NAKED IN PARADISE is a Unity3D build allowing the construction of one’s own immersive and interactive VR database using media assets such as photos and videos (rectangular or spherical), sounds, texts, 3D objects... The software automatically and dynamically organizes these assets based on a variety of configurations: on a timeline, by categories, random, etc... The elements of the database are spectacularly organized and reorganized in real-time by simply selecting the desired display mode from within the experience. In addition, the assets metadata allow the creators of a database to grant or restrict access to areas or documents based on predetermined criteria such as visitors profile or behaviour as they progress through the database. NAKED IN PARADISE, the current iteration of the explorable dynamic VR archive, illustrates the life and work of COURCHESNE. The title expresses the pleasures provided by the potential to fully expose vast amounts of information in such a way to embrace the whole as well a to dive in and explore any of it’s discrete elements. In its current form, the VR database is downloadable as a Unity build and plays on the current Oculus Rift gear.

Technical requirements:

Hardware:

  • VR compatible PC:
    • i7
    • Good graphic card (NVidia 1070 or better)
    • Minimum ports: 2 HDMI + 3 USB3
  • Oculus Rift CV1
  • Xbox controller (default), Oculus Touch, standard video game controller or 3D Connection Space Navigator (for the exhibition version)

Software:

  • Windows 10
  • Oculus (Software package)
  • NakedInParadise_2017 (Unity3D build)

Interaction:

  • Use the left joystick1 to move forward or backward in the direction of the gaze
  • Use the left button (LB)2 to move upward, Use the right button (RB)3 to move downward
  • Press the B button4 to change the archive structure (in sequence from timeline, to category to random)

Exhibition version:

In addition to the Oculus Rift, the installation version of NAKED IN PARADISE uses a specially designed rotating chair, a MSI laptop computer, and a 3D connection space navigator (all equipment can be provided by the artist). The installation requires about 2 m x 2 m floor space and an electrical outlet.

Credit titles:

  • Concept, design, direction, production: Luc Courchesne
  • Software development: Stephen Ascher
  • Created at Montreal’s Society for Arts and Technology (SAT)

Luc Courchesne

Courchesne is a pioneer in experience art and design. His creations earned prestigious awards such as the Grand Prix of the ICC Biennale 1997 in Tokyo, an Award of Distinction (1999) and several Honorary Mentions at Prix Ars Electronica in Linz (1994, 1996, 2002), Austria, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York (1994), and participations in Wired’s NextFest (2005, 2006). His work is part of major collections in North America, Europe and Asia including the ZKM (Karlsruhe), the ICC (Tokyo), the National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa). A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1974) and of MIT (1984), Courchesne [courchel.net] is a founder of the Society for Art and Technology [sat.qc.ca] and honorary professor at Université de Montréal.