A fully immersive experiential "DOME" space measuring 12 meters in diameter involves multiple complicated techniques presents a diversity of performances and visual experiences to the public.
"Re-Generative:: update()" - FUTURE VISION LAB project principal Warrick Tsai computes visuals, and Blaire Ko creates sound. Continuing on previous Re-Generative projects, it conducts computing experiments with reaction diffusion and kaleidoscope. The performance prioritizes physical interactivity and sound experiences. Audiences wearing headsets which deliver more outstanding immersive sound experiences, and visuals change in real time based on where audiences are located in the space. It also develops multi-user smartphone interactive interfaces, so audiences can adjust parameters in real time to creative organic generative art.
"FUTURE VISION LAB 2022" - its hardware and content is upgraded. Besides existing advanced technologies for curved surface projections, it uses opaque material in order to present works in daytime. It presents 15 works , 1 talk and 1 workshop this year. Examples include audiovisual works "-22.7ºC" by Molécule and Dirty Monitor. The well-received "Ayahuasca - Kosmik Journey" is presented in a dome for the first time in Taiwan. Eight works from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mexico are selected from the open call. It also works with National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts and Dimension Plus for "reCONNECT 2022:BORDERLESS CANVAS". Artists located in Taipei and Taichung perform together via 5G connectivity. FUTURE VISION LAB will continue to arrange diverse content and unique immersive experiences.
Incubation proceeds through open calls and school collaborations. Annual open calls invite creators interested in immersive to perform in the space, and also participate in professional workshops on immersive audiovisual concepts. School collaborations include one-week intensive workshops. Students attend and develop innovative or experimental works, and gain practical experiences in their official performances. By engaging with creators, we continue to build up immersive dome content portfolio.
"High-resolution immersive performance system" - Our team develops high-resolution control systems for various needs. It can play 8K to 10K dome videos, and include multi-channel immersive sound in sync. It can also connect with performer’s equipment for live performances. Since the full-size venue is not installed permanently, C-LAB has a long-term smaller venue (5 meters in diameter) for early-stage tests and experiments. [Specification: 8K to 10K 1:1 full dome / H.265 or HAP, channel base or Ambisonic]
Our future continues in two aspects: control system modularization and mobile dome structure upgrade. Besides improving high-resolution immersive performance systems, we take mobility, maintenance, and usability into consideration. Modular systems will not be limited to this venue. It will be easier to transport or replicate to other immersive venues. The current dome structure still has a lot of room for improvement, such as layer design to expand immersive sound, streamlined equipment layout, and capacity increase.
Annual performances engage with international entities, such as French Office in Taipei, Italian creative team fuse*, and Japanese artist Atsushi Tadokoro. We continue to support local creators to develop immersive dome works. The portfolio includes 20 artworks so far. Outstanding works and artists will be promoted to international venues, such as SAT in Canada. Recently, we are connecting to precision metal processing vendors in Taiwan, , and hope we could export hardware and software services in the future.
In 2020, the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab (C-LAB) established the Technology Media Platform which emphasizes innovative media experimentation and social connections. Its purpose is to construct a cultural and technological experimental platform based on cross-disciplinary collaboration, co-creation, and coordination by integrating Taiwan’s cultural and technological resources. The FUTURE VISION LAB project, initiated by the Technology Media Platform, explores the visual limits of technology media. With sound and image algorithms, creative works, and the integration of hardware and software, an attempt is made to outline a cross-disciplinary vision for the enhancement of visual effects.
