The cyber-art project of German artists Tamiko Thiel and Teresa Reuter is planned to be brought to Ukraine as early as next year. According to the organisers, negotiations are currently under way with the Kyiv gallery PinchukArtCentre on holding a joint exhibition.
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 transport the viewer to the legendary Wall in one of Berlin's districts, prompting reflection on that historical period. To capture the atmosphere of the time as accurately as possible, a series of special sociological studies was conducted among long-time residents of the district, which helped to establish the Wall's influence on people's everyday lives.
The interactive 3D installation with special navigation allows participants to travel in time on their own, choosing their own route from the mid-1980s up to the present day. 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 solely on your own actions.
In spring this year the project won the main prize at the Boston Cyberarts Festival, which focuses on bringing together art and modern technologies that have long become an integral part of people's lives today.
The technological side of the project was handled by the Ukrainian IT company Softline, which developed a special matrix and a full software package.
"Virtuelle Mauer/ReConstructing the Wall" is the first in a series of projects devoted to reconstructing various vanished places that were of great significance both for individuals and for entire nations.