VRAL is set to unveil its highly anticipated fourth season of exhibitions this coming Friday, promising an immersive experience of avant-garde, cutting-edge, and unclassifiable game-based video art from both established artists and emerging talents.
In the midst of a global pandemic, VRAL emerged as a cutting-edge, carefully curated game video experience, featuring a selection of machinima crafted by artists and filmmakers who operate at the intersection of video art, cinema, animation, and gaming. The program showcases only the most exceptional machinima, chosen for their cultural significance, artistic merit, and bold stylistic choices.
Often relegated to the margins of new media art festivals, film retrospectives, and exhibitions, these works represent the full spectrum of innovation and creativity that can be found in game-based video practices. Serving as an online portal that grants access to a diverse range of voices that complement and expand upon the Milan Machinima Festival, an annual retrospective that takes place at IULM University and at the Interactive Museum of Cinema in Milan, Italy, VRAL heralds a new generation of digital filmmakers and artists. The project features exclusive interviews, image galleries, and an extensive archive. The curators' ultimate objective is to deepen and broaden our understanding of machinima as an art form.
Since Spring 2020, we have curated three seasons comprising 64 shows overall and published two catalogs (the third volume is forthcoming). For S04, we have assembled a roster of established and emerging artists whose work embodies the avant-garde spirit and pushes the boundaries of what is possible in the world of game-based video art. Whether you are a longtime fan of VRAL or a newcomer to the world of game-based video art, this is an event that we hope you'll find interesting, stimulating, and unexpected.
VRAL is an independent project and it is not supported by either sponsors or advertising. We do greatly appreciate however, community support through Patreon. To become a supporter and enjoy a series of benefits including exclusive interviews, videos, articles, and more, click here.
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the forefront of machinima and witness the future of contemporary visual culture.
Matteo Bittanti