Category: I.A [edu]

The Immersive Arts Space hosts classes and diploma projects from all departments of the ZHdK and conducts its own educational courses. The launch of the transversal minor program Immersive Arts is planned for autumn 2024.

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In this series, guest lecturers from the Swiss Institute of Technology ETHZ, the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences HSLU, the University of Zurich UZH shared their specific views along with lecturers from the ZHdK. The topics covered Architecture, Virtual Reality, Virtual Forensics, Game Aspects in Theatre and Extended Reality.

Matthias Vollmer | Recording from March 8^th, 2022
IMMERSE IN THE CLOUD – VISUALIZING WITH POINT CLOUDS

Christina Zimmermann | Recording from March 22nd, 2022
CHALLENGING THE INDIVIDUAL – PERCEPTUAL CON/FUSIONS IN VIRTUAL REALITY

Lars Ebert | Recording from April 5th, 2022
FORENSICS ON THE HOLODECK

Réjane Dreifuss | Recording from April 19th, 2022
LUDIFICATION IN THEATRE: THE EXAMPLE OF “GAME-THEATRES”

Christian Iseli | Recording from May 3rd, 2022
SHIFTING REALITIES, OR: WHAT ARE IMMERSIVE ARTS ANYWAY?

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Interdisciplinary workshop with BA students (Z-module), Sept. 2021

The workshop with the German title Tanz der fliegenden Lichtobjekte offered an introduction into the basic technical infrastructure and into current research activities of the Immersive Arts Space. The students designed and implemented prototypes of three-dimensional media installations with helium drones, spatial projections and 3D audio. They constructed their own zeppelin models, developed control modalities and designed video textures for them. After two weeks three immersive experiences were presented with a variety of different artistic and narrative approaches. The workshop is based on the findings and methods of the artistic research project Helium Drones.

Students:
Micaela Brazerol, Julia Huerlimann, Jana Meyer, Tamina Kronenberg, Yannick Meyer, Laura Nan, Carla Opetnik, Fabio Saccani, Michael Schlapbach, Sophia Strickerschall, Janosch Tillich, Violetta Vigh

Teaching staff:
Martin Fröhlich (head of the workshop, Immersive Arts Space)
Roman Jurt (Design & Technology Lab)
Serena Cangiano (Head of Fablab Supsi, Lugano)
Stella Speziali, (Immersive Arts Space)
Lukas Sander (MA Stage Design)
Johannes Schütt (Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology)

Illuminated Flying Objects are featured in the Annual Report 2021 by ZHdK. Read full article [here]

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In this series, concepts of immersion as well as embodiment were explored from the different perspectives of fine arts, design, film, performing arts and music, with concrete examples of artistic practices and research projects. 

Christian Iseli | Recording from October 12th, 2021
DOUBLE TROUBLE: DIGITAL AVATARS ON STAGE

Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken | Recording from October 19th, 2021
EXPLORING BODY-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACHES IN MIXED REALITY SPORTS

Olav Lervik | Recording from October 26th, 2021
GAMES IN CONCERT: LESSONS FROM MUSIC IN VIRTUAL REALITY

Marie-France Rafael | Recording from November 23rd, 2021
POST-DIGITAL RELATIONALITY – EMBODIED EXPERIENCES

Melody Chua | Recording from December 7th, 2021
BLACK BOX FADING: (DIS)EMBODIMENT WITH AN IMMERSIVE IMPROVISATION MACHINE

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In the Z-Module “Immersive Landscapes in Art and Film” in September 2021, students from the fields of design, film, theatre and fine arts dealt with photogrammetry, virtual reality and 3D sound. Within two weeks, the groups developed three different immersive landscapes:

– Using virtual reality glasses, an actor could discover a walk-in visual scenery by means of the sense of touch and change it by interacting with virtual objects.
– Real hands became moving digital sculptures in a planetary virtual reality landscape using photogrammetry and motion capture.
– White rigid bodies became transformers of an abstract soundscape via motion capture in a participatory performance in immersive arts space.

In addition to engaging with transdisciplinary art and film projects, the students were able to test and evaluate the latest ‘interactive experience’ with Birdly at Somniacs in a field trip.

Teaching Staff:
Miriam Loertscher (Institute for Performing Arts and Film)
Thomas Isler (Department Fine Arts)
Jyrgen Ueberschär (Departement Fine Arts)
Valentin Huber (Department Performing Arts and Film/ Immersive Arts Space)
Stella Speziali (Immersive Arts Space) 
Eric Larrieux (Immersive Arts Space)

Interdisciplinary workshop with BA students (Z-module), Aug/Sept. 2020 

The two-week workshop Dreams & Dystopia (Immersive Landscapes II) focused on the creation of cinematic landscapes (artificial, urban or natural spaces) for three-dimensional media such as spatial projection or virtual reality. Artistic approaches from painting, photography, film and CGI were taught and the differences worked out interactively with the students.

Teaching staff:
Thomas Isler, Department of Fine Arts
Miriam Loertscher, Department of the Performing Arts and Film
Jyrgen Ueberschär, Department of Fine Arts,
Valentin Huber, Stella Speziali, Immersive Arts Space

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Interdisciplinary workshop with BA students (Z-module), Aug/Sept. 2020

Over the course of two weeks, groups of students from different art and design programs, conceived and constructed helium drones (airships or balloons with drone navigation control) and developed a spatial installation concept including a 3D sound design. The illumination of the helium drones is achieved either by remote controlled moving lights or by projection mapping. The movement of the drones is controlled by a computer-aided tracking system.

The Z-module with the German title Tanz der fliegenden Lichtobjekte resulted in a variety of exciting flying objects, including a large floating manta ray. The workshop is based on the findings and methods of the artistic research project Helium Drones.

Teaching staff:
Martin Fröhlich (Immersive Arts Space)
Roman Jurt (Design & Technology Lab)
Nadia Fistarol (MA&BA stage design)
Johannes Schütt (Institute for Computer Music and Sound Technology)

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