Game Art: Fabian Wigren's "In these realms I roam" (2012)
Fabian Wigren's "In these realms I roam" lets the visitor experience the world as viewed in a third person computer game, like World of Warcraft. In this video, Wigren (b. Stockholm, 1987) wanders through the rooms of his art academy, engaging - virtually - with the artworks on display.
As Wigren explained in an email exchange, the project was inspired by the modern day phenomenon of hikikomori, the acute social withdrawal syndrome first "diagnosed" in Japan:
"The technology part of it is quite low-tech. It consists of a GoPro-camera mounted in the back of the "rig" connected to a small portable screen. The rig is a modified hiking backpack soldered together with an metal bar.
The idea came through working on another project, a documentary film that I've been working on for the last three years. In shorts it's about a person tired of the "real" world,who decided to isolate herself, and become entrenched in her apartment. She then discovers Internet gaming and finds new friendships through these games and communities. In the process we have discussed a lot about the definition of "reality", what it is and what it is not and who defines this. In "These realms I roam" I tried to reconstruct the feeling of when the game world feels more "real" then life outside of it (IRL, AFK). " (Fabian Wigren)And how was "In these realms I roam" received?
"The responses were quite broad and reflected each participants own reference to gaming or lack there of. One response was that's it was about depression and escapism. Others responded that it should be connected to some sort of game scenario with a certain goal (not like real life)." (Fabian Wigren)LINK
Submitted by Matteo Bittanti