By now, I’m sure you’ve read Matt’s book. I know I keep mentioning it, but it is so very relevant to a lot of upcoming trends. Take this news story, for example.
(Don’t worry if you haven’t read it yet, we also have an interview relevant to this story here.)
The duo behind Tale of Tales (featured in said book) have made video games, such as Sunset, for twelve years. The are now pushing past that and turning to Kickstarter once more for Cathedral-in-the-Clouds, an ever-expanding library of of virtual dioramas to contemplate ancient religious themes in real-time 3D. I know that’s a bit of a mouthful, but stay with me here, as they promise this will be their “masterwork,” the ultimate piece of art they want to achieve.
Related reading: Tale of Tales calls it quits and pulls the curtain on game development.
Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn will be making everything themselves, using the same technology they used to make games in a new and exciting way. The dioramas, inspired by Gothic and Renaissance art, are meant for contemplation. Each is presented as a life-sized body encased in a box, and the only action is scrolling to different parts of the scene. Many will depict religious scenes, a common theme of art during the times being considered.
The dioramas (or virtual sculptures) will be distributed for various formats, including computers, tablets, phones, and web. Oh, and it will all be free. In order to contain the collection, a virtual reality cathedral is being created. Since the end result is a free product, Kickstarter backers will receive dioramas one month in advance of the public release date. Perhaps the most interesting part is that, depending on the pledge, a backer can commission a statue, painting, or chapel in this cathedral. Samyn wants people to volunteer to support the project with the hope that it creates “a friendlier and more respectful relationship with the people who appreciate our art.”
Regarding the inspiration of Cathedral-in-the-Clouds, Samyn believes his childhood played a large role, stating, “My parents are atheists but they sent me to Catholic schools anyway. This is how I learned about, basically the roots of Western culture. I’m not religious myself, but old Christian art moves me deeply nonetheless. So I wanted to do something with that in my own work.”
If you’re interested in backing Harvey and Samyn for this exciting project, check out the Kickstarter page here.
– Lindsay M.
News Editor
