glitches, new perspectives, and the end of the virtual world

the facade 2010, Robert Overweg, half-life 2

Robert Overweg knows a thing or two about photographing the virtual world. An artist in residence at TAG in the Hague, Overweg approaches worlds in videogames as a streetphotographer, capturing moments and landscapes that are unique to the spaces he explores in his three new series glitches, new perspectives, and the end of the virtual world. The about column on his site says this on his methods:

Overweg dwells by foot or by air through the outskirts of the virtual world which he dissects through his photography. He documents the similarities and the differences between the virtual and the physical world while making use of the new possibilities the virtual world give him as a photographer.

By looking into how games work and the aesthetics of the virtual world he asks questions about how the system works and the people behind them.

the end of the virtual world 7, Robert Overweg, Modern Warfare 2

The photographs are fantastic. The end of the virtual world excellently captures the isolation and solitude of virtual worlds that end in flat edges, while new perspectives highlights the beauty in being able to  "...float in water without consequence..." and see things you would never be able to see in the physical world. And finally, the paused scenes in glitches reveal to us the moment of disembodiment that we encounter when the virtual world abruptly denies real world conventions.

stacked pigeons 2010, Robert Overweg Half-Life 2

See all of Robert Overweg's works on his site, Shot by Robert. More of this please!

via gamescenes

Comments

[Jonathan]

...reminds me of the movie, The Thirteenth Floor. I haven't thought about that one in ages...I don't remember it being a very good movie, though.

[cory schmitz]

So cool!

[Maré Odomo]

Ahh! This is such a good concept! And they're so pretty and well-composed.

(Also, psst. You typo'd glitches as "gltiches". I won't tell anyone though.)

[.tiff]

Oh, thank you Maré. I changed it!

[Alex]

Ok, this is shameless self-whoring, but I do some similar things here http://alexmyers.info/index.php?/project/kill-shot/ and http://alexmyers.info/index.php?/project/project-winning/

Thanks for sharing his work. There isn't enough exposure of artists that use games as a medium. Not in this sense.

[Alex]

wow, I totallly failed at embedding those links.

try these if you don't feel like c/v-ing:

Winning and Kill Shot

[Alex]

good lord, those failed to. No link emedding, huh?

[.tiff]

Hey Alex. Neat work! Thanks for sharing. I might post about these later this week.

[Alex]

Cool, let me know if you have any questions.