Image from Love thy Neighbor’s video installation demonstrates the connection to Lecoq’s movement techniques.
Image source: Calvacreation.net, © adag

Immersive Video Art Installations are adding a special twist to the world of art. Artists are now working with video technology in order to create 3D and interactive pieces that incorporate all of the senses. This kind of art is limitless – its interactive qualities allow an audience to fully immerse themselves in art and have a brand new experience that they never have had before. Artists have learned to take video technology and transform it to create sensational 3D pieces that a viewer can interact with.

Artists that create this type of art spend countless hours determining which technology, sounds, textures, and images to use to create a singular piece that creates a total immersive experience. Many different aspects of video technology play a role in the making of these kinds of artistic projects. Devices such as video projectors, multi-channel audio interfaces, three-dimensional mobile monoliths, loudspeakers and subwoofers as well as other audio and video devices and software packages are all used to create the installation. Some pieces occasionally include live performers, such as dancers. These artists are used to present the piece to the audience, rather than show a simple standstill video projection. Some artists include a motion sensor machine or pressure sensors that change depending on where a person stands or how much “intensity” the sensor picks up, and this presence causes the pieces to come to life.

What really makes this kind of art unique is the fact that many artists collaborate to create it; sound artists will work with visual artists and other technology based specialties to create an interactive piece. In many cases, these pieces will be adaptable to its surroundings; you can project the video art on the side of a building, in a small theatre, a dark room or any other kind of  environment, depending on what the artists feels is the best kind of environment to set up the immersive installation.

Many artists would agree that art is more than creating a painting or a picture, it is about designing something that makes a person think and feel part of the artistic experience. An artist’s creation is a piece of them, and the ability to project that to an audience and allow that audience to immerse themselves in the experience and feel like they are a part of the art is the ultimate goal. It is important that an artist feels that his or her creation connects with an audience, otherwise the entire point of the piece is lost. This is especially true with video art installations with the purpose being for an audience to be able to work interactively with the piece of art. If this is achieved an artist is creating an endless amount of interpretations and inspiration.

Technology continues to influence almost every aspect of society, and this is just another amazing use case that is taking art to a new explorative level and creating truly immersive experiences for audiences young and old.