While scrolling through the list of exhibitions, Joystick and Rage Quits! caught my eye with the relation to games.

Description Online

Entering the Space

Comparing to the other exhibitions I have visited (e.g Happy House, Bad Imitation, Permission to Dream), the space used for this exhibit was relatively smaller. But at first glance, you can see a lot of movement and sound such as the changing of the screens, the games showcased through the arcade machines, and the videos of raging players.

Space

With the main entrance, and having works displayed in the middle, the route to walk around the exhibitions seems one-way or linear. Starting from either sides and going one roundabout.

Mixed Media

Works were display in the middle of the room and the one that caught my eye and recognised were small sculptures by Qimmyshimmy (as I have seen her works through Instagram). She has showcase the Tamagochi’s gameplay in which you have to take care (in this case the feeding aspect) of your virtual pet in the literal sense with the use of the realistic mouth coming out of the device.

Sides of the room

Using the walls of the space, 5 Screens are used to display works digitally. The works constantly change, relaying from one screen to the other. Right below the screens are QR codes that lead to the artists’ websites/showing the further information of the work displayed. I feel this allows easier access to the description or more information without the displaying of big blocks of text. However, this may be confusing as to figure out which QR code corresponds to which work.

With placing electronics/consoles and using television sets (to feature other works) on the ground, visitor’s eyes can travel in a zig-zag like pattern (from the works on screens on the wall to the works on the floor)

Rage Quit Display’

This display shows various videos of players rage quitting through a television set, being frustrated of the game and possible leading to them throwing or wrecking their game consoles. The display showcased as if were a crime scene, the use of number labels on each broken electronic and striped tape, possibly hinting something horrible has happened.

 

Interactive Works

AR Graves

You were able to lift the small tombstones to reveal a QR which you can scan. It brings you to the respective AR filters, showing zombie Minecraft characters.

Arcade Machines

There were two arcade machines near the entrance featuring two games we could play, Turbo and TimeOut (which was an fyp by Christopher Lee from ADM)

VR Art

Guided by the staff there the VR headset was situated in front of the work (by Eric Foenander) showcased on the wall. Through the VR headset we were able to see the work come to life with music (by CTRL:UNIT). I feel it would be more interactive if we were able to walk around with the headset and view the work from different perspective, but due to the work still being 2D, it was best viewed from the front. The floor is also marked with tape to show the area that is safe to use the headset.

Partition

Next to the arcade machine, there seemed to be a wall partition, with the other side showcasing a collection of consoles and a NES (Nintendo Entertainment system) with straps as a backpack.

However, with a closer view of the partition, it was actually a door being used as a partition to separate the arcade machines from the VR display and visual art. I felt this was an interesting use of the space they had to control how the visitor’s eye would and would not go.

Lighting

Over the entire exhibition, a bright blue purple light is shone across, this gives a colour filter over the entire exhibition. I  feel the use of coloured lighting can be further played around as it helps enhance the mood of the exhibition. With the use of blue purple lighting, it enhances the overall of game, cyberpunk or arcade theme. Specifics spot lighting can be seen focused on the printed visual art hanging on the walls, to accurately showcase the colours of the works.

Permission to Dream

Use of coloured lighting as a filter. Green and pink lighting rapidly change across the space.

Overall view of exhibition

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