Brief Encounter x 2

Jonathan Kazan-Scientific artist or Artistic Scientist?
Hello Dear Reader and welcome back to my blogspot...
This has been an exciting week- so much is going on it
can make your head spin- and I'm just talking about Second Life.

A while back, I was visiting Squirrel Island at the behest of my
new friend Rye Checchinato, and noticed as I walked around, some
very interesting art installations. Environmental art has always been
a passion of mine, so I went over to investigate...




And found out that they were interactive..another passionate interest!


Well of course, that led to some more exploration and I found these-
"Color Reeds" writhing and wiggling in the water...

So, of course I had to meet the artist who made them...

Meet Jonathan Kazan- Molecular Biologist in RL/ Environmental interactive sculptor in SL. He started with this as a way of exploring the creation of artificial life
and well, you know how it goes...our creations have a way of owning part of us.

I traveled over to his current exhibit... to meet him and check it all out...

And he showed me some of the many and varied pieces he has installed there...

Each on offers a different way to interact, and makes the observer into a creator too.


I especially enjoyed this one- they are sculpties each made from snapshots taken in SL, and the noise that they generate is also derived from the image- in some ways, kind of what goes on in my brain ;-)..,
But these are best seen in motion- Pach Voom has made a nice short vid about Jonathan, and you can catch it here...


Jonathan's exhibit is at Artractus 233,109,22

Avatrian takes the challenge of RMB City...This is just the beginning...
Now I want to let you listen in on a chat I had with Chenin Anabuki- founder and principle of Avatrian. They have won the commission to build China Tracy's RMB City, a build that can only be described with adjectives like massive, stunning, complex, witty and timely. China Tracy is know as Cao Fei in RL. Avatrian got the call a few months ago, and was presented with this video.


Only the Preview Center is accessible to the general public at the moment...but let's listen in as I talk to Chenin (Note: I have edited this somewhat for clarity)


[19:00] Chenin Anabuki: But it opens up on October.
[19:11] Annabelle Fanshaw: so how long so you think this will take to build?
[19:11] Chenin Anabuki: It is actually a 2 year long project and social experiment.
[19:11] Chenin Anabuki: But, most of the city structures will be here by September/October.
[19:11] Chenin Anabuki: But, we will be adding custom avatars for visitors too...and vehicles.
[19:12] Chenin Anabuki: Plus several collectors and art institutions will be holding their own events here.
[19:11] Annabelle Fanshaw: what do you mean by social experiment?
[19:12] Chenin Anabuki: Social Experiment,
[19:12] Chenin Anabuki: because the artist sees this as a project to learn more about the metaverse and how it affects RL behaviours and decisions.
[19:13]Chenin Anabuki: Cao Fei is really interested in the evolution of the city, not just in the final end product.



[[19:14]Chenin Anabuki: They do the launches of the venues here in RMB City along side gallery exhibits in RL.
[19:14] Chenin Anabuki: Last week was the UCCA in Beijing and the Serpentine in London.[19:14] Chenin Anabuki: In September, it will be a gallery in Yokohama
[19:14] Annabelle Fanshaw: yes, I saw that



[19:15] Annabelle Fanshaw: and who is going to do all of those objects that make up the city?
[19:15] Annabelle Fanshaw: your group? or many model makers?
[19:15] Chenin Anabuki: Avatrian
[19:16] Annabelle Fanshaw: you guys will be busy!
[19:16] Chenin Anabuki: We're pretty much doing all of it.
[19:16] Chenin Anabuki: Yes, but busy in a very good way.



[19:16] Chenin Anabuki: All the existing elements here right now are Avatrian creations.
[19:16] Annabelle Fanshaw: i see
[19:16] Chenin Anabuki: We whipped it out in two weeks.
[19:17] Chenin Anabuki: But, we have more time for the rest of the buildings and other objects.
[19:17] Annabelle Fanshaw: and there will be residences?
[19:17] Chenin Anabuki: I think so.
[19:17] Chenin Anabuki: But the first ones here will probably be art institutions and collectors.



[19:18] Annabelle Fanshaw: ah, I see
[19:18] Annabelle Fanshaw: I want to ride the aerial bus
[19:18] Annabelle Fanshaw: and go to the forbidden city on the top
[19:18] Chenin Anabuki: That will be here eventually.
[19:18] Chenin Anabuki: So are the jets and boats
[19:18] Chenin Anabuki: I will build the forbidden city myself.
[19:18] Chenin Anabuki: :)
[19:19] Annabelle Fanshaw: good!



[19:19] Chenin Anabuki: It will be amazing once all the elements are in place.
[19:19] Annabelle Fanshaw: well, it sure looks great
[19:19] Annabelle Fanshaw: in the vid
[19:19] Chenin Anabuki: We are attempting to capture the feel from the video.
[19:20] Chenin Anabuki: But, there will probably even more elements in the RMB City here in SL.



[19:22] Annabelle Fanshaw: you are getting quite a crowd
[19:22] Annabelle Fanshaw: that is great
[19:22] Chenin Anabuki: Seems like people are slowly finding the place.
[19:23] Chenin Anabuki: That is good.
[19:23] Annabelle Fanshaw: yes
[19:23] Annabelle Fanshaw: build the buzz



[19:24] Annabelle Fanshaw: so what would you call the style of architecture in the city?
[19:24] Chenin Anabuki: Oh gosh, that's a good question.
[19:24] Annabelle Fanshaw: you can get back to me on it
[19:24] Chenin Anabuki: I have to think about that.
[19:24] Chenin Anabuki: yes, will do.
[19:24] Annabelle Fanshaw: will there be retail too?
[19:25] Chenin Anabuki: Yes, some spaces will be for shops and commercial endeavors.
[19:25] Chenin Anabuki: There will be a marketplace in the city.
[19:25] Annabelle Fanshaw: great!
[19:26] Chenin Anabuki: Imagine how bustling this will be when all the other spaces become open.
[19:26] Annabelle Fanshaw: yes, one hopes to see that
[19:26] Annabelle Fanshaw: and hopes it lasts
[19:26] Chenin Anabuki: It's a worthwhile goal.
[19:26] Annabelle Fanshaw: yes
[19:27] Annabelle Fanshaw: you have to give them a reason to return again and again[19:27] Annabelle Fanshaw: events and shops do that
[19:27] Annabelle Fanshaw: as well as residences
[19:27] Chenin Anabuki: Those are in the plan.
[19:27] Chenin Anabuki: Making my head swim now with all the todo things for the future.

So there, Dear Reader, that is what kept me busy this week- Many thanks to Chenin Anabuki of Avatrian for the preview, and to Jonathan Kazan for his time and especially to
Rodion Resistance and Lovelette Yifu of Avatrian for patiently answering all my questions while I took picures of the build in progress.

Until next week- Have fun- Annabelle