Image by Anna Bunting-Branch
Announcing a new commission by Anna Bunting-Branch for Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD
02 May 2018
Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) and QUAD are pleased to announce a new co-commissioned work by artist Anna Bunting-Branch premiering in October 2018 at Wysing Arts Centre.
Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) and QUAD are pleased to announce a new co-commissioned work by artist Anna Bunting-Branch premiering in October 2018 at Wysing Arts Centre.
As part of the joint project Worlds Among Us, eight artists who work with new digital technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Game-Engines were invited to take part in a three-day clinic at Wysing in December 2017. The artists were supported by experienced technologists Werkflow and curators from each of the co-commissioning partners, after which they were asked to work up a full proposal.
In February 2018, the partners were pleased to select Anna Bunting-Branch to realise her new commission with the ongoing support of The Mechatronic Library. The installation will be shown at Wysing, FACT and QUAD between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2020 alongside a new limited edition made with digital manufacturing technology.
I am delighted to have the chance to develop new work for Worlds Among Us––bringing together painting and VR to explore embodied sensations and different worlds of sense. Our discussions at the clinic raised many urgent and challenging issues that have informed my approach to the project, particularly concerning how technologies of representation are developed and proliferated. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with, Wysing, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD, who will support further exploration of the possibilities and limits of VR technology in relation to my existing practice. – Anna Bunting-Branch.
Worlds Among Us is a joint project launched in October 2017 which seeks to use new technologies to look again at the worlds we do not see. How can creating new worlds, virtual experiences and augmented perspectives help us see more of what already exists? To receive further information about the commission and future exhibition please sign up to Wysing’s mailing list.
FACT's Dr Mark Wright was part of the workshop clinics - read his blog about it here
Worlds Among Us is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Image: Anna Bunting-Branch, META: Umwelt #3 (Transition), 2018
In February 2018, the partners were pleased to select Anna Bunting-Branch to realise her new commission with the ongoing support of The Mechatronic Library. The installation will be shown at Wysing, FACT and QUAD between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2020 alongside a new limited edition made with digital manufacturing technology.
I am delighted to have the chance to develop new work for Worlds Among Us––bringing together painting and VR to explore embodied sensations and different worlds of sense. Our discussions at the clinic raised many urgent and challenging issues that have informed my approach to the project, particularly concerning how technologies of representation are developed and proliferated. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with, Wysing, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD, who will support further exploration of the possibilities and limits of VR technology in relation to my existing practice. – Anna Bunting-Branch.
Worlds Among Us is a joint project launched in October 2017 which seeks to use new technologies to look again at the worlds we do not see. How can creating new worlds, virtual experiences and augmented perspectives help us see more of what already exists? To receive further information about the commission and future exhibition please sign up to Wysing’s mailing list.
FACT's Dr Mark Wright was part of the workshop clinics - read his blog about it here
Worlds Among Us is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Image: Anna Bunting-Branch, META: Umwelt #3 (Transition), 2018
Review of knowledge transfer
02 May 2018
Dr Mark Wright gives his personal experience of being part of the 3 day workshop clinics at Wysing Arts Centre for the Worlds Among Us co-commission.
Dr Mark Wright gives his personal experience of being part of the 3 day workshop clinics at Wysing Arts Centre for the Worlds Among Us co-commission.
I work between FACT, where I am research director of FACTLab, and Liverpool School of Art and Design at LJMU (Liverpool John Moores University), where I am a senior lecturer. My job is one of several ‘Inspire’ posts, which LJMU has pioneered as a new way for the University to interact more closely with arts institutions like FACT.
I had heard about the Wysing Arts Centre through a talk they gave at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. They are one of the most interesting centres in the UK, so when I heard that they were running a commissioning process with FACT I was excited to get involved. My role was a minor one, which was to participate in a workshop at the Wysing Arts Centre, which is just outside Cambridge. The workshop brought together artists, curators and practitioners in digital culture and Virtual Reality as a medium.
