Botanic Invasion
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Botanical Invasion is an audio-visual interactive project in a VR environment. It illustrates an extra-terrestrial garden occupied by imaginary half-animal-half-plant creatures, where the creatures are singing and dancing with electronic music. By entering the virtual reality, the audience can walk freely and explore the garden with hidden secrets.
In order to unravel the mystery of the garden, the audience should observe the creatures carefully to locate the hidden operable objects. No textual narratives will be provided but at the beginning of the experience. In Botanical Invasion where several creatures inhabit, the critters will dance and sing or just be static and illuminating. The non-language based interaction paradigm can leave more space for the audience to experience a persona-tailored virtual trip. From a perspective of object-oriented ontology coined by Deleuze, digital objects exist independently of human perception. Compared to applying human language-based narratives to digital agencies, functioning them with organic motion and interactivity might open more possibilities to broaden the affordance of our perception. This VR experiment intends to explore narratives and human-computer interactions in unorthodox ways, considering the situation that human languages are mostly applied as a communicational tool. Instead, in Botanic Invasion, the interactions are hidden behind the hints that are left by uncanny behaviours of the creatures and their observable symbiotic relationships with their surroundings. To propel the diegetic content, the audience needs to activate certain mechanisms by observing, collecting symbolic items and modifying the virtual environment. |
Critterpedia
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MEMI Memi is a hybrid half-plant-half-animal critter mixed by Dandelion and Jellyfish.
She has a nature of ritualistic dancing and endless curiosity. By following Memi in the VR environment, you can discover her specific digital ecology within the garden. |
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NIKANika is a hybrid half-plant-half-animal critter mixed by Cactus and Pelican.
He has a nature of singing and chanting while slowly shaking his body. By observing and listening to Nika's melody, you can pretend that you are in a virtual party. Remember, if Nika is satisfied by your dance, he will reward you. |
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UthaUtha is a hybrid half-plant-half-animal critter mixed by Sandal tree and Octopus. She is also the pillar that physically supports the garden.
Utha holds the secret of the garden. However, she is unhappy at the moment. Why is she sad? How to make her happy? Will this gesture reveal the mystery hidden behind the garden? The answers are all hidden in the Virtual World for you to explore freely. |