model) and it takes a while to recognize the picture in it. Another corridor has these relief pictures along the walls.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (3)

The whole structure is held in black and neon colours (pink and blue). In the center is a large round room, the place to have events. And in the center you find the “resonating eggs” (in purple by the way).

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (4)

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.” (taken from an older notecard about Gem). To see more of Gem Preiz’ art take a look at his flickr page.

Impressions of “Lines of Light” by Gem Preiz (5)

I enjoyed my visit a lot and was impressed by the structure and lights that Gem has created. I look forward to seeing the next parts throughout the first half year 2023. Thank you Gem!

Landmark to SLEA3 – Gem’s Lines of Light
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SLEA3/204/128/993
Gem preiz’ flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894176@N07/albums

Art in Second Life 2022 (49) Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz

02 Jun 2022 Leave a comment

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

Wednesday, June 1st, Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz was opened at Akijima, a member of the Akipelago group of sims dedicated to artistic and natural beauty in its many forms, owned by Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).

Exoplanet is a project in two parts. The first one, « One Step Further » opened on 22.02.2022 (nice date!).  I visited Exoplanet 1 in February and reported about it (read Art in Second Life 2022 (21) Exoplanet by Gem Preiz)
Exoplanet 1 featured the crew of a space mission preparing to explore extra-solar planets and you can still visit it.
Exoplanet 2 is an extension and you visit a space station on the eve of its return to Earth.

The landing point on the space station is next to an entrance control. Here you’re asked to adjust your viewer settings for the visit and you can grab a notecard as well as HUD’s for setting the environment and for teleporting around Exoplanet 1 and 2.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (1) – landing on the space station

From the landing point you enter a huge hallway, the outer ring with many moduls used as warehouse, for storing and launching drones, as cabins for the crew, for several laboratories, as entrance to the the shuttle ships, and a module for emergencies: “All modules contain many interactive devices where you can: rest in cabins; contribute to experiences; launch drones and follow them on radar; pilot spaceships around the station; test emergency systems; and finally leave the station to reach Exoplanet 1 with the main Shuttle.“

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (2) – Drones (upper left), Warehouse (upper right), Cabins (lower left and right)

I launched a drone and I visited several cabins. I felt like within a science fiction film and my black latex dress fitted not too bad in this environment. I also visited the rescue modul. Behind a security glass panel you see the rescue ship. I entered through the door in the panel and sat into the rescue ship. It was released downwards and I was in space. The ship was easily to control and I used it to for a litte tour around the space station. Manoeuvring it back into the rescue modul was a bit tricky, but possible and I could continue my tour.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (3) – A trip into space with the rescue ship

There are quite some laboratory modules and I had a look into all of them. To be honest, I didn’t really understand what the single labs were intended for, but in the short time of my visit I also didn’t have enough time for that. I’m pretty sure that you can discover a lot there and Gem wrote that you can even participate in the experiments.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (4) – The labs

There are several gates from the outer ring with the modules to the center ring and the main room, that is called AGORA. Gem Preiz’s intriguing fractals, that look like planets and stars are showcased in the hallway around AGORA. In total there are “16 fractals (8 unfriendly planet + landscape), illustrating sites visited by the crew during the mission”. And as the space station is preparing the return to earth, the upper level of the gallery shows 8 landscapes sketch-like photos illustrating real sites on Earth.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (5) – The AGORA Main Hall and the galleries

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.”
The pictures shown in the galleries alone are worth a visit to Exoplanet 2.

I used the teleporter HUD to visit the next destinations and there’s a lot more to discover and try out. I visited the Hibernation room, the reactor, the Communication center, the Data Center and the Main Control Room. I did not visit the Medical center, Training center, Cinema and Offices. Gem wrote that there are many interactive devices (medical equipment, gym, movies etc.).

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (6) – Main Control room (upper left), Data Center (upper right), Hibernation room (lower left), Communication center (lower right)

Gem Preiz provided a few of his thoughts about “Exoplanet” in his notecard:
“Scientists have classified about 5,000 exoplanets, that were discovered up until today, and prioritized them according to whether they allow the development of life as we know it.
Forgetting for a moment the vast distances that separate us from these extra-solar worlds, Exoplanet 1 staged the beginnings of their in situ exploration. Exoplanet 2 presents the mission on the eve of its return to Earth, reporting on the visit to some worlds with inhospitable reliefs and conditions for humans. By contrast, a gallery of familiar terrestrial landscapes reminds us of the simple evidence that the most suitable universe for man is the one from which he was born.
Because if the study of exoplanets is an essential discipline for what it can teach us about the universe, and for the awareness that it can generate in humanity in case the existence of life is discovered, it should not obscure the urgency of preserving our planet the Earth, by dreams of unrealistic conquests.”