There were talks by developers who had worked with artists on Virtual Reality arts commissions. Each artist made a presentation in which they presented an idea for an art-work and posed questions about it. The rest of the group then discussed the work and gave feedback from an aesthetic, philosophical and technological standpoint. The aim was to deepen everyone’s understanding of the works, the digital media they would use and their feasibility. I have a background in the application of digital and virtual technologies in trans-disciplinary cultural settings so I felt I was able to understand and interpret between these practices.
The talks and discussions were fascinating. It was great to see how differently each artist had responded to the provocation from completely different perspectives and starting points. It was also amazing to see how the participants’ knowledge and insight grew as the workshops went along. What I was particularly struck by was how generous all the artists were in sharing their practice and in supporting each other with opinions and suggestions.
It was an amazing experience and I am sure it enriched the practice of all involved and was a good way to support artists with the adoption of emerging new digital media.
The winner of the Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD co-commission for Worlds Among Us is announced today. Read about it here.
Image: Anna Bunting-Branch, META: Umwelt #3 (Transition), 2018
I had heard about the Wysing Arts Centre through a talk they gave at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. They are one of the most interesting centres in the UK, so when I heard that they were running a commissioning process with FACT I was excited to get involved. My role was a minor one, which was to participate in a workshop at the Wysing Arts Centre, which is just outside Cambridge. The workshop brought together artists, curators and practitioners in digital culture and Virtual Reality as a medium.
There were talks by developers who had worked with artists on Virtual Reality arts commissions. Each artist made a presentation in which they presented an idea for an art-work and posed questions about it. The rest of the group then discussed the work and gave feedback from an aesthetic, philosophical and technological standpoint. The aim was to deepen everyone’s understanding of the works, the digital media they would use and their feasibility. I have a background in the application of digital and virtual technologies in trans-disciplinary cultural settings so I felt I was able to understand and interpret between these practices.
The talks and discussions were fascinating. It was great to see how differently each artist had responded to the provocation from completely different perspectives and starting points. It was also amazing to see how the participants’ knowledge and insight grew as the workshops went along. What I was particularly struck by was how generous all the artists were in sharing their practice and in supporting each other with opinions and suggestions.
It was an amazing experience and I am sure it enriched the practice of all involved and was a good way to support artists with the adoption of emerging new digital media.
The winner of the Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD co-commission for Worlds Among Us is announced today. Read about it here.
Image: Anna Bunting-Branch, META: Umwelt #3 (Transition), 2018
Artists selected for Worlds Among Us Clinic
Project by Werkflow for Patten
07 December 2017
Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD are pleased to announced the artists selected for Worlds Among Us Clinic to support artists to work with new digital technologies.
The selected artists are:
Sonya Dyer, Candice Jacobs, Katriona Beales, Rebecca Allen, Ami Clarke, Wilf Speller, Anna Bunting-Branch, 555-5555
The proposals from these UK-based artists range from developing a Baroque fountain in Virtual Reality and space landscapes explored with Augmented Reality to a Game-Engine based animated film on fictional tax havens.
These eight selected artists will take part in a three-day 'clinic' at Wysing Arts Centre (13 - 15 December) where they will work closely with Werkflow, a studio specialising in Game-Engine technology, alongside curators from Wysing Arts Centre, FACT and QUAD. Workflow was invited to lead discussions around the technical problems and possible solutions which stymie and impact on the artistic vision of each project. Following the clinic, the artists had the opportunity to revise their proposals for a second selection process.
A new co-commission will be produced with support from the Mechatronic Library's and specialist technical studios. As part of this second stage, the artists’ final works will be exhibited at Wysing, FACT and QUAD between 2018 and 2020 with an opportunity to create limited editions with digital manufacturing technology.
"Wysing, FACT and QUAD are delighted to see an overwhelming response to the Worlds Among Us open call from artists at very different stages of their careers and with different levels of digital proficiency. This clearly shows the need for opportunities of this kind in supporting a range of artists to embrace new technology. The applications have all been very strong and have surprised us by showing the many different directions that artists can take these technologies. We're really excited to meet the eight selected artists at the clinic and to see how the projects develop." - John Bloomfield, Assistant Curator, Wysing Arts Centre
Worlds Among Us is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.
Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronic Library, FACT and QUAD are pleased to announced the artists selected for Worlds Among Us Clinic to support artists to work with new digital technologies.
The selected artists are:
Sonya Dyer, Candice Jacobs, Katriona Beales, Rebecca Allen, Ami Clarke, Wilf Speller, Anna Bunting-Branch, 555-5555
The proposals from these UK-based artists range from developing a Baroque fountain in Virtual Reality and space landscapes explored with Augmented Reality to a Game-Engine based animated film on fictional tax havens.
These eight selected artists will take part in a three-day 'clinic' at Wysing Arts Centre (13 - 15 December) where they will work closely with Werkflow, a studio specialising in Game-Engine technology, alongside curators from Wysing Arts Centre, FACT and QUAD. Workflow was invited to lead discussions around the technical problems and possible solutions which stymie and impact on the artistic vision of each project. Following the clinic, the artists had the opportunity to revise their proposals for a second selection process.
A new co-commission will be produced with support from the Mechatronic Library's and specialist technical studios. As part of this second stage, the artists’ final works will be exhibited at Wysing, FACT and QUAD between 2018 and 2020 with an opportunity to create limited editions with digital manufacturing technology.
"Wysing, FACT and QUAD are delighted to see an overwhelming response to the Worlds Among Us open call from artists at very different stages of their careers and with different levels of digital proficiency. This clearly shows the need for opportunities of this kind in supporting a range of artists to embrace new technology. The applications have all been very strong and have surprised us by showing the many different directions that artists can take these technologies. We're really excited to meet the eight selected artists at the clinic and to see how the projects develop." - John Bloomfield, Assistant Curator, Wysing Arts Centre
Worlds Among Us is supported using public funding from Arts Council England.
Worlds Among Us F.K.A Stalker - Open Call
我们周围的世界前称潜行者 － 公开选拔
我们周围的世界前称潜行者 － 公开选拔
Wysing Arts Centre, The Mechatronics Library, FACT and Quad invite applications for Worlds Among Us, a two-part project to
欢 迎 使 用 先 进 数 字 技 术 的 艺 术 家 来 参 加 由 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 , 机 电 图 书 馆（The Mechatronics Library）, FACT ， Quad
support artists to work with new digital technologies.
联 合 举 办 的 项 目《 我 们 周 围 的 世 界 》 两 轮 的 公 开 选 拔 赛。
Philosopher Thomas Metzinger describes consciousness as a "tunnel through reality": a low-resolution simulation of an
哲 学 家 Thomas Metzinger 用 “ 真 实 世 界 的 通 道 ” 来 描 述 人 类 的 意 识 ：好 比 五 花 八 门 真 实 的 物 理 世 界 我 们 的 认 知 却 仅
inconceivably richer physical reality. Our sensory organs developed for survival, rather than to depict the world as it truly exists,
限 于 低 频 率 区 域 。 我 们 仅 仅 根 据 需 要 去 听 ， 去 看 ， 我 们 的 感 官 器 官 进 化 仅 为 了 生 存 ， 而 不 能 描 述 这 个 世 界 的 本
and so we see and hear only what we need to of reality. Even then, small amounts of information are augmented and rounded up,
来 面 目 。 因 此 ， 微 小 的 信 息 被 放 大 和 扭 曲 ， 就 好 比 一 个 低 频 率 的 mp3 在 我 们 听 来 是 大 声 的 ， 我 们 的 感 官 感 受 到
like a low bitrate mp3 turned up loud. Our tools are limited even before they are misused. If our nervous system imposes a tunnel
的 是 有 限 的 。假 如 我 们 的 神 经 系 统 是 真 实 世 界 的 通 道 ， 那 么 思 维 意 识 展 现 的 视 野 也 是 被 限 制 的 。 如 今 在 增 强 现
on reality, ideology only serves to further narrow the view. At a moment when, with technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR),
实 技 术 （AR） , 虚 拟 现 实 技 术 （VR） 和 游 戏 引 擎 技 术 （Game-Engines） 使 用 的 当 下 ， 新 的 世 界 等 待 被 创 造 ， 或 本
Virtual Reality (VR) and Game-Engines, new worlds are waiting to be created, there are existing worlds we do not sense at all.
