[artinfo] V2_: Call for proposals artists in residence

[Adele Eisenstein]

V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media (NL):
Call for proposals artist in residence
3D and Visual Aspects of Mixed/Augmented Realities


As part of the ‘Better than Reality’ project V2_Lab will host an
artist in residence focusing on 3D and various other visual aspects
within the topic of Augmented Reality environments. This residency
will take place in the summer of 2008.


Deadline for proposals: May 22, 2008
Project manager: Jan Misker, jan at v2.nl, +31 (0)10-2067273


General info:
www.v2.nl
Print version:
http://files.v2.nl/portal/V2_CfP_Better_than_Reality.pdf
Application form:
http://files.v2.nl/portal/Application_Form_Better_than_Reality-1.pdf



Background & Past Research
During the past years V2_Lab has been working on a number of aRt&D
projects that involve Augmented Reality. The most recent project
involved a collaboration with artist Marnix de Nijs (NL) that
resulted in the first public user test of a project called Exercise
in Immersion 4 during the Dutch Electronic Art Festival 2007 (DEAF07).
Augmented Reality is an umbrella term for a range of techniques that
make it possible to add virtual elements to the physical world; for
example, overlayed visuals or spatialised sounds. The technologies
needed to create Augmented Reality environments are, however, still
very experimental and therefore often inaccessible to artists. To
enable more artists to create augmented reality artworks, V2_Lab has
developed a software/hardware platform called VGE (V2_ Game Engine),
that is based on Ogre3D, OpenAL, Blender, ultrasound positioning and
SIOS (Sensor Input/Output System). The latter was also developed at
V2_Lab.
In VGE, the user wears a set of stereo video displays that show a mix
of 3D visuals and real world video that is received from a head
mounted stereo camera. The position in space and orientation of the
head are tracked. Additionally, the geometry of the real space is
modelled in the virtual space. The tracking makes it possible to fix
the virtual world relative to the real world. For example, a virtual
object can disappear behind a real wall.
The aim of V2_Lab is to extend VGE into an accessible authoring
environment for Augmented Reality environments.



The project
The ‘Better than Reality’ project comprises a series of three
residencies focused on Augmented Reality. Within each residency a
specific artistic aspect of Augmented Reality will be researched,
leading to part of an augmented reality installation. The topic for
this residency is 3D and visual aspects of Augmented Reality
experiences; adding virtual objects to a real environment.


The topics for the other two residencies (with pre-selected artists)
in the ‘Better than Reality’ project are:
• Spatial audio, Boris Debackere (BE)
• User experience/immersion, Marnix de Nijs (NL)


Within ‘Better than Reality’ we encourage artistic experiments and
knowledge exchange, multidisciplinary collaboration and public user
testing. While each residency covers a specific, the overarching and
shared goal is to reach a deeper understanding of artistic
possibilities of Augmented Reality environments.
In addition to a shared technical foundation, we expect a continuous
collaboration, and knowledge exchange, between the artists involved.
Moreover, as the project will include collective work, the
residencies will partially overlap in time.
The three residencies will be concluded with a public presentation; a
large scale informal user test for artistic Augmented Reality
experiments of all three subprojects. Additional to the presentation,
the dissemination of the knowledge to other artists and art students
in workshops and lectures, as well as a symposium is another major
goal of the overall project.


The residency
We invite an artist to explore the 3D and visual aspects of Augmented
Reality. We are eager to collaborate with an experienced artist on
the visual aspects of VGE, focusing on creating a visually convincing
experience. Specific attention will be directed towards using
techniques that make virtual objects appear ‘as if they belong’ in
the real world environment. For example:
• Lighting;
• blending and mixing, specifically at the borders of real and
virtual; and
• (simulated) physical interaction between the virtual and real world.


The other artists involved in the project have set part of the
boundaries of this residence with their plans, and vice versa, the
objectives for this residency will influence the boundaries of their
work. The plans of the other residencies are available upon request.


This residency is intended for an in-depth exploration of 3D and
visual aspects of Augmented Reality, which is why we require the
artist to have an excellent working knowledge of the following
techniques: 3D modelling, real-time 3D and texturing (e.g. shading,
light mapping, photo mapping and texture baking). Experience in
computer generated animation, physics modelling, and Blender is desired.


The required activities of the residency include:
• a preparatory meeting with the VGE developers at V2_Lab and the
other artists involved (teleconference is possible);
• at least one month of work at V2_Lab, Rotterdam, between July 1 and
August 31, 2008;
• active participation as expert, or workshop leader, for
dissemination activities (workshops, lectures, etc.) in the fall of
2008; and
• personal contribution to the final presentation and symposium.


V2_Lab offers:
• extensive support by the VGE developers at V2_Lab;
• an artist fee up to € 4500,- in total, depending on the exact
activities;
• lodging for the time spent in Rotterdam; and
• travel to/from Rotterdam, up to € 250,- in total.


Any queries related to this residency call should be directed to Jan
Misker, jan at v2.nl, +31 (0)10-2067273.


The deadline for proposals, is May 22, 2008, 12:00 p.m. CET (noon).
(No extensions possible.) The selected artist will be contacted at
the latest June 6, 2008.