The Venice Festival, with its creative and innovative displays, invites visitors into the world of new realities. One installation that catches the eye upon entering the Venice space is a chest-high metal box equipped with a peephole and two speakers. Looking inside, you see an image of yourself from a height of about 20 feet. Here, other guests are passing by, and two or three pigeons are sitting on the ground.
An Experience That Turns into a Nightmare
But when one of these passersby stops next to you for a long time, your natural instinct is to step away from the peephole and see what they want. This is where the experience turns into a lynching nightmare. The passerby is neither real nor literally; they only exist within the box. With a blue coat and a heavy French accent, they narrate a story that has no place in polite company. They say you must have plenty of time to be hunched over this peephole for so many minutes.
“Why do people keep looking at this box?” they ask loudly. “What do they hope to see? This is not reality!” These questions and statements are somewhat challenging and provoke thought in the audience.
From Absurdity to Seriousness
This festival not only addresses entertaining aspects but also delves into more serious topics such as climate change. These multimedia exhibitions invite visitors to reflect on new realities and the challenges ahead. From virtual experiences to serious discourses, Venice is recognized as a hub for innovation and critical thinking in the world of art and media.
The festival comes to an end, but its impacts on the audience will continue. New realities remind us that in today's world, the boundaries between reality and virtuality are increasingly blurred.