已 存 在，我 们 无 法 感 知 的 世 界 等 待 被 发 现 。
Worlds Among Us invites proposals for projects that seek to use these new technologies to look again at the worlds we do not
《 我 们 周 围 的 世 界 》 邀 请 使 用 这 些 新 技 术 的 作 品 参 赛 ， 去 演 绎 我 们 所 不 能 看 到 的 世 界 。 创 造 新 视 野 ， 虚 拟 体 验
see. How can creating new worlds, virtual experiences and augmented perspectives help us see more of what already exists?
和 放 大 视 角 去 帮 助 我 们 看 到 世 界 的 另 一 面 。
For the first stage of the project, eight artists will be selected for a three-day clinic at Wysing Arts Centre (13 to 15 December)
第 一 轮 初 选 有 八 位 获 胜 ， 获 胜 的 艺 术 家 在 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 参 加 为 期 三 天 （ 12 月 13 日 － 12 月 15 日 ） 的 机 电 图 书
where they will work closely with technologists specialising in Game-Engine technology, alongside curators from Wysing, FACT
馆 “ 诊 所 ” ， 即 艺 术 家 们 将 会 和 游 戏 引 擎 技 术 的 技 术 人 员 ， Wysing , FACT 和 Quad 的 策 展 人 一 起 交 流 切 磋 。 “ 诊
and Quad. Following the clinic, the artists will have the opportunity to revise their proposals for a second selection process. From
所 ” 切 磋 后 ， 艺 术 家 们 修 改 自 己 的 作 品 进 行 第 二 轮 选 拔 。 获 胜 的 艺 术 家 将 在 机 电 图 书 馆 和 技 术 专 家 工 作 室 的 协
this a new co-commission will be produced with support from the Mechatronics library and specialist technical studios. Final
助 下 共 同 完 成 数 字 技 术 的 作 品 。 新 作 品 将 会 在 Wysing , FACT 和 Quad 展 出 ， 并 获 得 由 数 字 生 产 技 术 制 作 作 品 的
works will be exhibited at Wysing, FACT and Quad with an opportunity to create limited editions with digital manufacturing
商 品 限 量 版 。
technology.
We invite proposals from artists interested in developing their practice through these new technologies and interested in reflecting
我 们 邀 请 对 新 技 术 感 兴 趣 ， 有 或 无 新 技 术 经 验 的 艺 术 家 们 提 交 作 品 。 我 们 欢 迎 能 够 在 文 化 ， 社 会 ， 种 族 和 性 别
on the philosophical and political implications of their increasing adoption by society. We invite proposals from artists new to these
提 供 新 视 野 的 艺 术 家 参 赛 ， 我 们 欢 迎 在 自 己 知 名 度 逐 渐 提 升 下 ， 对 其 作 品 涉 及 哲 学 与 政 治 的 感 召 力 有 所 深 思 的
technologies as much as those who have experience working with them. We are especially keen to hear from artists who can
艺 术 家 参 赛 。 诚 切 希 望 艺 术 家 们 ， 一 起 将 我 们 的 视 野 聚 焦 到 那 些 已 存 在 但 我 们 未 知 的 世 界 。
bring a range of cultural, social, racial and gender perspectives to draw attention to other worlds existing among us.
During 2017 Wysing has been exploring ‘many voices’ across all our programmes under the over-arching title Wysing Polyphonic.
2017 年 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 在 首 要 标 题 《 Wysing 韵 动 》 （ Wysing Polyphonic ） 下 ， 在 所 有 的 项 目 中 探 索 主 题 《 众 多
Through residencies, exhibitions, events, study weeks and study days, we have worked with a range of artists to explore a diversity
声 音 》 （ Many Voice ） 。 提 供 食 宿 ， 展 览 ， 活 动 ， 学 习 和 切 磋 ， 艺 术 中 心 将 和 许 多 艺 术 家 一 起 探 索 多 样 的 作 品
of contexts and positions to help better understand the role of art, artists, and arts organisations such as Wysing, at this moment of
和 创 新 ， 在 当 今 高 科 技 的 国 际 大 环 境 下 ， 搭 建 平 台 探 索 艺 术 ， 结 识 艺 术 家 ， 以 及 探 索 像 Wysing 这 样 的 艺 术 机 构
global political change.
