Virtual Reality, Venus, & Venice Venetia

Venice was more magical than I had ever imagined. In truth, I had never imagined it much. I just knew it was a place that I wanted to go. That it was special, and unique- interwoven with water and gothic architecture unlike anywhere else in the world.

Even though I am an Earth sign with my Sun in Taurus, when you look closely at my chart you will discover that I am a uniquely balanced being made up of all the elements almost equally. Upon an even closer inspection, you will find a slight dominance of both Fire and Water. The will and dreams, passion and feelings, a physical dance with the subconscious mind.

I am so attuned to water that the myths say I could swim before I could walk. When I was nine I remember my Dad telling me about an aquatic species called the Lady fish. Standing on the black rocky boulders at the point of the river, I had assumed that’s where we came from. It must have been our origin. My Father and I had always bonded over the water, the water of our river, the waves cresting upon its islands, the oceans, the sea, ponds, bathtubs, rain, showers, swimming pools, water slides, hot tubs. If there was water, that is where we’d be.

As I departed my train at the Venezia Santa Lucia station and exited the platform towards the water buses, I knew I was in the right place.

It felt as if I had just walked into a world that existed inside the pages of a book written specifically for me. I was enamored by the way canals had become streets and boats had become cars.

In the unwritten fantasy novel living inside my mind, the story world is a lot like this city of water.

On my first voyage along the Grand Canal, my travel partner and I saw large sculpted hands coming out of the water and scaling the side of a building. I did not know it when I visited but Venice is famous for its La Biennale di Venezia, which celebrates art, architecture, music, theatre, film, and contemporary dance in cycles each year.

The floating city has many art installations woven into its gothic architecture. One of my favorites, which I find very inspiring, is called Green Lens by the artist Doug Aitken. It was created for the Saint Laurent 2022 Fashion Show. Simultaneously an artwork, an installation, and a stage, Green Lens is a living catwalk located on the island of Certosa.

In the words of the artist, “The exterior creates a choreography of changing reflections of clouds, mist, and wild green vegetation. As day turns to night it glows and becomes a kinetic light sculpture of sound composition.”

My immersive installation, Reflection, has similar qualities to Doug Aitken's Green Lens. Mainly its circular form, large scope, and the involvement of many mirrors.

Reflection is an interactive, temporary, and touring art installation contained within a modular Greek temple. Within it, you become an initiate to the Oracle of Delphi — chosen for your abilities to see that which others cannot. Just like the transitions of life and death, you can only undergo your initiation alone. Reflection produces an individualized, socially distanced experience that will inspire deep self-reflection.

Interested institutions, producers, or agents, can contact me here.

The City of Canals was one of the first cities to demonstrate an interest in Virtual Reality. La Biennale di Venezia was the launcher of the first competition for virtual works in the world. It was held in a venue on the island of Lazzaretto Vecchio back in 2017.

In 2021 Venice VR Expanded will be held online for anyone with a VR headset to access, and the virtual works will be available for viewing in physical spaces of cultural institutions worldwide.

Of the 2021 VR works in competition, I am most excited for Genesis by Joerg Courtial, which is an emotionally intense interpretation of the evolution of our planet if it had happened in just twenty-four hours.

Other interesting works in the running are The Starry Sand Beach, "a VR scientific fairytale about the starry grains of sand found on multiple beaches across the East China Sea, and the legend that surrounds them," and Tearless by Kim Gina, a riveting "360 3D immersive VR project on “US comfort women,” forced by the South Korean government to serve US soldiers inside of camp towns located outside of US military bases."

I first heard about comfort women when reading The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang, which I highly recommend. I know I will be horrifically enraptured when I see the un/coverage of a part of our history whose screams could not be silenced.

After the water bus made it to the dock closest to our temporary abode, my travel partner and I exited the boat to find ourselves lost inside the alleyways of Venice. The city itself is an immersive artwork which you must find your way through. It's medieval edifices and small passageways are like the Minotaur's Labyrinth. Although I used this analogy to describe the underground rail system of Rome, this is the city I truly think of when I hear whispers of that mythology.

If you come to the land of Venetia to add your own writing into the pages of its fairytale our ancestors started transcribing long ago in the 5th Century, I recommend staying at the Ca' Bembo Terrace or The Gritti Palace. As a visual artist, and a Venusian native, my senses become inflamed when I can bask in the best views from the same place I lay my head. The Gritti Palace also allows pets, and I am the committed companion to my soulmate dog.

Dear soulmate, I've actually never been there. So please take me.

As you explore this beautiful destination, make sure to stop for dinner and a view at Versus Meridianem or Lineadombra. Next time I am in Venice, I plan to make reservations at the little known Riva Rosa, which has a beautiful and private table on its top floor with a viewpoint covered in roses.

Floating through the canals and alleyways of Venice is like having the identity of a sound wave. You will know what it is like to be the vibration of a myth which has only been spoken of in lilting whispers, because it existed before the written word.

As man, we dream impossible things: the existence of a floating city, surrounded by water with baroque buildings and masquerade balls- and we make these impossible things happen.

Atlantis Time Capsule

Dreaming of impossible things is one of my specialties, but I also understand that life is ever-changing, and manifestations of matter actualize to dissolve.

Rumors rustle saying that Venice is sinking. Maybe that is why it has been one of the first cities to support the dreamlike construction of virtual worlds, as Venice has always been a part of those concepts- in its own way. Using VR as a way to conserve its city from the weight of physical tourism may lie in our worlds future if we don't want our treasured city to become a treasure chest buried beneath the sea.

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