Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Abstract

Out of Sight, Out of Mind was an immersive virtual reality installation artwork designed to convey the ecological trajectory of the Mar Menor saltwater lagoon area on the south east coast of Spain. The work brought audiences into a 360° environment that incorporated both video and audio recordings as well as telepresent video interaction using a system of live 360° chroma-keying between two separate gallery spaces. The enquiry examined the effectiveness of an immersive artistic approach to the communication of ecological challenges, locating people within the retrogressive landscape as an alternative to disconnected observation. It asked whether scientific environmental data, manifested as an immersive virtual reality experience, might provide a tangible and accessible understanding of, and empathy with, environmental crisis and whether this might lead to a deeper sense of presence, empathy and a responsibility for actions and consequences. The resulting interactive 360° video experience used new methods of immersive video capture and observation with augmented animated elements. This offered a unique experience of the Mar Menor as an uncanny encounter with a landscape. Viewers were invited to interact with this virtual space, co-producing the narrative experience within the created environment. The research was initiated by an invitation to participate in ‘The Reset: Mar Menor Lab’ residency programme and workshop ‘Imaginary Laboratory for a Landscape in Crisis’, which brought together a unique interdisciplinary mix of over 20 participants, including digital media artists, environmental scientists, activists and media theorists. The final installation was first exhibited at the Centro Cultural Puertas de Castilla, Murcia (2019) as part of the exhibition Lagunas: Projects and Processes of Art and Science in the Mar Menor