的 角 色 。
For the clinic at Wysing, food and shared accommodation will be provided in our 17th century farmhouse.
在 “ 诊 所 ” 切 磋 阶 段 ， 食 物 和 住 宿 都 将 由 Wysing 17 世 纪 农 舍 提 供 。
欢 迎 使 用 先 进 数 字 技 术 的 艺 术 家 来 参 加 由 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 , 机 电 图 书 馆（The Mechatronics Library）, FACT ， Quad
support artists to work with new digital technologies.
联 合 举 办 的 项 目《 我 们 周 围 的 世 界 》 两 轮 的 公 开 选 拔 赛。
Philosopher Thomas Metzinger describes consciousness as a "tunnel through reality": a low-resolution simulation of an
哲 学 家 Thomas Metzinger 用 “ 真 实 世 界 的 通 道 ” 来 描 述 人 类 的 意 识 ：好 比 五 花 八 门 真 实 的 物 理 世 界 我 们 的 认 知 却 仅
inconceivably richer physical reality. Our sensory organs developed for survival, rather than to depict the world as it truly exists,
限 于 低 频 率 区 域 。 我 们 仅 仅 根 据 需 要 去 听 ， 去 看 ， 我 们 的 感 官 器 官 进 化 仅 为 了 生 存 ， 而 不 能 描 述 这 个 世 界 的 本
and so we see and hear only what we need to of reality. Even then, small amounts of information are augmented and rounded up,
来 面 目 。 因 此 ， 微 小 的 信 息 被 放 大 和 扭 曲 ， 就 好 比 一 个 低 频 率 的 mp3 在 我 们 听 来 是 大 声 的 ， 我 们 的 感 官 感 受 到
like a low bitrate mp3 turned up loud. Our tools are limited even before they are misused. If our nervous system imposes a tunnel
的 是 有 限 的 。假 如 我 们 的 神 经 系 统 是 真 实 世 界 的 通 道 ， 那 么 思 维 意 识 展 现 的 视 野 也 是 被 限 制 的 。 如 今 在 增 强 现
on reality, ideology only serves to further narrow the view. At a moment when, with technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR),
实 技 术 （AR） , 虚 拟 现 实 技 术 （VR） 和 游 戏 引 擎 技 术 （Game-Engines） 使 用 的 当 下 ， 新 的 世 界 等 待 被 创 造 ， 或 本
Virtual Reality (VR) and Game-Engines, new worlds are waiting to be created, there are existing worlds we do not sense at all.
已 存 在，我 们 无 法 感 知 的 世 界 等 待 被 发 现 。
Worlds Among Us invites proposals for projects that seek to use these new technologies to look again at the worlds we do not
《 我 们 周 围 的 世 界 》 邀 请 使 用 这 些 新 技 术 的 作 品 参 赛 ， 去 演 绎 我 们 所 不 能 看 到 的 世 界 。 创 造 新 视 野 ， 虚 拟 体 验
see. How can creating new worlds, virtual experiences and augmented perspectives help us see more of what already exists?
