I happened upon by chance a couple of days back an interesting Second Life art project and web site, 1000+ Avatars. Essentially a photographic project–the Los Angeles-based new media and performance artist, painter and art historian Kristine Schomaker (Gracie Kendal in SL) has taken over 1029 portraits and is now aiming for 2000–the artist also addresses issues at the heart of my own blog:
SL offers people the freedom to explore changing identity dynamics. Experimentation is welcome. It is a safe environment which allows unlimited freedom to express oneself and consider boundaries/barriers that aren’t readily accepted in the physical world. “Computer screens are becoming the new location for our fantasies… The immateriality of cyberspace dissolves not only space and time, but our identities as well. For some this is a frightening prospect, for others perhaps the beginnings of a new empowerment.”
Yes, a tad naïve and, in any case, too brief to offer any new insights; but good to see it anyway.
The exhibition, as the banner above indicates, is presentationally simple: a large box the interior walls of which are a patchwork of portraits. Worth seeing.
Kristine Schomaker, 1000+ Avatars
» http://1000avatars.wordpress.com
The Unlimited Dream Company 