ARTE e CINEMA dettano le tendenze dell’architettura temporanea del futuro

How is the combination of virtual reality and physical reality affecting temporary architecture and, consequently, the organisation of events? Certain recurring concepts emerged within the series of interventions and the extensive debate triggered during the conference organised by the Osservatorio Allestimenti by Prostand held on February 28th at KEY.
Virtual reality is nothing new, in the sense that the world began dreaming about virtual reality long before it actually became a reality (if you’ll pardon the pun). It originates from Hollywood’s science fiction epics: Star Wars with the Jedi council meetings via hologram, the dystopian Matrix with its interactive neuro-simulation, through to the launch of Avatar in Times Square in 2022 thanks to the biggest anamorphic 3D video advertising operation ever seen, in which 45 screens were connected in the world’s most famous square, in the Big Apple.
It’s art. No longer eternal art but temporary art: the installations of Turkish artist REFIK ANADOL whose anamorphic 3D waves are exhibited at the MOMA in New York, the immersive pavilion dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci in Brescia, the immersive exhibition on Van Ghog in Milan. And it would be impossible not to mention the gigantic Sphere in the heart of Las Vegas, covered with 1 million screens.
How will virtual reality, augmented reality, immersive reality, anamorphic 3D video technology and holograms impact face-to-face events?
There is every reason to believe that they’re going to become increasingly imprtance to the point of being essential, hugely expanding and multiplying the options available. Completely virtual events have numerous benefits, including those of a financial nature and others related to environmental sustainability, but there are certain aspects which are currently the subject of study but cannot yet replace physical contact: the way things feel and smell, along with the pleasure of a face-to-face event, not to mention soft networking, which is really important, and chance meetings. Oh yes. When we attend an event in person there’s always that element of chance that makes the difference: bumping into someone unexpectedly, coming across something you weren’t looking for and which you had no idea even existed. If you think about it, Columbus found America when he was looking for India.It can’t possibly be a coincidence that the world’s biggest conference on virtual reality takes place in person.
Amazing, isn’t it?