Venice Immersive, the showcase of the best in new virtual reality productions at the Venice Film Festival, offers a unique and immersive experience just a short boat ride away from the Lido. The Old Lazaretto Island, once a quarantine site for those with infectious diseases, now serves as a platform for experimental universes and extended realities through VR technology.
As you step off the boat onto the island, you are transported into another world. Exposed brick walls, large halls, and white curtains divide up the space, creating an atmosphere that is both medieval and industrial. This setting perfectly complements the video art on display, providing a captivating contrast to the digital pixelation.
Venice Immersive represents the Biennale’s vision for the future of film, video games, and visual art. At the Old Lazaretto, the future is being shaped through 360-degree cinema, immersive installations, and pop culture video games. One such installation is “Sen,” created by Keisuke Itoh, which allows three people to participate in a virtual Japanese tea ceremony. On the gaming side, “Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway” offers a delightful adventure filled with crazy puzzles and British humor, showcasing the innovative claymation style of the Aardman studio.
Among the games on display, “1978” by Ana Ribeiro and Arvore Immersive Games stands out as a nostalgic but fast-paced experience. This game takes players on a journey of creating video games and pays homage to the classic arcade culture of Atari. Other notable VR experiences include “Chen Xiang VR,” where users embody a Chinese goddess of the Underworld in an epic adventure, and “Aufwind,” which tells the untold story of female pilots Charlotte Möhring and Melli Beese in 1910s Germany.
The Venice Immersive tour also offers a unique way to “read” books through VR. “Jim Henson’s The Storyteller” and “The Seven Ravens AR” adventure allow users to bring stories to life by using special glasses and a book filled with QR codes. These interactive experiences merge the traditional medium of books with the immersive capabilities of VR.
An exploration of the potential future of social media is made possible through “VR Chat.” This online video game allows users to collectively explore virtual clubs and other environments, offering a glimpse into the possibilities of virtual social interactions.
Venice Immersive opened on August 29th and will run until the closing ceremony of the 80th Biennale on September 9th. This showcase of virtual reality productions highlights the Biennale’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of art and technology. By providing a platform for innovative storytelling and immersive experiences, Venice Immersive shapes the future of film, gaming, and visual art, making it a must-visit for both industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.