By visiting all areas I learned about the structure of the space station and began to create a little orientation map for myself for further visits or for you find your way in this huge station.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (7) – Orientation map

I ended my visit with another trip into space. This time I used a space shuttle. That was fun!

I have seem quite some of Gem’s former installations and exhibitions. His way to build futuristic towns and settings, using geometrical forms and the way he combines sim design, his fractal pictures, light and light effects is really artful and always a highlight to visit. Thank you very much for your art and for this new installation, Gem! And a big thank you for the fun that you also provided with Exoplanet 1 and Exoplanet 2. It really was a trip into another world.

Impressions of Exoplanet 2 by Gem Preiz (8) – Another trip into space

Thank you Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori) for providing the space for this artful installation. I enjoyed my visit a lot!

Landmarkt to EXOPLANET 2 by Gem Preiz – Landing Point
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akijima/120/222/4010
Landmark to Exoplanet 1 by Gem Preiz
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akikaze/140/77/3601
Gem Preiz flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894176@N07/albums

Art in Second Life 2022 (21) Exoplanet by Gem Preiz

24 Feb 2022 Leave a comment

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

Gem Preiz sent an invitation to me to visit his newest installation “Exoplanet – One Step Further“. The installation is at Akikaze, a member of the Akipelago group of sims dedicated to artistic and natural beauty in its many forms, owned by Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).

Exoplanet is a project in two parts. The first one, « One Step Further » opened on 22.02.2022 (nice date!). The second part will open later this year, and will lead us further into space. Both contain a fractal exhibition displayed in a science-fiction environment.

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (Neil Armstrong – July 20th 1969)
Gem Preiz invites us to take one step further by exploring Exoplanet through an exhibition of fractals, displayed in a sci-fi environment.

Upon your arrival please make sure that you use ultra graphic settings and the advance ligting model. Use shared environment and set your drawing ditance larger then 256m (better 512m). You can grab a notecard with more details and information about “Exoplanet – One Step Further” and I used most of it in this blog post. I recommend to take also the teleport HUD that is offered at the landing point. You can easily use it to explore everything at Exoplanet.

Impressions of “Exoplanet – One Step Further” by Gem Preiz (1) – First impressions and “Tower Hall”, the entrance of the Tower (lower right)

You land in a big dome somewhere on a planet in space. Under the dome is a full civilisation. Two large control towers and one large space needle building called the “Tower” dominate the ensemble of buildings. Outside of the dome you see some solar panels, radiotelescopes and other celestial bodies. If you look at the dome you see a big 80 m x 40 m cinema screen that displays 18 of Gem Preiz’ fractal pictures. It changes every 90 seconds. The screen enables you to watch the fractals from almost any place under the dome.
The same 18 pictures are exhibited in the “Tower” on 5 levels.

Impressions of “Exoplanet – One Step Further” by Gem Preiz (2) – a few of Gem’s fractal pictures

Besides the exhibition of Gem’s fractal pictures, that fit perfectly into a Sci-Fi environment, the space station provides a lot to discover, fun for hours!

  • The Tower with the exhibition, an observation deck and with the headquarters meeting room on the top. At the observation deck you can try out different environment settings, that fit to the installation.
  • Several other buildings like Data center, Dwellings, Shuttles Hangar, Arcades with industrial equipment and greenhouses and control towers
  • Vehicles: there are 3 flying shuttles in the hangar, 2 x 2 trucks parked besides the buildings, and speeders in the arcades parking. You can use them freely
  • The outside: you can walk outside and look at the dome and get an overview
  • Last but not least Gem added 43 crew members who populate the base. In the notecard gem wrote “please do not disturb them as they are very much focused on their job“

Impressions of “Exoplanet – One Step Further” by Gem Preiz (3) – The Tower / headquarters meeting room / exhibition / observation deck

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.”

Impressions of “Exoplanet – One Step Further” by Gem Preiz (4) – Control center / Dome from outside / Greenhouse / Diomita using one of the vehicles

I have seem quite some of Gem’s former installations. His way to build futuristic towns and settings, using geometrical forms and the way he combines sim design, his fractal pictures, light and light effects is really artful and always a highlight to visit. Thank you very much for your art and for this new installation, Gem!
Thank you Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori) for providing the space for the art. I enjoyed my visit a lot!

Landmark to Exoplanet by Gempreiz
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akikaze/140/77/3601
Gem Preiz flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894176@N07/albums

Art in Second Life 2022 (7) Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1

16 Jan 2022 Leave a comment

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

On Thursday, January 13th, I got an invitation from Gem Preiz to visit his current exhibtion of fractals at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1. It has been a while that I saw Gem’s art the last time at the Borderless project (read here).

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.” (excerpt from the notecard that you can grab at the exhibition)

The exhibition extends over two floors and 6 rooms and gives a broad overview of Gem’s art and the world of fractals. Gem has placed boards in each room which provide some background information about the art in the rooms and I used the text of the boards for this post.

