GAME ART: JONNE HANSSON'S HEAVY THOUGHTS (2019)
In his latest machinima shot with/in Grand Theft Auto V, Swedish artist Jonne Hansson casts virtual bodybuilders to discuss the politics of gamification, the life as a simulation hypothesis, the nature of game rules, and much more. A day in the life of three avatars working out their bodies and their minds (Richard Guy Slatter, Gazi Mrah, August Ballgren). Yes, it's very meta. Killer sound design by Daniel Westman. Heavy Thoughts is a follow up to the brilliant The Convenience Store (2018),
Jonne Hansson uses computer game graphics and different game elements, often leaning towards gamified life-coaching. A recurrent theme in his work is the crossover between digital games and reality, where pixels, polygons and the world of atoms are mixed together. He uses media such as machinima, installations, prints, drawings and other things that fit the work’s oeuvre.