Now! A Realities Odyssey

"Now! A Realities Odyssey" is a cross-reality group experience that builds bridges between worlds deemed to be disparate. The interdisciplinary play arrangement combines the three fields of model making, virtual reality and augmented reality in an installative, multi-dimensional setting that invites the audience to collaborative interaction beyond borders.

1. Model
A miniature cardboard model of a space shuttle serves as the basis and first level of the work, which is characterized by its own aesthetics, artful handling of the material and intelligent attention to detail.

2. Virtual Reality
This model has been transferred to virtual reality by means of photogrammetry, i.e. digitized in three dimensions and thus opened up on a second level. Equipped with several game functions it has been created an reactive space that can be walked on and interacted with through VR glasses.

3. Augmented Reality
In addition, an augmented reality application opens up the third level of the game installation: Using a tablet held above the cardboard model, bystanders can locate the VR player at the corresponding coordinate, guide him through his virtual environment and playfully influence it. In this way, the players can interact with each other beyond different realities and solve puzzles and tasks together.

Gameplay:
First, visitors can admire the model. Then, slide into the low-threshold game on the tablet. And finally, enter the artwork in person using the VR goggles.This gamified combination of "real", virtual and augmented reality constitutes the collaborative exploration on three different layers of reality. The experience thrives on the contrasts between reality and mimesis, materiality and digitality, and miniature and life-size, challenging players to perform a mental transfer by playfully switching between the different perspectives, dimensions and actualities. The increased demand for communication challenges empathy, which automatically leads to deeper connections.

Experience Design & VR Programming: Lena Biresch
Network & AR Programming: Sarah Buser
3D Art & Programming: Nico Parisius
Model Making, Photogrammetry & Video: Dennis Stoecker

Tryout: Theater der Dinge , Schaubude Berlin: 11/1+2/2025

Review: Theater der Zeit

Supported by Fonds Darstellende Künste with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media