Self-Repetitiveness: The shapes of nature seem to repeat themselves at all scales, giving the illusion of being able to explain the whole by understanding on a fraction. Fractal objects have the same prperty. There lies thair ability to evoke Nature, though without providing its keys.

Impressions of Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1 (1)

Artefacts: Self-repetitiveness and complexity are also found in the creations of Man, often themselves inspired by Nature. Architecture, urbanism, technology are all areas where they seem to govern our creations, and provide me with the theme of same frames.

Impressions of Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1 (2)

Complexity: The Universe is huge and extraordinairy complex. We are only a tiny portion of it but have the ability to observe, analyze and understand it. This difference of scale gives kind of vertigo that I try to make feel through the complexity of the pattern that I stage.

Impressions of Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1 (3)

Fractals and SL: How to bring all this complexity inworld, while the textures enable only to transfer little data (1 Mb)? By uploading my images in pieces, then glued precisely on SL. Thus, visitors capture more details as they zoom, instead of seeing the image become blurred.

You can see this effect as Gem Preiz’ pictures build up from pieces when the textures rezz. If you don’t see Gem’s pictures, just wait a few moments, it takes some time to load the pieces of which they are built.

Impressions of Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1 (4)

Abstractions: Man’s intelligence is intimately associated with his ability to invent, and therefore to imagine. Fractals, by their complexity and the richness of patterns provide a priviliged field of abstraction for the imagination, as Rorschach images do.

Gem Preiz write about himeself: “To try to evoke the world through images is also to try to tell stories. That’s what I’ve been trying to do for the last eight years, through 30 exhibitions I’ve done.”
You can grab a notecard with his biography, a list of all exhibtions and installations Gem made, a list of links to blogposts about his work, his flickr account and his YouTube channel.

Impressions of Gem Preiz’ fractal exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective Gallery 1 (5)

Elven Falls Art Collective consists of 4 double floored galleries, 6 stores plus a huge sculpture park which is also available to exhibit larger works. Elven Falls Art Collective is owned and curted by Ant (antoinemambazo), Aires Hax is managing the gallery. I haven’t come across this space for the art so far – there’s a lot to see and I hope to find time to come back soon. Thank you Ant (antoinemambazo) for providing space for the art! I enjoyed my visit.

Thank you Gem for another great exhibition of your art. I look forward to see more of it.

Landmark to Gem Preiz’ fractal Exhibition at Elven Falls Art Collective
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Elven%20Falls/123/55/22
Gem Preiz flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187894176@N07/albums
Gem Preiz’ Youtube (music for exhibitions and slideshows)
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGskNA8m9GAhiFwkpWlXE1Q
(music for exhibitions and slideshows)

Art in Second Life 2021 (73) The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi’s garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori’s art park

11 Aug 2021 2 Comments

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

Friday, July 9th, I got a private message from Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). She told me about “The Borderless Project” that she and others had put together. And she sent me a notecard about it together with a landmark.

“The Borderless Project is a multi-level, interactive digital art exhibition wherein we play with light: reflections, structures, movement, creation and evolution. With sounds and music to match the emotions brought to life by the multi-talented team of artists and scripters. The Borderless Project derives much of its inspiration from teamLAB founded in Japan in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, and now a series of multinational installations throughout the world. For more on teamLab please visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEAMLABNET

The Borderless Project, in Second Life, explores what we can do within this world where gravity is unimportant, physics is negotiable, and magic is possible! The Borderless Team of Magicians are: Betty Tureaud, Gem Preiz, Delain Canucci, Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen), Mitsuko Kytori, Blaise Timtam and Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).“

I went there on Saturday, July 10th, and I was overwhelmed by the many different installations. Each of them would easily be enough and worth an extra visit and a seperate blog entry!

The provided landmark leads you to the installation of Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). You land in a circle with 8 boards. Each of the 8 boards brings you to another level and another installation. It is recommended to accept experiences – then just walking into one of the boards will teleport you. In addition in some of the installations you get teleported at destinct spots. For all installations of “The Borderless Project” you are asked to use Shared Environment, Advanced lighting model, High to Ultra Graphics, particles set to maximum (8192) and to activate the Media button and switch it on and off frequently. Turn on in-sim music. If you aren’t familiar with that, there are instructions at the entrances of some of the installations.
At each installation you land in exact the same circle of boards, from there you can continue your visit to the next installation.

I split my report into several parts so that I can publish a bit more pictures and give the artists some room.

The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes 
The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations
The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation
The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi’s garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori’s art park (this post)

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481

The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi’s garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori’s art park

Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori) is in Second Life since 2017. I came across her as she provides space for the art, and quite a lot of space! Akiko is the owner of the ‘Akipelago’ chain of Sims: Akijima, Akiniwa, Akimori and Akimitsu, which hosts The Borderless Project. I have never seen anything from her before. But now I did.