和 放 大 视 角 去 帮 助 我 们 看 到 世 界 的 另 一 面 。
For the first stage of the project, eight artists will be selected for a three-day clinic at Wysing Arts Centre (13 to 15 December)
第 一 轮 初 选 有 八 位 获 胜 ， 获 胜 的 艺 术 家 在 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 参 加 为 期 三 天 （ 12 月 13 日 － 12 月 15 日 ） 的 机 电 图 书
where they will work closely with technologists specialising in Game-Engine technology, alongside curators from Wysing, FACT
馆 “ 诊 所 ” ， 即 艺 术 家 们 将 会 和 游 戏 引 擎 技 术 的 技 术 人 员 ， Wysing , FACT 和 Quad 的 策 展 人 一 起 交 流 切 磋 。 “ 诊
and Quad. Following the clinic, the artists will have the opportunity to revise their proposals for a second selection process. From
所 ” 切 磋 后 ， 艺 术 家 们 修 改 自 己 的 作 品 进 行 第 二 轮 选 拔 。 获 胜 的 艺 术 家 将 在 机 电 图 书 馆 和 技 术 专 家 工 作 室 的 协
this a new co-commission will be produced with support from the Mechatronics library and specialist technical studios. Final
助 下 共 同 完 成 数 字 技 术 的 作 品 。 新 作 品 将 会 在 Wysing , FACT 和 Quad 展 出 ， 并 获 得 由 数 字 生 产 技 术 制 作 作 品 的
works will be exhibited at Wysing, FACT and Quad with an opportunity to create limited editions with digital manufacturing
商 品 限 量 版 。
technology.
We invite proposals from artists interested in developing their practice through these new technologies and interested in reflecting
我 们 邀 请 对 新 技 术 感 兴 趣 ， 有 或 无 新 技 术 经 验 的 艺 术 家 们 提 交 作 品 。 我 们 欢 迎 能 够 在 文 化 ， 社 会 ， 种 族 和 性 别
on the philosophical and political implications of their increasing adoption by society. We invite proposals from artists new to these
提 供 新 视 野 的 艺 术 家 参 赛 ， 我 们 欢 迎 在 自 己 知 名 度 逐 渐 提 升 下 ， 对 其 作 品 涉 及 哲 学 与 政 治 的 感 召 力 有 所 深 思 的
technologies as much as those who have experience working with them. We are especially keen to hear from artists who can
艺 术 家 参 赛 。 诚 切 希 望 艺 术 家 们 ， 一 起 将 我 们 的 视 野 聚 焦 到 那 些 已 存 在 但 我 们 未 知 的 世 界 。
bring a range of cultural, social, racial and gender perspectives to draw attention to other worlds existing among us.
During 2017 Wysing has been exploring ‘many voices’ across all our programmes under the over-arching title Wysing Polyphonic.
2017 年 Wysing 艺 术 中 心 在 首 要 标 题 《 Wysing 韵 动 》 （ Wysing Polyphonic ） 下 ， 在 所 有 的 项 目 中 探 索 主 题 《 众 多
Through residencies, exhibitions, events, study weeks and study days, we have worked with a range of artists to explore a diversity
声 音 》 （ Many Voice ） 。 提 供 食 宿 ， 展 览 ， 活 动 ， 学 习 和 切 磋 ， 艺 术 中 心 将 和 许 多 艺 术 家 一 起 探 索 多 样 的 作 品
of contexts and positions to help better understand the role of art, artists, and arts organisations such as Wysing, at this moment of
和 创 新 ， 在 当 今 高 科 技 的 国 际 大 环 境 下 ， 搭 建 平 台 探 索 艺 术 ， 结 识 艺 术 家 ， 以 及 探 索 像 Wysing 这 样 的 艺 术 机 构
global political change.
的 角 色 。
For the clinic at Wysing, food and shared accommodation will be provided in our 17th century farmhouse.
在 “ 诊 所 ” 切 磋 阶 段 ， 食 物 和 住 宿 都 将 由 Wysing 17 世 纪 农 舍 提 供 。
- A statement on your work (500 words max)
- 作 品 陈 述 （ 英 文 500 字 以 下 ）
- A proposal for a new work using Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) or Game-Engine technology. (500 words max)
- 一 个 使 用 增 强 现 实 技 术 ， 虚 拟 现 实 技 术 或 者 游 戏 引 擎 技 术 的 作 品 方 案 （ 英 文 500 字 以 下 ）
- Your CV
- 你 的 工 作 简 历 （ CV ）
- Please provide 6 pieces of documentation of your work. These can be images, sound, video etc.
- 请 提 供 六 份 你 的 作 品 ， 可 以 是 图 片 ， 音 频 ， 视 频 等 。