AT Lab Joins Ars Electronica Festival with Its Five Latest Productions

The Art & Technology Lab (AT Lab)’s 5 productions were officially invited to Ars Electronica Festival 2024 in Linz, Austria, from 4 to 8 September. Celebrating its 45^th anniversary this year, Ars Electronica is the world’s biggest innovative art and technology festival promoting the motto of connecting technology, arts, and society.

The invited works are “Diamond Dust” by Jeon Nuri, “Redial” by Kim Minkyung and Kim Gaeun, “Fly To You” by Song Yongyun, “Pasi” by Jung Eunsil, “Ssitgim” by Kang Seungpyo. All were produced and distributed by the AT Lab.

Jeon’s “Diamond Dust” was produced in the Cultural Content R&D Professional Manpower Nurturing Project. The narrative begins when a player encounters Kardi, an ice fairy, after accidentally landing on a snowy mountain. Through interaction with an AI character employing cutting-edge haptic technology, the production refreshes its players on the value of a cherished relationship.

“Redial” by Kim Minkyung and Kim Gaeun follows a narrative of the reconciliation of an estranged family. The player is guided to hear the voice messages from sisters at the payphone and understand each character’s perspective.

Song’s “Fly To You” is a VR documentary film about the poignant journey of a family separated during the Korean War. The volumetric capture and 2D NeRF technology used in the work bring the audience into the journey of transcending time and borders.

In Jung’s “Pasi,” the audience meets lonesome characters who appear in Mokpo’s folklore. Recollecting the tale of “Pasi,” a lost sea market, with the characters, the audience reminisces the memory.

Kang’s “Ssitgim” brings the Jindo ssitgimgut, a traditional Korean shamanistic cleansing ritual, vividly into real life via VR experience. It was filmed with a 360-degree virtual camera set in Unhyeong Royal Palace. Pansori master and professor Chae Soojung of the School of Korean Traditional Arts performed in it.