The Borderless Project – Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori)’s garden

There are 2 boards leading to installations of Akiko. The first one is the main landmark that I provided with the series of posts. It is a garden, a particular garden. What makes it particular is the light and some art objects. When you roam through the garden, the light is changing and dives it into different colours. The leaves begin to literally glow and you get quite outstanding views. Also the art objects do look different when coloured in a different way.

The Borderless Project – Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori)’s garden

After parts 1 to 3 of this series had been published, Akiko sent me a message: “One thing I would mention about the gardens… we tried to replicate ‘Resonating Trees / Resonating Spheres – Forest of Tadasu at Shimogamo Shrine Light Festival August 2016’ in Second Life to the best of our ability“. Akiko added the link to a 2 minute youtube video about this Light Festival which I want to share here. It’s worth watching it – and it will make your visit in Second Life at the Borderless Project even more spectacular.

Furtheron Akiko gave me more background information:
“Mitsuko made the trees and Sculptures, I arranged them, then Gem and I did the lighting so it would seem to change as you walked… and in some places you trigger the lights by stepping on them.
I have been a fan of teamLab for many years, and I have seen their work in Japan in RL long before Covid which is absolutely amazing! And then one day, I wanted to bring something like that in here for everyone who was essentially stuck at home and had a lot of time on their hands. So it all kind of evolved here in SL, but only because of the team of artists and their interpretations, scripting, and the advent of EEP which we use extensively on the Beach level when you walk through zones, or take the raft trip, and then the skies change. Or they can change the Sky with the control panels… we try to make it fun. But I am no artist, I just rearrange the shrubberies and sweep up, the artists are the ones who deserve all the praise.“

The 2nd installation of Akiko is a Japanese village. I didn’t notice any light effects. I just roamed through the village and enjoyed the views. There is a walkway with arches of flowers and when you walk along you get teleported into an other Japanese area. I’ve never been to Japan or Asia in RL and hence I lack a bit understanding the culture. What I can say is that I like the background and I liked exploring the Japanese village.

The Borderless Project – Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori)’s Japanese village

The Borderless Project – Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori)’s Japanese village

Mitsuko Kytori’s installation at The Borderless Project is an island with some solitaire flowers and art objects. At the first glance not that spectacular, but on the 2nd glance it is. There is a desk with 3 boards where you can change the environment settings. You could do that anytime with your viewer, but Mitsuko specifically invites you to do it and I of course played around with the environment settings. And doing so I got some very nice pictures. It is amazing how the environment settings change the view. The title of her installation could be: Mitsuko Kytori’s environment.

The Borderless Project – Mitsuko Kytori’s environment

Mitsuko Kytori is in Second life since 2009. She is the Hayabusa Design CEO. I have quite a lot of Hayabusa plants on our sim and hence Mitsuko is kind of a permanent guest at my home. I added the links that she provides in her profile to this post.

The Borderless Project – Mitsuko Kytori’s environment

This post ends the little series about The Borderless Project. One name listed in the introduction is missing – Blaise Timtam. I asked Akiko Kinoshi and she explained it: “Blaise is the master scripter of all the Experiences: Teleports, EEP Environment Changes, raft, balloon tours etc etc.“

Thank you Akiko for your kind invitation to see The Borderless Project. It was an unexpected art simploring for me and that I spend way more time exploring it and writing about it might tell how overwhelmed I was seeing all the artful work. Thank you for your own installation and for providing the space for the art. I enjoyed my visit a lot and I hope that The Borderless Project attracts a lot of attention and visitors. It’s worth it!

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481
Hayabusa links:
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/108835
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hayabusa-design/
http://hayabusadesign.blogspot.fr/
Resonating Trees / Resonating Spheres – Forest of Tadasu at Shimogamo Shrine Light Festival August 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQxOq8jZu_4&list=PL-TLQIsBItKLSeYQkwBvqgadoZ0XEeYj9

Art in Second Life 2021 (72) The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation

08 Aug 2021 Leave a comment

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

Friday, July 9th, I got a private message from Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). She told me about “The Borderless Project” that she and others had put together. And she sent me a notecard about it together with a landmark.

“The Borderless Project is a multi-level, interactive digital art exhibition wherein we play with light: reflections, structures, movement, creation and evolution. With sounds and music to match the emotions brought to life by the multi-talented team of artists and scripters. The Borderless Project derives much of its inspiration from teamLAB founded in Japan in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, and now a series of multinational installations throughout the world. For more on teamLab please visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEAMLABNET

The Borderless Project, in Second Life, explores what we can do within this world where gravity is unimportant, physics is negotiable, and magic is possible! The Borderless Team of Magicians are: Betty Tureaud, Gem Preiz, Delain Canucci, Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen), Mitsuko Kytori, Blaise Timtam and Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).“

I went there on Saturday, July 10th, and I was overwhelmed by the many different installations. Each of them would easily be enough and worth an extra visit and a seperate blog entry!

