DARC is proud to present MÆ-Motion Aftereffect by Freya Björg Olafson.
MÆ-Motion Aftereffect is a sixty-minute intermedia performance that explores how immersive media expand individual perception of ‘reality,’ ‘time,’ and ‘space.’ Experience this innovative performance on May 2nd at 7pm in ODD BOX, followed by an artist talk on May 3rd at 12pm in the DARC Microcinema.
No one is turned away due to lack of funds. Reach out to access@digitalartsresourcecentre.ca to request a waiver.
This performance was made possible through a partnership with Ottawa Dance Directive.
About the Performance:
MÆ-Motion Aftereffect is a sixty-minute intermedia performance work that addresses the impact of emerging consumer technologies associated with AR – Augmented Reality, VR – Virtual Reality, MR – Mixed Reality, XR – Extended Reality, and 360° video. MÆ is a digital collage of motion-capture data, ready-made 3D models, live webcamera and greenscreen effects. A range of monologues sourced from the internet provide the infrastructure for the work; some of the monologues recount experiences with virtual reality in live gameplay and VR pornography, others explore consciousness through psychedelic drugs, out-of-body experiences, and astral projection. These intentionally diverse monologues serve to topically address technology, psychedelics, and metaphysical explorations as methods that expand individual perception of ‘reality’, ‘time’ and ‘space’, the vital components for creation within VR / AR.
CONTENT WARNING
Mature content
Sexual themes
Presence of gun sounds
Age recommendation: 18 years old and older
About the Artist:
Freya Björg Olafson is an intermedia artist who works with video, audio, animation, motion capture, XR, painting, and performance. Her praxis engages with identity and the body, as informed by technology and the Internet. Olafson’s work has been exhibited and performed internationally at the Bauhaus Archiv (Berlin), SECCA – SouthEastern Center for Contemporary Art (North Carolina), LUDWIG museum (Budapest), and The National Arts Center (Ottawa). Olafson has benefitted from residencies, most notably through EMPAC – Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (New York), Oboro (Montreal), and Counterpulse (San Francisco). In spring 2020 Olafson was one of the longlist ‘Sobey Art Award’ recipients through a nomination by Video Pool Media Arts Center and in July 2021 her work was selected for the ‘Lumen Prize for Art & Technology’ longlist. Olafson holds an MFA in New Media from the Transart Institute / Donau Universität. In 2017 Olafson joined the Department of Dance at York University as an Assistant Professor in Screendance. As of July 2021, Olafson is an Assistant Professor in Digital Media at the University of Manitoba School of Art.
