Virtual Reality Installation
The Bone -
VR-Experience
THE BONE is an interactive virtual reality installation by artist Michelle-Marie Letelier. The virtual reality art work celebrated its german premiere as part of the exhibition SEAPHONY - Life on Planet Ocean - taking place in Berlin 6 May - 8 June.
THE BONE is an interactive virtual reality experience inside the skull of a wild salmon. The immersive experience puts us into the consciousness streams of wild and farmed salmon. We experience the different living conditions of these animals in poetic-mythical form. The Bone addresses the ecological and ethical issues that are becoming increasingly urgent with the rapidly growing salmon industry worldwide and questions the increasing alienation between man and nature.
Located inside an intermediate world - between deep sea and universe; between present, future or past; between reality, dream or utopia - this skull is a sculptural-architectural construction. The visitor discovers two otoliths that grow interactively, revealing details about this salmon’s life in the past, as well as reflections towards its cousins: the captive salmons. These reflections are presented as a voice-over from the wild salmon’s perspective; the owner of the skull, in a way of poetic flow of consciousness. The real and virtual space is welcomed by a Yoik sung by Sámi artist Ánde Somby, providing a unique echo and spatiality to this VR, which is physically installed inside an old fishing boat. The materiality of the real old wood sensually echoes the virtual skull, inviting the experiencers to a journey that departs from their position as fisher species, towards the poiesis of the fish’ life.
The Bone - Trailer
German premiere
The Bone
at Alte Münze Berlin
The first time on show in Germany: the Virtual Reality Installation celebrated premiere on 06.05.2022 in Berlin: As part of the exhibition Seaphony which lets you experience the depth and vastness of the ocean, its immense soundscape through spatial sound, light and imagination in the Alte Münze in Berlin Mitte.
The virtual reality installation THE BONE was part of the exhibition SEAPHONY. On show from 6 May to 8 June 2022 at the Alte Münze in Berlin Mitte.
Credits
Artist and Team
THE BONE was created in artistic collaboration with Michelle-Marie Letelier, Martin Lee-Müller and Artificial Rome, co-produced by Interactive Media Foundation and Art Republic, commissioned by Screen City Biennial Stavanger 2019; developed 2019 - 2022.
Idea and concept: Michelle-Marie Letelier
Production: OCEANS21, Art Republic and Interactive Media Foundation
Executive producers: Diana Schniedermeier & Daniela Arriado
Creative directors: Ina Krüger & Dirk Hoffmann
Script: Martin Lee Mueller
Script editing: Michelle-Marie Letelier
Art direction VR: Robert Werner
3D Artist: Christian Rambow
Technical Lead: Torsten Sperling
Programming: Dennis Timmermann
Sound design: Christian Barth & Julian Ferreira da Silva
Salmon’s voice: Martin Lee Mueller english & german version; Nicolás Lartaun spanish version
Yoik singer: Ánde Somby
Skull: UiB – University of Bergen Natural History Museum
3D scanning: Fredrik M. Salhus, Faculty of Art, Music and Design, UiB; courtesy of Lars Ove Toft, Bergen Centre for Electronic Arts
Scientific advice: Anne Karin Hufthammer, Arild Folkvord, Karin Limburg, Karin Pittman & Johnny Magnussen
Research advice: Prof. Harald Gaski, Ánde Somby, Sápmi Center for Contemporary Art, Karolin Tampere & Daniela Arriado
THE BONE has been funded by Fondos Cultura Convocatoria 2020 – Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, Chile and Arts Council Norway. THE BONE has been kindly supported by Goethe Institut Norway and Chile.