The provided landmark leads you to the installation of Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). You land in a circle with 8 boards. Each of the 8 boards brings you to another level and another installation. It is recommended to accept experiences – then just walking into one of the boards will teleport you. In addition in some of the installations you get teleported at destinct spots. For all installations of “The Borderless Project” you are asked to use Shared Environment, Advanced lighting model, High to Ultra Graphics, particles set to maximum (8192) and to activate the Media button and switch it on and off frequently. Turn on in-sim music. If you aren’t familiar with that, there are instructions at the entrances of some of the installations.
At each installation you land in exact the same circle of boards, from there you can continue your visit to the next installation.

I split my report into several parts so that I can publish a bit more pictures and give the artists some room.

The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes 
The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations
The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation (this post)
The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori art park

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481

The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation

Betty Tureaud is from Denmark, she’s a builder and light and space artist in Second Life. I came across her art already a few times and it was always impressing and something outstanding.
At The Borderless Project she showcases a set of silver cubes. All sides of the cubes are structured, form a relief – and they look different, depending on where you stand, at which angle you look at them. And the environment also changes it colours. This can be experienced in particular when you stand in the center, in the circle of stones.

The Borderless Project – Betty Tureaud’s cubes

Each cube has to offer something else. The cubes have something inside. The best way to see that is by getting the teleport HUD with which you can jump from box to box and see the inside. There are: Bells, Street, Cubes, Cells, Kabuki, Balls, Butterflyes and Waves.

The Borderless Project – Betty Tureaud’s cubes: Bells (upper left), Cubes (upper right), Street (lower left), Cells (lower right)

The Borderless Project – Betty Tureaud’s cubes: Kabuki (upper left), Butterflyes (upper right), Balls (lower left), Waves (lower right)

Betty has an own gallery, the Gallery AI.

“doyouSL builder/artist Thoth Jantzen (aka “TJ”, “Djehuti-Anpu”) specializes in creating massively immersive multi-media environments and sculptures.  Using video as “paint”, he creates builds with structures that allow the media to “paint” itself on them in interesting, often beautiful ways, with changing patterns emerging as a result as the video plays out over time. His work’s been displayed at numerous SL events and galleries, and some in RL as well.” (taken from an older notecard about Djehuti-Anpu)

The Borderless Project – Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen)’s installation

At The Borderless Project Thoth showcases some geometric forms and some colourful spaces into which you can immerse yourself. I did not notice that you can go into some of the forms first, yet it is fun and provides spectacular views. As opposed to the big box with the stairs invites you to go inside. And once in at least I had my difficulties to get out again *winks*. Again the permanent changing textures and objects are very artful and intriguing.

The Borderless Project – Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen)’s installation

Thoth is on Second life since 2006 and has had some impressive builds and exhibits. I covered Thoth in this blog already a few times. Look up the profile of Thoth so see some of his artwork.

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481
Betty Tureaud’s Gallery AI
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Danish%20Visions/177/208/26

Art in Second Life 2021 (71) The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations

06 Aug 2021 2 Comments

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

Friday, July 9th, I got a private message from Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). She told me about “The Borderless Project” that she and others had put together. And she sent me a notecard about it together with a landmark.

“The Borderless Project is a multi-level, interactive digital art exhibition wherein we play with light: reflections, structures, movement, creation and evolution. With sounds and music to match the emotions brought to life by the multi-talented team of artists and scripters. The Borderless Project derives much of its inspiration from teamLAB founded in Japan in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, and now a series of multinational installations throughout the world. For more on teamLab please visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEAMLABNET

The Borderless Project, in Second Life, explores what we can do within this world where gravity is unimportant, physics is negotiable, and magic is possible! The Borderless Team of Magicians are: Betty Tureaud, Gem Preiz, Delain Canucci, Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen), Mitsuko Kytori, Blaise Timtam and Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).“

I went there on Saturday, July 10th, and I was overwhelmed by the many different installations. Each of them would easily be enough and worth an extra visit and a seperate blog entry!

The provided landmark leads you to the installation of Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). You land in a circle with 8 boards. Each of the 8 boards brings you to another level and another installation. It is recommended to accept experiences – then just walking into one of the boards will teleport you. In addition in some of the installations you get teleported at destinct spots. For all installations of “The Borderless Project” you are asked to use Shared Environment, Advanced lighting model, High to Ultra Graphics, particles set to maximum (8192) and to activate the Media button and switch it on and off frequently. Turn on in-sim music. If you aren’t familiar with that, there are instructions at the entrances of some of the installations.
At each installation you land in exact the same circle of boards, from there you can continue your visit to the next installation.

