Gamma_LAB experimental laboratory is organised with the aim of promotion of knowledge about modern technologies for their application in the field of art and culture, as well as creation of unique interdisciplinary projects.
Gamma_LAB experimental laboratory was organized by the Gamma Festival and ARTYPICAL art practice in 2019. The first laboratory - Gamma_LAB AI - was dedicated to research in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning for creating musical works, subsequently presented on the Gamma Festival AI stage in July 2019.
As a development of the project, joint laboratories of the Gamma_LAB team and the MUTEK Japan festival in Tokyo was organized in November 2019 (MUTEK AI Music Lab) and with the MUTEK Montréal in Canada in March 2020 (MUTEK AI Art Lab).
In May 2020, a new laboratory - Gamma_LAB XR - was dedicated to a whole range of different technologies, combined under the general name XR, used to create virtual, augmented, hybrid reality and immersive spaces. All events of the international project were held online from May 12 to May 22, 2020, with remote access for participants. The closed part of the laboratory was supplemented by an open public educational program.
Gamma_LAB XR TEAM
Gamma_LAB XR PUBLIC PROGRAM
Wednesday, 13 may
12:00 – 13:30 (MSK)
XR Visions
Lecture and Q&A / english
Natalia Fuchs [ RU ]
The purpose of the art created for the space of hybrid reality is to form new perspectives and develop deeper awareness. Natalia Fuchs, international curator, art critic and founder of ARTYPICAL art relations practice, explains how the set of technologies related to virtual, augmented and mixed reality, is used by contemporary artists and researchers to dive into other dimensions.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival.
15:00 - 16:30 (MSK)
Media architecture for the physical environment: how XR transforms our space perception
Lecture and Q&A / english
Elena Malakhatka [ SE ]
Many architects, urban planners, sociologists, psychologists, geographers, and scientists in cross disciplines argue that as media have become ever more virtual, the design and development of our physical spaces should be redefined. The lecture by Swedish researcher Elena Malakhatka will give highlight of the dynamic and complex relationship between the physical and virtual environments. The most relevant trends in XR, such as spatial computing, virtual twins, cognitive VR, and Social VR will be presented and discussed.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival with the support of the General Consulate of Sweden in St Petersburg.
17:00 - 18:30 (MSK)
Immersive technologies as a tool for creative thinking
Lecture and Q&A / english
Andrey Drobitko [ RU ]
Why does the brain work twice as efficiently using augmented reality? What effect will immersion in hybrid worlds have on our society? The answers to these questions will be given by Andrey Drobitko, Russian multidisciplinary artist and developer, author of the augmented reality application SketchAR.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival.
Thursday, 14 may
19:00 - 21:00 (MSK)
XR in modern culture: communication between the viewer and the author
Lecture and Q&A / russian
Phygitalism [ RU ]
XR artist's canvas is the whole world. In their lecture artistic collective Phygitalism will reveal the role of technologies in the modern art and discuss its significance in the art of the future. The main trends of contemporary XR art will be presented.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival.
Friday, 15 may
16:00 - 17:00 (MSK)
Mixed Reality Contortionist
Artist-tech talk and Q&A/ english
Jonas Johansson [ SE ]
Jonas Johansson is an anywhere based Swedish artist-activist transforming light and technology through play, collaboration and (un)human intervention. In his public lecture, he will present works using augmented reality in combination with ice and kombucha as well as present the first steps of getting started with augmented reality in the browser.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival with the support of the General Consulate of Sweden in St Petersburg.
17:00 - 18:00 (MSK)
Art of Probability
Artist-tech talk and Q&A/ english
Mathieu Le Sourd (maotik) [ FR ]
New technologies offer a wide range of possibilities to create architectural sculptures and metaphoric representation of the natural environment . In his artist talk French digital artist Mathieu Le Sourd (maotik) will explain techniques of using randomness and probabilities in order to give life to visual content and to improvise with hybrid forms transposed into a space.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival with the support of the French Institute in St Petersburg.
Friday, 22 may
18:00 - 19:30 (MSK)
The now of XR arts
Collective talk - discussion / english
Natalia Fuchs [ RU ], Elena Malakhatka [ SE ], Jonas Johansson [ SE ], Mathieu Le Sourd (maotik) [ FR ], Phygitalism [ RU ], Georgy Molodtsov [ RU]
Gamma_LAB XR, among others, explored the topic of relevant approaches to cultural and social development proposed by VR/AR/MR technologies now. What are usable formats and meaningful XR technologies for creativity and arts? What technical issues need to be solved soon? Сollective talk/ discussion with international team of Gamma_LAB XR (Natalia Fuchs, Elena Malakhatka, Jonas Johansson, Mathieu Le Sourd (maotik) and Phygitalism) and a special guest Georgy Molodtsov (Russian VR Seasons).
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival with support of the French Institute and General Consulate of Sweden in Saint Petersburg.
20:00 - 23:00 (MSK)
Gamma_LAB XR
English / Russian
The final open laboratory event dedicated to virtual and augmented reality with the participation of artists and curators. During the performance program, presentations, demos and showcases of the international composition of laboratory participants will be presented.
This event is organised in the frame of Gamma_LAB XR of Gamma Festival with support of the French Institute, General Consulate of Sweden in Saint Petersburg and Saint-Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design.