「某天早上,從不舒服的夢境中醒來,格里高.桑姆薩發現在躺在床上的自己,已經變成一隻巨大的甲蟲。」這部二十世紀最為人所知的中篇小說—弗朗茨· 卡夫卡的《變形記》由此開始。
本次在台北當代藝術館展出、由歌德學院(台北)德國文化中心策劃的虛擬體驗裝置「VR變形記」,藉由最新的虛擬實境技術,讓觀眾化身成巨大昆蟲,在故事中的房間探索。
從文字世界到虛擬實境
卡夫卡的《變形記》描述銷售員格里高.桑姆薩的內心世界。某天早上醒來,他發現自己變成一隻巨大的甲蟲,完全沒有任何頭緒。他該如何面對這個情況?他的父母會作何反應?而老闆又會說些什麼?卡夫卡表現主義式的文字在一百年後仍令人思索,沒有正確答案。然而,透過這件裝置,讓我們化身為可憐的主角,在虛擬實境的神奇世界中重生,並找出這些問題的答案。
「VR變形記」將卡夫卡的著作由文字世界轉換成虛擬實境空間,主角則由格里高.桑姆薩換成了你自己」,米卡.強森如此解釋。
化身成格里高.桑姆薩
穿上了帶有特殊感應裝置的拖鞋,載上耳機、手部動態控制器以及虛擬實境頭盔,接著在一片漆黑中等待了幾秒,一切就開始了:一道光線一閃而過,觀眾穿梭至1915年,位於布拉格舊城區裡那格里高.桑姆薩的房間之中,身體已完全不同。
「VR變形記」虛擬實境體驗裝置考究了原著的各種細節,提供給觀眾細緻講究的真實感受,格里高.桑姆薩桌上的書籍,就是卡夫卡創作時正在閱讀的,就連細微如房間壁紙的圖樣,也是依照原著的描述來製作。
VRwandlung
‘As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect-like creature.’ This is how one of the most well-known narratives of the 20th century finds its beginning, ‘ The Metamorphosis’ by Franz Kafka. In this installation called ‘VRwandlung’, hosted by the MoCA Taipei and organized by the Goethe Institute Taipei one awakes, thanks to modern VR-technology, as a huge insect in a reconstructed room, true to the original.
From a book page into virtual reality
Kafka’s narrative ‘The Metamorphosis’ focuses on the feelings of Gregor Samsa, who one morning finds himself in the body of a beetle, not knowing how it all came to pass. How is he supposed to deal with the situation: How will his parents react? What will his boss have to say about it? Kafka’s expressionist story, even after a hundred years, provides no definite answers. The installation however brings the poor man back to life in the fantastic framework of virtual reality and endeavours to let us answer his questions ourselves.
‘VRwandlung’ turns Franz Kafka’s work from a book page into a virtually real experience. ‘The hero however is not Gregor Samsa anymore, but ourselves’, explains director Mika Johnson, who originally created ‘VRwandlung’ with his young startup-group for the Goethe Institute Prague.
Being Gregor Samsa
And really that is how it feels: You slip into the comfortable slippers with the odd looking sensors on their tips, get outfitted with headphones, hand movement controllers and of course the VR-headset. For a couple of seconds you remain in total darkness. Then it begins: a light blinks and you find yourself in the year 1915, in Gregor Samsa’s room in the old town of Prague and in a totally different body.
The attention to detail and absolute authenticity of the installation is what makes “VRwandlung” unique. The book titles on Gregor Samsa’s desk correspond to those which the real Kafka supposedly read and even the smallest thing, such as the wallpaper in the room is modelled after Kafka’s narrative.
貼心小叮嚀 Note :
1. 體驗時間為15分鐘(含說明與穿戴裝置時間),請依現場工作人員指示進行操作。
Experience duration is 15 minutes for each (includes instruction and
setting up time ). Please follow the directions given by the staff.
2. 報名者請於體驗時段開始前5分鐘至小玩藝教室報到,逾時5分鐘視同自動放棄資格,名額將釋出給現場候位觀眾。
The participants should report to the reception at MoCA U12 five
minutes before experience time. Late arrival participants (more than
five minutes ) will not be allowed to participate, and the vacancy will
be released to the waiting audience.
3. 作品內容有昆蟲圖像及特殊音效,12歲以下孩童建議由家長陪同體驗,確保安全。
The work contains insect images and special sound effect. For the security reason, children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a parent/ the parents.
4. 孕婦、高血壓、心臟病或有任何身體不適狀況之觀眾,請自行斟酌個人身體狀況,再行體驗。
Pregnant women, patient with heart disease, high blood pressure, or
not feeling generally well, is advised to consider carefully his/her
health conditions before experiencing.
5. 本館保有調整體驗與報名方式之權利。
The Museum reserves the right to modify the experience and registration procedure.