Virtual realities as a modern form of spirituality

Virtual realities as a modern form of spirituality
Virtual reality as a modern form of spirituality

by Ausra Lisauskiene
by DA Academy of Arts (Vilnius, Lithuania)
by

The main idea revolves around the parallels between the immersive, transcendent potential of AR and the historical role of spirituality in providing meaning, transformation and connection.This creative workshop reveals the close connection between various Baltic myths and the present day. Their historical experiences are an important piece of the cultural puzzle in creating relevant social and political meanings in the context of globalisation.

Every nation has its own historical and cultural roots, which are encoded or retold in myths. Mythology can be defined as the expression of a nation's culture. Although outwardly associated with a fantastic expression of human imagination, mythology describes and provides a broader understanding of how a nation functions in the real world.

The theme is to explain how spirituality has evolved over time, from traditional religious practices to more modern, individualised forms of spiritual experience.

It is hoped that theoretical lectures and the analysis of analogies will help to find an appropriate mythological approach to the project. The ability to conceptualise mythological knowledge and present it in these new media and AR tools will help students to realise other projects in everyday life.

These artistic influences highlight how spirituality has been visualised, felt and experienced in different media, and how AR can extend these artistic traditions into new, immersive realms of experience.

Students will develop a nuanced understanding of how virtual realities are reshaping spiritual practices, while enhancing their critical thinking skills about the role of technology in personal and collective transformation.

By merging spirituality and technology, the ‘Virtual Reality as a Modern Form of Spirituality’ assignment encourages students to explore the evolving landscape of spiritual practice in the digital age. Virtual realities offer new possibilities for transcendence, self-exploration and connection, challenging traditional notions of spirituality while creating new opportunities for spiritual growth. The assignment invites reflection on the role of immersive technologies in shaping the human experience and the future of spiritual practice.

Day 01:
— Presentation of the topic, theoretical and historical background, introduction to the possibilities of the AR software ARTIVIVE, brainstorming.

Day 2:
— Clarification of the concept, division of labour, sketches to be implemented and agreed upon by the group.

Day 3:
— Creation and coordination of the graphic flap and the dynamic file for the project.

Day 04:
— Printing of the graphic flap and developing design of the dynamic video/audio file.

Day 05:
— Merge the dynamic video/audio file with the printed flap using the Artivive application.

— [Artivive]: This is a free AR application that can be used to create an assignment for a project.
https://www.artivive.com/

— [GREIMAS, Algirdas Julius, Lietuvių mitologijos studijos: Baltos lankos., 2005, Lithuanian language. (GREIMAS, Algirdas Julius, Studies in Lithuanian Mythology: Baltos lankos Press, 2005)]: The book provides information on the semiotic aspect of Lithuanian mythology.

— [KLIMKA, Libertas, Tradicinių kalendorinių švenčių semantika, Vilnius: Vilniaus pedagoginio universiteto leidykla, 2009, Lithuanian language. (KLIMKA, Libertas, Semantics of Traditional Calendar Holidays, Vilnius: Vilnius Pedagogical University Press, 2009)]: The book provides information on Semantics of Traditional Calendar Holidays.

The Enriched Reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D shape. Next to it is the inscription ‘Are we losing our spirituality in sexuality?’ The whole composition is complemented by an audio-video animation via AR, which can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.
The Enriched Reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D shape. Next to it is the inscription ‘Are we losing our spirituality in sexuality?’ The whole composition is complemented by an audio-video animation via AR, which can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.

2023 by Vaiva Chachlauske, Candan Esin Tanrisever, Fiona O’Lochlainn, Nicola Byrne is licenced with CC0 1,0. 

The augmented reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D shape to form a spiral. The entire composition is complemented by an audio-visual animation via AR that can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.
The augmented reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D shape to form a spiral. The entire composition is complemented by an audio-visual animation via AR that can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.

2023 by Beata Borisovaite, Sofia Mejia Diez, Marcin Zonenberg, Evan Tobin is licenced with CC0 1,0.

The augmented reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D form. Next to the inscription MOON HORSE are quotations from Baltic mythology, and on the reverse is a composition of the moon, the phases of the moon and a horse. The entire composition is complemented by an audio-visual animation via AR, which can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.
The augmented reality scanning pop-up flap contains an abstract volumetric composition that unfolds into a 3D form. Next to the inscription MOON HORSE are quotations from Baltic mythology, and on the reverse is a composition of the moon, the phases of the moon and a horse. The entire composition is complemented by an audio-visual animation via AR, which can be viewed on a mobile phone or tablet screen.

2023 by Ruta Vebraite, Krista-Maria Holopainen, Niel de Vries, Andrea Parra Rada is licenced with CC0 1,0.

The works were created during the International Workshop ‘Mythology: Spirituality’ in Vilnius, Lithuania. They were created by student groups from the five participating universities.