Artists and arts organizations presenting live art have struggled to adjust to the conditions of a new (and forced) digital world. Recent attempts to present work via single-view, digital live stream have proven unsuccessful for producers and unpalatable to audiences. There is an urgent need to break from the “traditional stage” mentality and reconceptualize storytelling and presentation of live art. However, most artists and arts organizations are restricted by modest budgets, small capacity and limited technological knowledge to investigate solutions.
The aim of this project is to research and implement new innovative digital models to support creative solutions for live-art presentations online through the use of adaptive technology and software. Due to the pandemic, the format of live-art is being challenged. This digital model will bridge a gap for live-art presenters and practitioners by creating a new creative process beyond the paradigm of film making and live-broadcasting. We aim to honour the power of liveness, interdisciplinary and active experience without the conventional physical presence.
During the pandemic, we have been approached by numerous arts organizations and independent artists who have been searching of ways to find creative digital solutions to the presentation of live-art. As a technically trained, interdisciplinary collective, who works with film, sound art, new media, performance, movement, dance and theatre over the past decade, we are placed in an unique position to understand these needs and to facilitate solutions with technology. During these conversations, it is clear to us that most independent artists and grassroots arts organizations in BC are yearning for creative digital solutions, yet do not have the capacity, resources and funding to investigate them. A significant gap exists in adapting to the format of live-art online, especially in competition with a massive film industry that poses a radically different kind of aesthetic, process and ways of storytelling. We understand the storytelling and creative presentation of live-art is neither film nor merely a broadcast of the live event itself. Online live-art needs a new kind of strategy to transform from the ground up. The live-art sector needs the bridge of expertise in both technology and understanding the value and artistic practice of the live-art creation.
This project seeks to bridge the gap between live-art productions with restrictive budgets and new ways of conceptualizing and presenting storytelling. These digital solutions will create new opportunities for audience building, new creative avenues, career development avenues for artists. This project idea was initiated by the challenges of the pandemic, but we strongly believe that the research findings will be applicable and beneficial beyond this current situation.
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Virtual Live Art Database Launch Party, presented and produced by Chimerik 似不像, in partnership with New Works
When: Saturday, May 4th, 2024. 3pm - 6pm
Where: Q7 (77 East 7th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5T 1M4) in the large studio
You are invited to an afternoon of community dialogue and a guided walk-through of Chimerik 似不像’s newly developed Virtual Live Art database. Gather over light snacks and refreshments, and ponder new possibilities for New Media arts.
The idea for the Virtual Live Art Database was born at the height of the pandemic, when the live arts sector was challenged with having to shift from a physical stage to a virtual stage, from presenting in person to entirely online. We are thrilled to share what we have learnt thus far with the community and hope we can reflect together on how we can continue to integrate these learnings into the future.