desertesejo

Desertesejo (http://www.itaucultural.org.br/desertesejo) is an artistic project by Gilbertto Prado Developed at Program New Media Directions - Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, Brazil in 2000. The project is a networked virtual web-based environment, that allows 50 participants simultaneously on-line.

Desertesejo is a poetical exploration of geographical extension, the temporary ruptures, the loneliness, the constant re-invention and the proliferation of points of meeting and sharing.

On entering the virtual environment, the traveler comes across a cave which has rocks falling gently from the ceiling. Any of these rocks can be clicked on. After having clicked on a rock, the traveler is then transported to a new room, in which he or she has to carry the rock selected. The traveler can then place the rock on one of the various heaps (apaicheta) that are found in different locations. The rock will show that this traveler has been through here and will act as a sign of his/her presence to other travelers.

There are three different ways to enter this room. By clicking on a rock inside the cave, the traveler will be transported as a tiger, a snake or an eagle. In other words: the traveler will be able to walk, slither or fly across the room, as if in a shamanistic dream, but the traveler won't know beforehand what form he/she will take on in this new location.

The rooms are made up of landscapes, and fractions of memories and dreams, with there being three distinct routes that cross each other and alternate with each other, forming a chain, and creating various oniric paths:

1. GOLD. This is the zone of silence. In this first room the navigation is lonely.

2. VIRIDIS. This is the space of heaven and colors. Inside it, the traveler will see signs that indicate the presence of other travelers, but won't have any direct contact with them.

3. FEATHERS. This is the axis of dreams and mirages. Within this room the traveler interacts directly with others, via 3D chat. This is the zone of contact and partition between the avatars of different users.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• desertesejo
• gilbertto
• prado
• poeticas
• digitais
• interatividade
• itau
• cultural