We think we are real. At the very least, we feel real. “Real” and “fake” are human inventions. All of it came from imagination. The magnificent beauty, the dull routines, the horrific tragedies; all of it comes from our imaginations. We can’t experience any of it without the lens of our human imagination. Ergo, we must be real. At the very least, we are very real(ish).
The paintings “VRy real(ish)” by Matt Semke (AKA catswilleatyou) were all improvised from start to finish in virtual reality.
“I simply attack the canvas until ideas start to emerge. This thoughtless approach helps me get a glimpse of something real. These ideas sit just beneath all the layers of imaginary human nonsense.” — Matt Semke
Jack of all visual arts trades, Semke has cultivated a style all his own through constant experimentation and creation, having created a new piece to post to his site every single day since 2006, making his the longest-running “dailies” streak on earth. During this time, he’s explored nearly every facet of digital art, including early use of gifs as fine art, digital painting, animation, and now AR and VR.
What’s real? Sometimes real is arbitrary. Whether we are in the Matrix or we experience a case of Inception, technology allows us to seamlessly transfer from one world to another. Artworks created in Virtual Reality, as you can see, are just as real as artworks created digitally in real life….or are they? This all sounds VRy real(ish) to me.
The Drop
These four pieces were made in VR and contain AR.
The pieces were created in virtual reality using Brushwork Studio. The images trigger an augmented reality (AR) experience viewable with the free Artivive app. The AR experience shows the process of the painting being created from the perspective of the VR headset.
Any Collector who bids on and wins an Artwork at 1 Eth or more receives a museum-quality canvas print sent by the Artist to the Collector
Any Collector who bids on and wins an Artwork at 1.25 Eth or more receives a museum-quality canvas print exclusively signed and mailed by the Artist.
“the same time”
We’re all getting through some serious shit right now. Sometimes we feel our way through it. Sometimes we think our way through it. When the shit is this thick, we can’t do both.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.5 Eth reserve; 24-hr Auction
“protect your electricity okay”
Your heart runs on electricity. If you’re not careful, your electricity can be taken by the people around you. Take a deep breath. As you exhale, imagine a sphere around you filling up with a blue light. Know that within this sphere, no one can take your electricity. Okay?
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.5 Eth reserve; 24-hr Auction
“new day”
The past and the future are completely imaginary. It is always now. It’s always a brand new day.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.5 Eth reserve; 24-hr Auction
“think until you’re blue in the face”
Let the blue light fill you up. Start with your feet, and let it slowly rise through your whole body. Once your face is blue, you are good to go. Go get it, you blue freak.
- Editions: 1/1
- Pricing: 0.5 Eth reserve; 24-hr Auction
