The unique cyber-art project by German artists Tamiko Thiel and Teresa Reuter has begun its journey around the world. After a stunning reception in Europe, it was presented in the USA.
The project began its journey in the States in Boston, where, with the support of the Goethe-Institut Boston, it was presented at a cyber-arts festival.
A solo exhibition of the project in Washington, D.C., dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, was opened by Klaus Scharioth, the German Ambassador to the USA.
"This unique project touches the fates of millions of people on the planet whose lives are connected with the history of the German people. Time passes, events and historical places fade from memory, but your work makes it possible to save a very difficult period of life from oblivion," it was said at the opening.
The concept has also received support in other countries. After the USA, the virtual installation is setting off on a tour of India and Sri Lanka at the initiative of partners from the Goethe-Institut.
Presentations will take place:
New Delhi / India, 10 December – 18 December 2009, Goethe-Institut New Delhi
Colombo / Sri Lanka, 7 January – 17 January 2010, Goethe-Institut Colombo
Bangalore / India, 15 January – 24 January 2010, Goethe-Institut Bangalore
Mumbai (Bombay) / India, 28 January – February 2010, Goethe-Institut Mumbai
It is worth noting that the project already won an IBM Innovation Award in 2009.
Background:
The virtual installation "Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstructing the Wall" is a reconstruction of the Berlin Wall, which divided West and East Berlin during the Cold War, from 13 August 1961 to 9 November 1989.
Using digital reconstruction and 3D graphics, the artists take the viewer to the legendary wall in one of Berlin's districts, making them reflect on that historical period.
The technological side of the project was handled by the Ukrainian IT company Softline, which developed a special matrix and a complete software package.
To convey the atmosphere as accurately as possible, a number of special sociological studies were carried out among the long-time residents of that district, which helped to establish the wall's impact on people's everyday lives.
The interactive 3D installation with special navigation allows participants to travel through time on their own, choosing their own route, from the mid-1980s to the present day.
Here the viewer takes on the role of an ordinary Berlin resident and becomes a participant in various everyday stories and historical events. Which side of the wall you end up on depends entirely on your own actions.
"Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstructing the Wall" is the beginning of a series of projects dedicated to the reconstruction of vanished places that were of great significance both to individuals and to entire nations.
Background:
Softline JSC has been operating in the IT market since 1995 and specialises in developing high-complexity software products. It is a partner of global brands: IBM, Microsoft, Cisco, Teradata, Hewlett-Packard, SAP and Oracle. Softline specialists have developed and implemented 40 modern software products and specialised solutions and have completed more than 500 successful projects in finance, telecommunications and communications, energy, utilities, public administration, industry and transport.