Deconstructed Metaverse by Michael Takeo Magruder with Drew Baker and Erik Fleming, 2012
Deconstructed Metaverse is a new media art installation that creatively dissects the underlying digital systems, network infrastructures and ubiquitous technologies surrounding the current generation of shared virtual environments like Second Life and OpenSimulator. The work is an artistic play on the concept of a ‘system on a chip’, and consists of a seemingly boundless virtual realm that is wholly contained within a single physical memory die linked to an aesthetic arrangement of micro-computer electronics. This working configuration of software and hardware components is displayed as a sculptural ‘artefact’ within a public gallery environment and allows visitors to intermix and interact with denizens of the ‘living’ online world.
A virtual/ physical artwork examining the underlying digital systems, network infrastructures and ubiquitous technologies that comprise today’s shared virtual environments it was shown from 5 September to 30 October 2012 at the following places;
Virtual @ Deconstructed Metaverse, OSGrid - as part of the open source metaverse OSGrid.
and Physical @ Nottingham Playhouse, UK - as part of the Dual exhibition.
Michael Takeo Magruder
Michael Takeo Magruder (b.1974, US/UK) is an internationally recognised visual artist and researcher based in the Department of Digital Humanities, King’s College London who works with digital and new media including real-time data, immersive environments, mobile devices and virtual worlds. His practice explores concepts ranging from media criticism and aesthetic journalism to digital formalism and computational aesthetics, deploying Information Age technologies and systems to examine our networked, media-rich world.
In the last 15 years, Michael’s projects have been showcased in over 250 exhibitions in 30 countries, and his work has been funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Arts Council England and The National Endowment for the Arts, USA. Michael has been commissioned by numerous public galleries in the UK and abroad and by the leading Internet Art portal Turbulence.org. His research focuses on the intersections between contemporary art, emerging technology and interdisciplinary practice, and his writings have been widely published. In 2010, Michael was selected to represent the UK at Manifesta 8: the European Biennial of Contemporary Art and several of his most well-known digital artworks were added to the Rose Goldsen Archive of New Media Art at Cornell University.
For further information about Michael's work, visit www.takeo.org.
Deconstructed Metaverse v1.0 is a 2012 commission by The Cutting Room project in partnership with Nottingham Playhouse with funds from National Lottery through Arts Council England and generous support from the Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London and Type Creative, PLC.