Virtual Reality Experience
The producer and artist, Gwenael François, is the creator of Oto’s Planet, a virtual reality installation that immerses us in an interactive story. The experience places us as omniscient spectators as we follow the attempts of communication and coexistence between two beings. The narrative is based on the story of Oto, a peaceful being who enjoys the tranquility of his tiny planet, resting in his hammock and savoring the fruits of his only tree. However, his calm is abruptly interrupted when Exo, a hyperactive and clumsy cosmonaut, crashes his ship, starting an unexpected coexistence full of misunderstandings and conflicts.
Throughout the story, the person interacting with the play recreates a key role, actively intervening to advance the story and shape the development of events. This experience seeks to entertain and invite reflection on universal issues such as the appropriation of territory, coexistence, and interconnectedness within a global ecosystem.
Gwenael François is a French-Luxembourg director, producer, and co-founder of Skill Lab in Luxembourg. He has directed short films and narrative video clips combining creativity and technology. In his work with virtual reality, he has developed interactive experiences such as Errances (2023) and Oto’s Planet (2024), which, during the Venice Biennale 2024, was the jury’s special prize. He has collaborated with artists and creators from different countries to bring immersive and experimental projects to life.
Escuela de Comercio
From 1 to 4 May
Thursday to Saturday:
11:00-14:00, 16:00-21:00
Sunday: 11:00-14:00
28’
English, French
Credits:
Written and directed by: Gwenael François
Music: Chapelier Fou
Production: Julien Becker (Skill Lab), Nicolas S. Roy (Dpt.), Vincent Guttmann y Voyelle Acker (Small Creative).
A co-production of Skill Lab, Dpt., Small Creative.
Countries of production: Luxemburgo, Canadá, Francia.
Supported by: Film Fund Luxemburgo, Canada Media Fund, CNC, La Región Grand Est, Atelier Grand Nord XR.
Virtual reality activities at Escuela de Comercio are not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Mixed Reality Experience
Directed by May Abdalla and Barry Gene Murphy, IMPULSE: PLAYING WITH REALITY is a mixed reality experience that, with an immersive narrative approach, proposes a contemporary perspective on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This installation immerses the public in the minds of those who live on the border between order and chaos, questioning the discourses of pathologization that have marked the experience of those with this unique form of cognition.
Forty minutes long and narrated in English by Tilda Swinton, this mixed reality experience invites the audience to immerse themselves in the stories of four people whose decisions have defined their lives. The project presents diverse narratives in a colorful and meticulously constructed setting, where the boundaries between reality and perception are blurred, offering an accurate insight into the creativity, chaos, and intensity of ADHD.
Despite being widely misunderstood, ADHD can have a profound effect on those who experience it, which is why awareness is critical and can transform lives. Through artistic production, this work proposes an ingenious play with first-person narratives that aid in understanding the lives of a large part of the population affected by this disorder.
This project received the Venice Achievement Prize at the last edition of the Venice International Film Festival (2024), and LEV is presenting its Spanish version for the first time.
Escuela de Comercio
From 1 to 4 May
Thursday to Saturday
11:00-14:00, 16:00-21:00
Sunday 11:00-14:00
40’
Spanish, English
Credits
Impulse: Playing with Reality is a new work by Anagram, co-produced by Floréal & France Télévisions.
Impulse has been supported by Meta VR for Good, France Télévisions, CNC, Agog, City of Paris, and UnityCharitable Fund, a fund of Tides Foundation. Impulse was presented at the 2023 Venice Gap-Financing Market and Tribeca Creators Market.
Virtual reality activities at Escuela de Comercio are not recommended for children under the age of 12.
Augmented reality experience
BlockSmog is an artistic experience that combines mural art, augmented reality, and scientific data to raise awareness about air pollution. This proposal, located in La Plaza del Parchís in Gijón and presented in collaboration with Arenas Movedizas, is a creation of the artist Guillaumit. Its visual universe, colorful and geometric, fuses illustration, 2D animation, 3D, and video games, giving rise to a unique interactive experience.
The work is composed of a mural in triptych format with a narrative progression, where each panel is linked to an augmented reality mini-game, accessible through a mobile application. These games allow the audience to investigate different aspects of air pollution playfully.
Beyond its visual formalization, this transmedia installation promotes environmental awareness as the person interacting with it directly influences the mechanics of the games and the overall climate experience, which is meant to reinforce the message of reflection. With BlockSmog, art and technology combine to transform how we interact with the environment, promoting individual and collective commitment to preserving ecosystems.
To enjoy the piece, you will need to download the free BLOCKSMOG app:
Remember to use your headset for a better experience.
Plaza del Parchís
From 1 to 4 May
Continuous
15’
Spanish, English, French
Credits
Artistic direction, graphic design: Guillaumit
Music: Yann Van Der Cruyssen
Thechnical development: Friday Afternoons
Blocksmog is a creation by Guillaumit, supported and produced by Electroni[k], co-produced with Stereolux and Rotondes, with the support of the CNC – Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée and Rennes Métropole as part of the Créativité Croisée program.
Activity for all ages