I split my report into several parts so that I can publish a bit more pictures and give the artists some room.

The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes 
The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations (this post)
The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation
The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori art park

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481

The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations

It’s been a while that I saw an exhibtion or isntallation of Gem Preiz. His art is always intriguing. He plays with geometric forms, fractals, with light and illusions. At The Borderless Project there’re two boards leading to installations of Gem Preiz. The first one which I visited features two big event rooms. The rooms have particular textures that were taken from the teamLAB. The rooms are enlarge using the mirror effect that I could already admire before at Delain Canucci’s installation (read here). It seems to be a common tool. Outside of the rooms Gem has placed some geometric growing and decreasing forms. It is fun to watch and to take pictures.

The Borderless Project – Gem Preiz’ teamLAB event rooms

The other board leads to a larger installation. Gem has built kind of a futuristic court, in different colours, with different geometric objects. It looks quite “Gem-ish” *winks*.

The Borderless Project – Gem Preiz’ futuristic court

There’s an elevated walkway around the court and from there you can enter different rooms. Each room has a theme: Petals, Souls, Clock, Blades, Stone, Stream, Jungle, Marbles, Dream, Beads and Lumen. And each room is impressive. Again the rooms look way larger using the mirror technique. In some rooms you can even change the textures yourself from a control desk. The rooms are great backgrounds, or ideas of what you can create yourself, what is possible. Looking at my pictures – they are kind of art as well *winks*

The Borderless Project – Gem Preiz’ themed rooms: Souls (upper left), Stone (upper right), Clock (lower left), Stream (lower right)

The Borderless Project – Gem Preiz’ themed rooms: Petals (upper left), Marbles (upper right), Jungle (lower left), Lumen (lower right)

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.” (taken from an older notecard about Gem).

The Borderless Project – Gem Preiz’ futuristic court

Gem has an own gallery, the Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery.

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481
Landmark to Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seductive%20Horizons/11/228/297

Art in Second Life 2021 (70) The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes

04 Aug 2021 2 Comments

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

Friday, July 9th, I got a private message from Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). She told me about “The Borderless Project” that she and others had put together. And she sent me a notecard about it together with a landmark.

“The Borderless Project is a multi-level, interactive digital art exhibition wherein we play with light: reflections, structures, movement, creation and evolution. With sounds and music to match the emotions brought to life by the multi-talented team of artists and scripters. The Borderless Project derives much of its inspiration from teamLAB founded in Japan in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko, and now a series of multinational installations throughout the world. For more on teamLab please visit: https://www.youtube.com/user/TEAMLABNET

The Borderless Project, in Second Life, explores what we can do within this world where gravity is unimportant, physics is negotiable, and magic is possible! The Borderless Team of Magicians are: Betty Tureaud, Gem Preiz, Delain Canucci, Djehuti-Anpu (Thoth Jantzen), Mitsuko Kytori, Blaise Timtam and Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori).“

I went there on Saturday, July 10th, and I was overwhelmed by the many different installations. Each of them would easily be enough and worth an extra visit and a seperate blog entry!

The provided landmark leads you to the installation of Akiko Kinoshi (Akiko Kiyori). You land in a circle with 8 boards. Each of the 8 boards brings you to another level and another installation. It is recommended to accept experiences – then just walking into one of the boards will teleport you. In addition in some of the installations you get teleported at destinct spots. For all installations of “The Borderless Project” you are asked to use Shared Environment, Advanced lighting model, High to Ultra Graphics, particles set to maximum (8192) and to activate the Media button and switch it on and off frequently. Turn on in-sim music. If you aren’t familiar with that, there are instructions at the entrances of some of the installations.
At each installation you land in exact the same circle of boards, from there you can continue your visit to the next installation.

I split my report into several parts so that I can publish a bit more pictures and give the artists some room.

The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes (this post)
The Borderless Project – Part II: Gem Preiz’ installations
The Borderless Project – Part III: Betty Tureaud’s cubes and Djehuti-Anpu’s installation
The Borderless Project – Part IV (final): Akiko Kinoshi garden and Japanese village / Mitsuko Kytori art park

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481

The Borderless Project – Part I: Delain Canucci’s scenes

Delain Canucci’s scenes are in several separate rooms. You can see 4 boxes from where you land and several entrances, marked with light frames along the walls.

The Borderless Project – Delain Canucci

I started my visit with the 4 boxes. And each of them has a lot to offer. The boxes are kind of magic. When you enter them you lose contact to the outside. The inside is mirrored and provides the impression of being in a much larger space. It’s perfect for taking pictures. And the content is quite creative. The longer you stay inside, the more details you will discover. And the scenes are not static, hence stay a bit and watch. There’s one box with a green jungle scene, one with an Asian gate, one with a forest scene in Autumn and one winterly scene.

