sharespace: new work for the deep space 8k

For the real-world art scenario, SHARESPACE is looking for a media artist (group) to collaborate with. The goal of the collaboration is for the artist to realize their own art work for the Deep Space 8K, located at the Ars Electronica Center, utilizing SHARESPACE technology. This space, as can be seen in the image below, enables immersive XR environments through 3D stereoscopic floor and wall projections (16m x 9m). Artists are invited to create a multi-user, hybrid, interactive art performance that leverages embodied interaction between people and different types of Virtual Humans.

The artistic concept must integrate the following aspects for the submission to be considered for the final selection.

Artistic use of different types of avatars: Since SHARESPACE revolves around embodied collaboration in SHS, the use of digital avatars, which are computer-based simulations of human beings, is central. To reach the goal of improving embodied collaboration, the project is developing different levels of avatars with differing levels of autonomy. The developed artistic concept must incorporate the use of these digital doubles.

• L0: A real human in a physical space.

• L1: The avatar replicates the movement of a human (L0) in the digital space by reconstructing sensorimotor data captured by mobile connected sensors.

• L2: These avatars consist of L1 amplified avatars where some movements are exaggerated or slightly modified to foster synchronization and physical involvement of real humans (L0) in digital spaces.

• L2.5: These avatars are specific to Deep Space 8K and base their location in the digital space on the 2D location of a human (L0) on the tracking floor in Deep Space 8K.

• L3: The avatar’s movements are the sole result of a computation by an AI engine and fully autonomous. The movements of L3 avatars are performed with the objective to support the achievement of a collective goal or foster a feeling of connection.

Remote participation: A core reason to invest in XR research is to increase accessibility to services by enabling collective participation from different locations. In this Open Call, we are looking for an artistic concept that integrates this dimension of remote participation from one or multiple people that can be either performers, artists, or audience. The remote participants are then represented by avatars in the digital space in Deep Space 8K. Think about the remote participation from different localities, cities, countries, outside locations, etc.