Masque of the Red Death 2020 Redux

For the past couple of weeks or so I've been working feverishly on a project that I am finally ready to reveal - my virtual home haunt. 

I was asked to be an artist participant in Dutch Design Week 2020 for the event Manifestations: Monsters, an international program of Art, Tech & Fun Online expo during Dutch Design Week 2020 from October 17-25. 

For the fifth year in a row, Manifestations shows artists who, in a funny, spectacular or controversial way, examine the (mis) matches between people and technology and ask how technology can contribute to a sweeter, more humane world.

With more than 50 works by mostly young, recently graduated artists who put the exciting interaction between people and technology in a different light. 

Visit the website for the full range and program of kids workshops, lectures and meet-ups.

We offer tours and VIP tours via pers at manifestations.nl to sign up.

Manifestations is the largest Art & Tech event during Dutch Design Week.

https://facebook.com/manifestations.nl

https://twitter.com/Manifestations_

https://instagram.com/_manifestations

More info here - https://2020.manifestations.nl/en/pers/

Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, Netherlands is the largest design event in Northern Europe and presents work and concepts from more than 2,600 designers to more than 355,000 visitors from home and abroad. (link)

Usually, Dutch Design Week and its related programs are mixed-reality events - that is to say, some occur in person on locations in Eindhoven, while others are held online and in virtual-reality space. This year however, due to the pandemic, all events will all take place online. 

The main Second Life event portal for Manifestations: Monsters. 

Visitors arrive here, and then can teleport to the different installations at the tall kiosks on the left.

Second Life users can follow this link to it - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chill/222/23/21

The online portion I'm involved in exists in Second Life, a virtual 3D sandbox world. My project is based on the short story "The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe, and incorporating some commentary about present-day sociopolitical issues.  

I currently live in a small apartment in a busy urban area, so home haunts aren't an option for me. We don't even get trick-or-treaters, we're too near busy roads with no sidewalks. Fortunately for me, I can build almost anything I want in virtual space, so it helps to scratch that Halloween itch. 

Masque of the Red Death Redux 2020 is an interactive installation in which Second Life users can visit in virtual 3D space. If you have a Second Life account, you can visit this installation by following this link - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kress/244/88/301

For those who don't have an account, I will post some screencaps below, and eventually will produce a video. 

Here are some preview images:

When you arrive at the virtual space, you are given this backstory to give context to your experience.

You then begin your journey by 'teleporting' to the beginning chapter, and follow the paths through various scenes - not unlike a haunted house.

There's a few teaser images for you - next week, there will be a virtual event, where I will be interviewed, that will be livestreamed on Youtube. I'll share more details about that soon!