GATC / Life
GATC/life is a virtual reality project realized by Sonia Cillari and Edwin van der Heide in 2005/2006 at the Erasmus Medical Center's I-Space.
GATC/life is a virtual reality project inspired by the human genome. The artists created a dynamic, interactive multiuser experience with surround sound. The I-Space is a cubelike room (CAVE) that makes possible interactive 3D projections and the manipulation of 3D objects (e.g. representations of genes). Sonia Cillari created a special piece, in collaboration with sound artist Edwin van der Heide, that made use of the exceptional qualities of this VR environment. The visualization took inspiration from the biomedical research of the Erasmus Medical Center. At the outset of the project, the biomedical research team, V2_’s developers, and the artist regularly exchanged information. Besides scientific visualizations, the I-Space lends itself outstandingly to interactive multimedia experiences. Cillari and Van der Heide’s virtual reality piece has been incorporated into the Erasmus Medical Center’s art collection.
"GATC/life is an immersive experience inside units of life. The liquid multicolored breathing membrane (the ‘inside’) contains flocks of cells and microscopic particles/molecules with disordered, human-like, noisy behaviors. Our presence and actions influence their configurations and growth within the space and around us. This work explores our perception under conditions of extended body dimensions and lack of control." – Sonia Cillari
