Recently, I made the sound for the Happy Cycle. I think the work is completed now.
I chose the sound of clocks and metronome rather than the actual sound of footsteps. As I think the tik-tok sounds can make the idea, people looping in their emotion cycle endlessly, become stronger. With different sound of clocks, it shows people keep looping in their own time and space. Therefore, I edited the space of sound as well to emphasise the emptiness in the space.
Besides, I tried to export the video in 360-video version. The outcome is good. The pattern I put in the original video change in the VR version (because the dimension in the video becomes a sphere) and I find it is interesting. This is the 360 version:
There were some key points Alejandro taught us in the VR workshop:
Monoscopic vs Stereoscopic view
360-degree video vs VR world
Some basic control such as changing views and create an object in Blender
How to render a scene in Blender (first as png then mp4)
How to render our file as 360-degree video on Youtube
It’s better to render 4K video for 360-degree video (for the quality)
The comparison of different VR headset & which type of VR headset should we buy (prefer leather one and with button)
Difference sound format (in VR > Ambisonic sound, ambisonic sound can be edited in software)
In the workshop, I have a more clear idea of the difference between 360-degree and VR world. It is useful for me to decide which method should I use for my practice. Besides, I’m glad that I learnt how to make a 360-degree video now. I will try to export some of my videos to try later.
At last, Alejandro advised us that do not start with doing a complicated work at the beginning. I found it is also suitable for my practices. As I think sometimes I push myself too hard to have some process or work which makes me feel so stressed. I should learn to go step by step.
This is the trial we did in the workshop:
WHIST – Watermans Art Centre
This was my first time to watch a VR performance. When you entered the room, there were different sculptures on the floor. When you wore the VR headset and looked at certain sculpture which the device guided you, a 360-degree video would be played. The device would determine your next sculpture (video) to look at by the time and perspective when you were watching the previous video.
Therefore, what everyone looked at will be different and so were their experience. Moreover, you would not have any clue to know what you would be watching next. All videos in the experience were combing narrative with dance. Some of the movement in the video was strange and creepy. For example, a woman crawl under your chair or actor/actress tried to eat a heart.
At the end of the experience, there would be a number appear according to our reactions in the video, for example, which character you focused on the most in all videos. The number would lead to a result of an online psychological test. It is analysing your personality and the reaction you were in the performance. And my result is pretty accurate including the scene I remember the most. As there were some challenging moves in the video the actress had to do which surprised me a lot. Therefore, I had a strong impression on that scene.
Overall, I feel really surprised about this VR experience and I found hard to classify which type of work. It combined with different elements (VR, AR, interactive and performance). Moreover, it is very different from what we saw yesterday in another VR exhibition as this is in a narrative basis. Although I felt a bit dizzy after the exhibition, it is an innovative experience for me. It widens my horizon that VR can be presenting in this way as a performance. The scene including script, mise-en-scene, characters’ movements and the music keep making people think about everything and the whole story again. Therefore, I think it is a powerful VR work.
Today, I had the tutorial with Jonathan. I showed my recent process:
The blur mirror
We discussed how to make it become a real “mirror”. We think it will be nice if I can make it like vanity mirror with some light bulbs for the backstage in the theatre as it is used for people to look at themselves clearly while the blurred mirror is doing the opposite. It will be interesting to combine this contrast. Besides, Jonathan showed the Venetian Mirror (2010) by Sam Baron exhibited in the V&A museum for the reference. When the audience walked in front of the mirror, the image in the mirror will overlap with the audience action slow like multi exposure in photography. So, in the next step, I will try to see how will the whole mirror look like if I run in a bigger screen and also with light bulbs.
Story about happiness
Recently, I am writing a story about there is a new temple opened by a host who hopes people can become happy in order to escape the pain and suffer in our world by worshipping the Laughing Buddha. There are a number of people believe that they will become happy if they go worshipping. So, more and more people go to the temple to worship and some of them even become addicted to it. In reality, we really have the Laughing Buddha but Laughing Buddha himself including his smiling face has nothing to do with helping people to be happy and there is no temple can help people to be happy as it actually it is kind of violated the core concept of Buddhism.
Laughing Buddha
I write this story in Chinese at the moment as it is full of traditional background. I’m thinking to translate it in English after I finished. About how to visualise, I have a thought to make it as an animation but I estimate I need at least few months to finish it and I don’t want to spend all the time I left to only do one work. Therefore, Jonathan suggests me a direction to find a way to tell the story in a shorter time like 20 second and another other metaphor can replace the idea of a temple in order to avoid cultural difference.
VR attempt on Happy Cycle #5
After the 3week challenge I did in last semester, I am thinking to make the animation with a person walking in his/her cycle as a VR. Jonathan suggested I can use 360-degree video to do it and it will be taught in low residency. So look forward to it!
After doing the animation, Happy Cycle #5. I decided to change its form and try to make it as a VR piece. Therefore, I have found some ways to make a VR. And today, I try to use Unity. Although I just tried with some basic shape for testing, it works quite well and more easy than I thought (at this stage). So, I will try to build the model and put it in Unity to see what can I do with it in the following days.
Wong Chui Yin, Iris 