Project Overview
For We Cannot Escape is an installation built in Unreal Engine and New Art City, examining the intersection of race and technology. It highlights the biases embedded in the digital world, where new technologies often exclude Black and brown people. The project blends video, sculpture, and web-based media to explore how digital spaces, like the Metaverse, often fail to represent Black identity and erase the nuances of Blackness in virtual environments.
Concept
The Metaverse, intended as a space for community, raises questions about race, gender, and class. When avatars are limited by predefined categories, the digital experience often mirrors historical exclusion. In Unreal Engine, I encountered limitations with character creation, such as only having one curly afro hairstyle, which reflects the broader issue of underrepresentation in digital spaces. DON’T FORGET ABOUT US emphasizes the frustration of Black users who struggle to find accurate digital representations, leading to the erasure of Black identity in virtual spaces.
Next Phase
For the next phase of my project, I developed a thermal printer that displays thought-provoking phrases such as "Are our perceptions of ourselves just projections of others?" and "Don't forget about us." The final part of the project introduces a virtual world created specifically for Black and Brown individuals to gather and connect. Upon entering the space, users are immersed in an intentionally dark environment, reflecting the feeling of isolation many Black individuals face online. This virtual space includes 3D scans of myself and an immersive soundscape created with VCV Rack.
As users navigate the space, they are transported to a reflective area that explores the intersections of technology and Afrofuturism. AI-generated artworks and videos are accessible through clickable prompts that correspond with the phrases displayed by the thermal printer. The space was designed as a safe haven for Black and Brown individuals to reflect, find peace, and connect. Visitors can leave notes and chat with others within the virtual world.
Media and Tools
Unreal Engine: 3D world building
Arduino: Thermal printer integration
VCV Rack: Immersive soundscape
Web-based Media: Digital components
Video: Narrative and immersive experience
Photogrammetry: 3D scanning of objects and environments
