There was an irony at the core of IDFA’s DocLab programme this year. Distribution, which has long been a topic of conversation in the community, was front and center at its day-long DocLab R&D Summit. A difficult discussion for any art form, but as technologies are rapidly changing – both in the software used to create and produce, and the hardware to watch an exhibit – the issue at hand for XR is even more challenging.
DocLab is always experimenting with form (and function) – pushing the boundaries of new media, XR and live performance – so it’s not surprising that the work exhibited reflects creativity and experimentation and ranged from singular to collective experiences. While there was a lot of AI – and technology-influenced work, there were also in-person encounters, architectural installations and many multi-formed pieces. There were less VR-headset based works in the curatorial programme, or being pitched in the DocLab Forum. Which was ironic to me in reflection of the distribution challenges the industry faces.
But DocLab’s curation gave us opportunities to embrace and ponder those questions.
originally published on XR Must