Char Davies is among of unique artists who represent the virtual spaces in their works. Osmose by Davies is an effective example of the modern concept of hypermedia and representation of the unrealistic world based on the human’s breathing, feeling, and perceiving. The features of the modern media include interactivity, immersion, integration, hypermedia, and narrativity (Jordan & Packer, 2002). Osmose by Davies as the art installation reflects all the features of the modern media while combining the elements of the virtual environments with the persons’ perception and such physical processes as breathing and moving.
Immersion is a main quality of Osmose. This aspect is reflected in the author’s discussion of participants of the installation as immersants. It is possible to speak about the immersion in the virtual environment of Osmose because it is three-dimensional and “immersive” (Davies, 2002, p. 295). As a result, the installation becomes the “visually impressive simulation” that allows immersants to explore the unreal environments through the work of their consciousness and body movements (Grau, 2004, p. 193). Thus, immersion in Osmose leads to combining the real and unreal experiences.
Interactivity is realized in Osmose through the direct involvement of an immersant in the creation of his or her variant of the virtual reality. In spite of the fact that there is a limited amount of worlds viewed by an immersant, his or her experience in them depends on breathing and specific movements (Immersence, 2014). As a result, the observed environment can be viewed as interactive because an immersant can change it with its actions and even reactions.
Integration and hypermedia are also qualities of Osmose because Davies created the installation combining different media elements. Thus, not only the immersant receives the unique emotions and experience because of using the 3D-computer graphics. The audience who observes the immersant’s silhouette and movements, as well as the perceived virtual reality, ca also receive the particular experience (Immersence, 2014). The additional effect is created by the sound that makes the perception become fuller and more impressive.
As the result of using different visual and auditory effects, Davies also realizes the principle of narrativity in her work. The aesthetics of Osmose becomes complete and even influential because immersants and the audience receive an opportunity to observe the three-dimensional world that is full of sounds, in which it is possible to move and feel (Grau, 2004, p. 199). As a consequence, the whole space becomes multi-dimensional and rich of alternative realities that change according to the immersant’s visions (Grau, 2004, p. 199). In this case, the narrativity is caused by the hypermedia.
Osmose by Davies can be discussed as not only an art installation but also as a perfect example of the modern media that has all such qualities as interactivity, immersion, integration, hypermedia, and narrativity, and that connects the virtual and real environments while deepening the observers’ experiences. From this point, a person receives an opportunity to become the part of the installation because of the immersive character of the used media.
References
Davies, C. (2002). Changing space: Virtual reality as an arena of embodied being. In K. Jordan & R. Packer (Eds.), Multimedia: From Wagner to virtual reality (pp. 293-300). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Grau, O. (2004). Virtual art – Digital! The natural interface. In O. Grau (Ed.), Virtual art: From illusion to immersion (pp. 192-211). New York, NY: The MIT Press.
Immersence. (2014). Osmose (1995) – Char Davies – 16 min[Video file]. Web.
Jordan, K., & Packer, R. (2002). Multimedia: From Wagner to virtual reality. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.