Text by Irem Erkin
As the boundaries of art continue to expand, the LEV Festival symbolises the fusion of technology and creativity. Renowned for its pioneering role in digital and immersive art, the festival invites audiences to explore cutting-edge experiences that challenge perceptions and reimagine storytelling. The 2024 edition of L.E.V., held at Matadero Madrid, features a rich tapestry of AR and VR installations that redefine the possibilities of contemporary art.
Among the festival’s highlights is The Eye and I, a collaboration between Jean-Michel Jarre and Hsin-Chien Huang. This installation critically examines the dominant role of social surveillance, tracing its historical roots and confronting participants with their presence in a world increasingly shaped by digital control. The project uses an immersive environment to place audiences in a position where they are both the observer and the observed, forcing reflection on how technology shapes our awareness of privacy and agency.
Its thematic exploration resonates with broader societal concerns, making it both an artistic and thought-provoking endeavour. In contrast, Kevin Mack’s Namuanki offers a dreamlike escape into a surreal, otherworldly reality. An expert guides participants through a transcendent landscape that evokes awe, imagination, and a profound connection to abstract visual language. Drawing from his fascination with the universal language of consciousness and nature, Mack creates a multisensory journey that leaves viewers inspired and in wonder. Both installations demonstrate the L.E.V. Festival’s commitment to exploring how virtual environments can help us imagine and construct a better future.
The festival’s curators, Cristina and Nacho, emphasise that the works showcased in the VORTEX (VRTX) section represent a thoughtful evolution of the festival’s programming. For six years, this segment has been experimenting with extended realities (XR), and in 2024, it takes a bold step forward by focusing on longer, more interactive, and often multiplayer experiences. This intentional shift aligns with L.E.V.’s broader mission of fostering audience engagement through groundbreaking digital art and innovative narratives. By presenting works that demand more from creators and participants, the festival positions itself at the forefront of immersive storytelling.
Adding to the transformative experiences is Slow Walker by Peder Bjurman, which reimagines urban spaces through augmented reality. Set in the Plaza de Matadero, this installation features a giant tardigrade soaring above the public square. A compelling voice-over accompanies the visual spectacle, guiding participants into a layered reality that blends the seen and unseen. By transforming public spaces into arenas of creative experimentation, Slow Walker continues the festival’s tradition of pushing the boundaries of storytelling in urban environments.
This installation follows in the footsteps of earlier LEV Matadero works such as MOA (My Own Assistant) and #Alphaloop, which explored interactive AR fiction and immersive experiments. Integrating augmented reality into shared spaces demonstrates the potential for reimagining our cities as canvases for artistic and communal exploration, blending technology with everyday life in striking ways.
Another notable work is Darren Emerson’s In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, a VR documentary that revitalises the spirit of 1980s rave culture. More than a historical account, it is a revelatory journey that combines electronic music, immersive soundscapes, and physical scenography to transport audiences back to the raw energy of underground raves. Enhanced by transducer vests, which emit vibrations synced with the music, the experience is deeply immersive, engaging both body and mind.
Emerson’s work is nostalgic and innovative, using VR to bridge generational divides and offering a new lens through which to experience a cultural moment that shaped electronic music’s trajectory. For those who lived through the era, the work is a heartfelt return to a defining cultural moment; for others, it’s an enthralling discovery of a subculture that revolutionised electronic music and communal experiences.
These installations highlight the diverse ways VR and AR are transforming contemporary art. Unlike passive viewership, extended realities place audiences in the heart of the experience, allowing for first-person immersion that redefines the relationship between the viewer and the work. Kevin Mack describes this as “spatial presence,” the sensation of being in a place that transcends traditional storytelling methods.
This paradigm shift opens new dimensions for artists and audiences, fostering dialogue about our collective future in increasingly virtual worlds. Moreover, the curators of LEV emphasise that these works challenge participants not only to immerse themselves but also to reflect on the ethical implications and transformative possibilities of emerging technologies. Artists continuously push boundaries through experimentation and the creation of unprecedented narrative codes. At L.E.V., we strive to bridge the gap by curating technically and creatively robust experiences, providing audiences with entry points into groundbreaking digital art while fostering meaningful dialogue about our collective future. They reflected.
The challenges of creating such immersive works are numerous—from technological innovation to navigating the ever-evolving digital landscape. Artists must adapt their projects to new platforms, address technical constraints, and navigate the evolving nature of XR media. Beyond these practical considerations lies a deeper responsibility: how to responsibly inhabit these new dimensions of reality. Festivals like L.E.V. provide crucial support, bridging the gap between creators and audiences. By curating technically and creatively captivating experiences, L.E.V. showcases the forefront of digital art and nurtures meaningful conversations about the ethical and imaginative potential of these new realities.
As L.E.V. Festival 2024 unfolds, its AR and VR installations serve as a testament to the limitless possibilities of storytelling through immersive technologies. Whether through the introspective lens of The Eye and I, the transcendence of Namuanki, the urban experimentation of Slow Walker, or the vibrant nostalgia of In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats, the festival invites us to explore, reflect, and dream—reminding us that the future of art is only as limited as our imagination. L.E.V. solidifies its position as a global hub for innovation in immersive art by offering audiences an exclusive view into the next frontier of artistic expression.
