Text by CLOT Magazine
Art director and curator Estela Oliva is presenting The Garden of Future Utopias for the coming Art Night 2017 on next 1st of July. Her project was selected to be part of the Associate Programme of the event, which this year takes place in East London, transforming it with art, performance, and music by some of the world’s most exciting artists at work today (such as Lawrence Lek, Alva Noto and The Chapman Brothers).
The Garden of Future Utopias, inspired by the work of Sir Thomas More, who coined the concept of ‘utopia’, will see art and technology blending with the urban space. It will transform Thomas More Square into an immersive digital art experience.
It will consist of two main areas: Utopian Worlds – a large LED screen installation with a playful seating area and VR Meditation Pod (ASMR NPC 2.0 By LaTurbo Avedon). The exhibition will feature the work of artists and avatars as well as live performances with artist Matteo Zamagni (øøøø) collaborating with music producer Ana Quiroga aka NWRMTNC, and audiovisual artist Miri Kat.
As the curator puts it, the virtual world is becoming our new utopia, a parallel world from this reality where we can construct dreams and fantasies. By presenting these digital works within the urban space, my aim is to create an oasis where visitors can connect with virtuality in a new way and escape from the tensions of the busy city. We expect to see the utopian realities Estela Oliva has prepared to take us into on -we hope- a warm summer night.