Virtual reality trip from Hutt to Moon
Put on a headset and fly to the Moon with the Dowse’s latest virtual reality exhibition, ‘‘To The Moon’’.
Fifty years after humans first landed on the Moon, art pioneer Laurie Anderson has developed, with fellow artist Hsin-Chien Huang, an all-immersive 20-minute journey through space. Anderson was the first artist-in-residence at American space agency Nasa.
Prepare for lift-off with an accompanying installation featuring film, images, and music. ‘‘The Moon has a very inspiring, dreamlike existence,’’ says Anderson. ‘‘Secretly, all I want to do is to let people fly.’’
Curator Melanie Oliver said virtual reality (VR) technology was still growing and improving.
‘‘We have not had that much VR in New Zealand yet and it is a technology that is improving by the minute. It is becoming a lot more interesting and immersive.’’ Participants wear a full headset and use handsets, and Anderson’s voice whispers in their ears as they explore the reality-scape. ‘‘You become an astronaut, and are flying yourself to the Moon,’’ Oliver said. There would be times participants could sit back and be delivered the narrative, and other times guide themselves about in space. ‘‘It is like cinema in the three dimensions.’’
Participants would be seated the whole time but able to move their limbs and look around, making the experience very immersive.
‘‘You know in your head that it is a technological experience but you can forget that part of it quite easily,’’ said Oliver. ‘‘It is quite an emotional experience.’’
Oliver did not recommend it for people with severe vertigo but it would be OK for young children, so long as they were not prone to motion sickness.
At Anderson’s request, a quote was put on the wall of the exhibit dedicated to an ancient Chinese painter who walked into his art and became lost.
‘‘That is what she’s done with ‘To The Moon’,’’ Oliver said.
Bookings are required to experience this exhibit. Tickets $10 from the Eventbrite website.