The Borderless Project – Delain Canucci’s boxes: Winterly scene / Forest in Autumn

The installations that you enter from the walls are different, some are bigger boxes, some are spheres. All have in common that you can fully immerse into them. One is a planetarium, some others are like forests – all are very creative, artful and invite to stay longer and take more and more pictures.

The Borderless Project – Delain Canucci’s planetarium

Delain Canucci is in Second Life since 2009. She says about herself, that she’s just herself in SL, an average girl who wants to have fun with her friends, who wants to learn and who lives out her creativity. Delain has an inworld shop for particles “Color Alchemists” and an inworld store for fantasy builds “Fantasy Builds & Plants” . You can also get her stuff on the marketplace.
And if you look up her profile you will find a pick with links to youtube videos using her particles from “Color Alchemists“.

The Borderless Project – Delain Canucci’s Flower Room and Morpho Room

It’s the first time I came across Delain Canucci and I have to admit I am impressed of her art work. Did I mention that all boxes and installations of Delain Canucci are non-static? Everything moves, colours changes, the whole scenes look different every second. Even my pictures are little of temporary art pieces, non-reproducible.

Returning to the ring of boards I went to a cave scene next. This one is also from Delain Canucci. It is a smaller installation.

The Borderless Project – Delain Canucci’s cave

The cave is particular as it permanently changes its main colour, diving the scenery in different colours. Sometimes you have the impression to see people in the cave, but the people are just rocks. Again an artful fantasy build.

Landmark to Borderless
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimitsu/128/128/2481
Delain Canucci’s inworld shop for particles “Color Alchemists”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shinda/144/84/22
Delain Canucci’s inworld shop “Fantasy Builds & Plants”
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Abyss/228/94/29
Delain Canucci’s on the marketplace
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/147677?lang=en-US

Art in Second Life 2020 (45) Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth

28 Jul 2020 Leave a comment

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

I got an inviation for the opening of “Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth” for July 7th. I wasn’t able to attend the opening but I visited the next day, Wednesday July 8.

As the name already gives away Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth is an installation by Gem Preiz. I have visited a lot of the installations and exhibtions of Gem, Just latey I saw his skyscrapers (Gem’s Skyscrapers – read here) and Elusive Reality (read here).

Entering “Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth”

Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth is an immersive exhibition of high resolution fractals, featuring particles by Delain Canucci. In this exhibition Gem brings together two of his passions: fractals and mineralogy.

Impressions of Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth (1)

The exhibtion consists of 16 rooms. You should set your environment to “Midnight”, particles to max and graphics to high or ultra. There’s just one way through the rooms. Each room has one big fractal picture of Gem Preiz. The walls, ceilings and floors are adjusted to the fractal object and colour of the picture as are the particles that liven up the room and the scenery.

Impressions of Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth (2)

“There are a few hundred mineral species on Earth (a few thousand if we include those that the microscope only can reveal), born of the fantastic pressures suffered by the rock in the Earth’s crust, the sudden cooling of volcanic material, or the accumulation of sediments crushed by their own weight. While tectonic movements and volcanoes lava have brought to Man many of these natural treasures (quartz, gypsum, sulfur, obsidian, …), many of them were discovered in the depths of the planet only through industrial research or scientific exploration.” (taken from the acompanying notecard)

Impressions of Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth (3)

Each room is a piece of art itself and you can let your mind wander watching the picture, the walls and the other objects in the room. The particles make every view particular, every picture I took is unique therefore, yet the real experience is to see it yourself in 3D.

Gem has selected a music. It can be heard by running youtube in a seperate window, the link is also in the acompanying notecard. I recommend that you listen to it as it enhances the experience.

Impressions of Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth (4)

Gem Preiz “is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology. The world of fractals is, in the same way, ruled by Mathematics functions which, as Physics do in Nature, enable to create objects which features repeat themselves at every scale. There lies his passion for fractals: create thanks to the power and pureness of the Mathematical concept, images the complexity of which can suggest Nature beings, objects or sceneries.” (taken from a notecard from another exhibition)

Diomita at Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth

With Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth Gem Preiz has made another great and outstanding installation and I really enjoyed my visit. The particles of Delain Canucci add a lot to each room and scenery. Many thanks also to Akiko Kinoshi who, as for “Gem’s Skyscrapers”, provided the space for this journey.

Landmark to Gem’s Journey to the Center of a fractal Earth
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akimori/236/151/2959
suggested soundtrack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6XDpCbFCU0

Art in Second Life 2020 (20) Gem’s Skyscrapers

23 Apr 2020 3 Comments

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

I got an invitation to visit Gem Preiz’ newest installation “Gem’s Skyscrapers” which opened Sunday, April 19th. As so often I wasn’t able to attend the opening celebration but I went there the very next day.

