Dealing with the question of pleasure (physical, emotional…) in virtual reality is a real question for creators, but an obvious destination when working with a medium that can manipulate the senses. By confronting the viewer with his or her own sensory questions, the VR medium is able to offer a real look at what makes up the body (gender, sexuality, our own relationship to the physical…). Let’s take a look at a project in development at Biennale College, selected for the Venice Production Bridge Gap-Financing, MONS VENUS by Argentinian director Paula Orlando, produced by Rocio Pichirili (Groncho Estudio).
MONS VENUS, a project about intimacy?
Paula Orlando – I come from the film industry, with my background primarily in production. MONS VENUS marks my first venture as a director. During the COVID-19 period, a time of isolation, I found myself reflecting deeply on sexuality and pleasure. It was during this time that I discovered virtual reality, which felt like the perfect medium to explore and develop a project on these themes.
P. O. – We want to create an immersive, interactive space where viewers can explore pleasure and self-connection in a comfortable and intimate setting. By designing an otherworldly design, we offer a unique environment that encourages exploration without traditional constraints. At the heart of the project is providing a safe space where users can engage with deeply personal concepts and connect with their inner selves more openly.
Rocío Pichirili – For my part, I’ve always been very curious about the immersive field and new technologies, and have been for the last years. My university thesis included a VR 360 film. I’ve participated in short VR projects . Nevertheless, Paula’s project is my first opportunity to produce a real artistic device in the form of an installation.
Mons venus invites us on a sensory odyssey, awakening our senses and forging a connection with pleasure through sea life-inspired forms, textures, and colors, enhanced by a symphony of nature, human sounds, and music. The experience begins in darkness, where a portal suddenly opens, revealing a tunnel within. We step through the portal and embark on a journey of sensations. In this experience, we exist as human forms without gender identification.
Offering a positive experience
P. O. – MONS VENUS offers a very positive experience where viewers can escape stress and connect with themselves. We aim to awaken your senses and explore pleasure from a fresh perspective in an engaging and transformative way. Although we address important issues around sexuality, our primary goal is for the audience to enjoy themselves, feel good, and find space for thoughtful reflection.
R. P. – The evolution of public engagement with immersive experiences is intricate. In some countries, people are more accustomed to virtual reality (VR), while in others, like Argentina, where access to such content is limited due to the lack of exhibition spaces. Despite this, unlike a decade ago, when opportunities arise, people are now willing to explore, even on a personal level. This openness to innovation provides us, as creators, the chance to push boundaries and gain deeper insights into the potential these technologies can unlock and offer.
R. P. – MONS VENUS is a digital project, but our approach is more global. We want to combine the real world with a virtual one, that’s why we’re working on a real installation, with a physical environment that puts the viewer in the right emotional state (like a cocoon at the right temperature). The viewer decides whether to trigger the experience at the moment when he or she feels comfortable, in complete intimacy. We expect that after finishing the experience, each user will step out of their small dome and exchange their thoughts with others. Our goal is for Mons Venus to be a catalyst for discussions on topics that are difficult to address in society.
Interaction for self-discovery
P. O. – MONS VENUS is a tunnel of sensations, so to speak. In the experience, your body will be represented as genderless, and there will be no spoken language—only sounds. The first stage is all about relaxing and setting the right mood. Next, you’ll interact with an amorphous form to explore the art of giving and receiving pleasure. Each interaction is met with visual, sound, and morphological responses. As you continue, you’ll have the chance to paint your body with light and explore yourself in new ways. To keep the experience immersive and more natural, we use a tracking system instead of controllers.
R. P. – The idea is to approach emotions and sensations that we don’t allow ourselves to experience as often.
Feed the project at the Biennale College VR
P. O. – Being selected for the Biennale College 2023-2024 was a fantastic opportunity. It was a very intense week, with lots of critical exchanges on the project! It allowed us to feed the project, interact with mentors and revise our copy. In the spring, we were able to better understand how to get closer to the user, and consider new ideas to make the core of the project effective.
R. P. – … and then it was useful viewing time at the VR Lab, a screening room, where we had access to many VR projects that matched what we were looking for (VIENS! by Michel Reilhac, BODY OF MINE, IN THE MIST…). As I mentioned, the distribution of immersive content remains complex in our region, and any opportunity to see projects is invaluable. In the end, it was very inspiring.
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