Eden VR

This workshop examines what virtual reality can bring to the practice of terraformation (i.e. modifying an environment to make it suitable or useful to humans). By looking at real world examples, digital and physical, participants will study the automation of agricultural labour and test the probability of its movement toward the digital realm. This workshop will aim to question and, perhaps, strengthen our interest toward the digitisation of our environment and consider our current interactions with other forms of being. 

In the first part of the workshop, participants will look at new opportunities VR can offer as a tool for world-building. Tutors will share the examples of different scales in which agriculture currently operates, from Dutch tulip greenhouses to seed lab research, and examples of virtual agricultural representations, from social networking devices to catalysts for creativity.

In the second part participants will discuss the concept of the garden as a paradise for terraformation: its ‘ideal’ scale, architecture, arrangement etc. Dividing into two groups, they will be looking at the technique of modeling virtual environments using Cinema 4D and Tilt Brush and at the technique of digitising a physical environment using photogrammetry and 360 photography. 

The workshop participants will build their own ideal garden using one of these two techniques. During the second day of the workshop we will navigate through this collection of gardens using VR headsets.

Participants will learn trends such as the digitisation of our environment and the automation of labour, more specifically within agriculture. They will also learn concepts and approaches such as terraformation and simulation. 

Thomas Grogan is a Franko-British artist and design researcher based in London. He is an alumnus of The New Normal speculative design think-tank and has previously studied at The Royal College of Art, London and École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne. Thomas has participated in a number of international residencies and is currently a researcher in the JС & Associates. He had previously worked as a researcher for BBC, Salford & London and CAD designer and fabricator at Joseph Waller Fabrications.

Ivan Puzyrev is an AR/VR developer, project manager based in Moscow and The New Normal alumni. Ivan has previously worked as Head of AR/VR department at Strelka KB and 3D design department in Maestro Displays based in United Arab Emirates. He is also a visiting tutor and speaker for AR/VR/MR at various Russian and international public and education events. 

Thomas and Ivan are part of the Tuda Syuda collective that performs research and design projects in the fields of applied AI, agriculture, parametric urbanism and food design. 

Participants should have an interest in new technologies either as a subject of theoretical study or as a practical tool to create and make. They should also have a basic knowledge of modeling softwares (e.g. Cinema 4D, Sketchup, Rhino, Autocad, Unity, Blender). 

Participants have to choose between two groups:
1: Modeling virtual environments (Cinema 4D, Tilt Brush)

2: Digitising physical environments (photogrammetry, 360 photography) 

The workshop will be held in English. Please note that translation will not be provided. Make sure you bring a laptop with Cinema 4D or Unity installed.

“Eden VR” is part of a 4-workshop series based on the experience within The New Normal speculative design programme and think-tank. Each of the workshops introduces participants to new ideas, concepts and skills and provides a glimpse into The New Normal and education at Strelka. The workshops will range from a theoretical seminar to film & fiction, VR and a speculative design charrette.

Participants of three workshops will have a discount price of 6000rub for all, and 8000rub if you choose to participate in all 4 workshops.

Apply before August 1. Please note that the number of participants is limited. Contact Strelka’s producer Artur Safonov at safonov@strelkainstitute.com if you have any questions.