The Virtual Performance Lab [2022]

Open collaboration

Virtual live-stream / Duration: Variable / Hosted on Instagram, Ticktock and Twitch / Colour / Sound / HD / 16:9 / Portrait

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Statement

I was told, 'all virtual live art is crap' by a prominent Art World figure.

DEAD AIR, explores the creative potential of live-streamed performance.

The Covid-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented crisis for the arts, disrupting the traditional relationship between performer and audience as physical proximity became impossible. Performers turned to online platforms, such as Zoom and Twitch, and rapidly developed a diverse array of innovative virtual performances. However, in the post-pandemic landscape, there has been a widespread yearning for ‘real’ connection. Virtual performance, for many, has been cast aside, seen as a relic of a particularly challenging era for the arts.

Yet, this rejection comes at a pivotal moment. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are advancing mobile broadcast technologies, transforming creators into fully-fledged virtual studios. Algorithms are increasingly prioritising live content, signalling that social media companies see ‘live’ as the future of mobile engagement. This intersection of technology and performance cannot be ignored.

I believe it is crucial for the arts to re-engage with this burgeoning field, the above mentioned reasons but also for the technologies potential to provide a more accessible and in some instances more environmentally friendly form of live art. We must explore the creative possibilities afforded by this technology, examine the thriving culture of virtual performance that exists beyond traditional arts frameworks, and understand the role it will play in forging (or failing to forge) meaningful connections between performers and audiences in the future.

DEAD AIR unites a diverse group of collaborators to deliver a regular programme exclusively for virtual audiences, ensuring an equal, shared experience. The project aims to democratise access to live art while crafting a distinctive formal encounter.