THE INFINITE Is As Close To Space As You Can Get
Producers of THE INFINITE know that almost everyone has dreamt of what it must be like to be an Astronaut…
The overview effect is a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from outer space. Leaving ground and then viewing our tiny blue planet shrink in the vastness sparks a feeling that is for many astronauts, inefable. There is a sadness leaving the world behind, but then an unparalelled sence of freedom and awe.
I will spare you a play-by-play. Like movie trailers, I feel this ruins the magic and surprise of an art adventure. Instead, I will share how the VR hour long jouney feels.
The Infinite captures the special and unique initmacy that happens in space culture for an elite few… The film Space Explorer brings an angle to astronauts that is more human and relatable than the mainstream lens typically portrays. As a visitor on board The Arsenal, even the AVATAR experience of seeing other earthling visitors as delicate blue celestial bodies, erases preconcieved notions of other people as judged by appearance such as race, gender, age.. Height was the only obvious separation that we noticed, as on occassion, a small charming group of short AVATAR children would pop into our Chapter lol.
This incredible educational experience takes you not only on board Nasa’s space station, but into outer space and back. The producers have managed with simple AND high-tech mediums to reproduce the feelings of: take off, anti-gravity, daily life inside the station and the magic of beautiful stars and galaxies. Many reviews focus on just the fact that this is the largest-to-date VR experience and while it is also one of the only exhibits mixing virtual reality, augmented reality and projection, it should be noted that to compliment this incredible work is an exclusive work by Ryoji Ikeda, formed by an LED ceiling and mirrored floor. Do yourself a favour and go trip out on his instagram.
Become an ISS crew member and escape the everyday in The Infinite, which takes visitors on an hour-long journey into 360 degrees of film footage from the VR film Space Explorers: The ISS Experience, a Primetime Emmy-nominated virtual reality series produced by Felix & Paul Studios in association with TIME.
“I don’t know what you could say about a day in which you have seen four beautiful sunsets. ”
-John Glenn. US Marine Corps Aviator & Astronaut
Here is what you need to know about The Infinite
Location: Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal | 2020 William St, Montreal, Quebec H3J 1R8
Date: July 21 to November 7, 2021
Schedule: Tuesday to Thursday 10AM to 7PM | Friday to Sunday 10AM to 8PM
Tickets: Available for purchase online
Facebook: facebook.com/events/1210743176038554
Website: phi.ca/en/studio/works/the-infinite-montreal