Gem’s Skyscrapers – instructions and bird’s eye views

The landing at Gems Skycrapers is in a skybox where you can grab a notecard about the installion. I use a lot of this notecard it in my post. Furtheron you get instructions how to set your viewer, which windlight is recommened (I used the recommened windlight “TOR Night Under a Yellow Moon”) and how to hide you avatar for a visit. I shied back from that first as you have to get rid of all of your attachments but then prepared myself as instructed. There’s a reason for that and I will explain that lateron. I teleported to the installation and although I had seen a picture of Gem’s Skyscrapers in the invitation before I was really overwhelmed by the first views. I selected an UFO and started my visit flying through the alleys and above the skyscrapers. Great!

Impressions of Gem’s Skyscrapers (1)

“I love the infinitely large and the infinitely small. I love stars and atoms. I love skyscrapers and grass strands. I have presented on Secondlife very large fractal frames teeming with tiny details. These differences of scale are one of the levers of the immersive feeling.” (Gem Preiz)

Impressions of Gem’s Skyscrapers (1)

With the city Gem had two objectives:
– the first one is purely architectural and linked to my fascination for the skyscrapers, modern cathedrals which are, like those of the past, the synthesis of all the techniques of their time, dedicated to the collective aspirations of their builders.
– the second one aims to create a stronger sense of immersion on Secondlife. How to push the 256m limit of a Sim and give a city its natural dimension compared to our character? The solution I found is to build on a 1/10th scale and make the avatar invisible, apparently enclosed in the cockpit of a vehicle whose size and speed are made consistent with the scale of the buildings. Thus, it is in a city of 2.56 km side that you move, which is the equivalent of the surface of 100 normal Sims. The offsim background emphasizes this scale effect since these hundred meters high hills really seem here to be mountains topping up the skyscrapers.

Impressions of Gem’s Skyscrapers (3)

About 11000 prims, 500 constructions of more than 100 different designs, 6 transport lines of 20 km in total (at scale), 6 bridges; diversity and excess that evoke but do not equal that of the megacities of our time. I hope that you will take as much pleasure in visiting this city as I had to build it during the 6 months of its realization.
(taken from the notecard)

Impressions of Gem’s Skyscrapers (4)

The city, that Gem has built, has clearly different districts in which the skyscrapers are of the same colour or at least of a similar style, just as they had been built by the same architect. Some forms and silhouettes seem familiar. The reason is that Gem has used some of the world’s most famous skyscrapers as a model for his skyscrapers. He added some drafts of skyscrapers that were never built and some of his own ideas.
The city remembered me of Chicago with the river and the bridges crossing it. You must try to move your vehicle close to the ground for a different perspective as well as flying above the city in order to get an overview.

Before I finished my visit I went home, dressed again and returned to see Gem’s Skyscrapers again but this time 10 times smaller. Again I got different views!

List of buildings or architectural projects evoked or displayed in the city

– Burj al Khalifa (Dubaï, UAE)
– Marina Creek (Dubaï, UAE)
– Sydney Opera (Sydney, Australia)
– Geode (Paris, France)
– The Interlace (Singapore)
– Abu Dhabi Plaza (Astana, Kazakhstan) (competing project, not selected)
– The One (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
– The Address (Dubaï, UAE)
– Lodha World Towers (Mumbaï, India)
– Ecocity (Tianjin, China)
– ADNOC Headquarters (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
– Etihad Towers (Abu Dhabi, UAE)
– Hyatt Regency (Xuzhou, China)
– Sheraton (Huzhou, China)
– 900 Biscayne Bay (Miami, USA)
– WFC Tower (Shangai, China)
– St George wharf Tower (London, UK)
– Sky Mile Tower – Tôkyô Bay (Tôkyô, Japan) (project never built)
– Wynn Hotels (Las Vegas, USA)
– Central Park Tower (New York, USA)
– Pullman Hotel (Roissy CDG, France)
– Grand Rama 9 (Bangkok, Thailand)
– Bride Tower (Bassorah, Iraq) (project never built)
– Lincong Bridge (Huashan, China) (project by Santiago Calatrava)

Impressions of Gem’s Skyscrapers (6)

I wrote already quite often about Gem Preiz and his fractal art, the last time just a few weeks ago, when I visited his installation “Elusive Reality“. In 2019 I visited his own art gallery the “Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery”.
Gem Preiz is educated in science and mathematics and is fond of anything related to Nature, Cosmos and Earth, from astronomy to geology and to architecture. Seeing his work in Second Life is always a particular experience and so was my visit to Gem’s Skyscrapers.

Thank you very much for this great installation, Gem. I enjoyed it to the fullest!
Thank you Akiko Kinoshi who provided the space for Gem’s skyscrapers (as far as I understood).

Landmark to Gem’s Skyscrapers
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Akiko/128/128/2981
Landmark to Gem Preiz Fractal Art Gallery
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Seductive%20Horizons/11/228/297

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