10/10/2019 – West Side Leader
By Staff Writer
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| Shown is Suzanne Treister’s “Fictional Video Game Stills/Q. Would you recognize a Virtual Paradise?” |
| Photo courtesy of Suzanne Treister, P P O W Gallery and Annely Juda Fine Art |
DOWNTOWN AKRON — The Akron Art Museum (AAM) will explore the influence of video games on contemporary art in its newest exhibit, Open World: Video Games & Contemporary Art, which will present the work of artists who use video games as a catalyst for making art that addresses timely issues, including gun violence, migration and gender equality.
The exhibition opens with a celebration Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will be on view through Feb. 2.
According to AAM officials, the artworks in Open World reference a broad cross section of games, ranging from early text adventure and arcade games to more recent releases such as “World of Warcraft” and “Grand Theft Auto.”
“The artists in Open World reference some of the most beloved video game franchises, including ‘Super Mario Bros.,’ ‘Pokémon’ and ‘The Legend of Zelda.’ Their work draws attention to the rich opportunities video games offer for creative expression,” said Curator of Exhibitions Theresa Bembnister.
Open World presents the work of 23 national and international artists, said AAM officials. The exhibition’s title refers to open-world video games, which allow a player to roam through a virtual world, freely selecting their objectives. In addition to traditional media, such as painting, drawing and sculpture, the exhibition also will highlight textiles, prints, animation, video games, video game modifications and game-based performances and interventions by makers who self-identify as artists, according to AAM officials.
“Although all of the artists in Open World are influenced by video games, the artwork they make is about more than gaming culture,” said Bembnister. “The artists tackle topics crucial to contemporary life, including the role of consumer products in shaping personal identity and technology’s ability to create credible — yet false — imagery. Some use their artwork as a platform to advocate for justice for marginalized people.”
AAM officials said Open World will feature an immersive installation with interactive artworks. The quiet, introspective game “The Night Journey,” created by Bill Viola in conjunction with the USC Game Innovation Lab, mimics the process of achieving spiritual enlightenment, while Feng Mengbo’s energetic side-scrolling platformer “Long March” loosely recounts a significant event in Chinese history through 8-bit graphics. Retro gamers may enjoy Cory Arcangel’s “I Shot Andy Warhol,” a modification of the 1984 Nintendo Entertainment System game “Hogan’s Alley,” according to AAM officials. “Skinsuits,” a newly commissioned virtual reality experience by artist Rachel Rossin, will be unveiled to the public as part of Open World.
After the exhibit closes at AAM, it will travel to the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire (March 21 through June 28), followed by the San José Museum of Art (Sept. 10 through Jan. 10, 2021). It is the largest exhibition organized by the AAM to travel since El Anatsui: Gravity and Grace in 2012, according to AAM officials.
Bembnister edited a 96-page, hardbound, full-color, fully illustrated catalog to accompany Open World. The catalog features essays by Bembnister, as well video game historian Andrew Williams and feminist game scholar Samantha Blackmon. It will be available for purchase for $30 in the museum shop.
As a compliment to the exhibition, AAM will host a day-long indie game event Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The video games that inspired Open World artists will be available to play. Visitors can explore a showcase of indie tabletop and video games juried by Tracey Fullerton, designer of the multi-award-winning game “Walden” and director of the joint University of Southern California Games Program. The jurying panel also includes J. Collins, a computer science teacher at Hathaway Brown and games policy expert, along with Open World artists Angelo Ray Martínez and Angela Washko. Visitors will be able to meet Open World Arcade game designers during the event as well. Registration is required. Member tickets are $10; nonmember tickets are $24; and children 12 and under are admitted for free.
For the Oct. 19 opening celebration, museum members receive complimentary admission. Nonmember admission is $12. Registration is requested.
For more information about the exhibit and events or to register, visit akronartmuseum.org. The museum is located at 1 S. High St.
