Mixed Realities

Mixed realities are now firmly established not only in the gaming industry; they have also long since found their place in the arts, reflecting an essential, even existential role of art: the interpenetration of real and imaginary worlds. Through the creation of illusions, scenarios, and places—brought to life through interaction with technologies at the intersection of the analog and digital worlds—entire parallel worlds, known as metaverses, unfold. In these narratives, performances, sculptures, and fantastical spaces, viewers can become participants and even members of virtual communities. Mixed reality works thus reflect our era, which is being transformed by digitalization and artificial intelligence. The physical and the real are increasingly merging into an extended reality, moving us further toward the metaverse hyped by tech companies. Experiences of reality are becoming more and more “phygital”—both physical and digital at the same time. Haven’t we long since been living in a hybrid reality? This themed volume introduces multisensory mixed realities in the arts for the first time in a foundational essay by the guest editor. The volume’s scope is expanded by explorations of specific aspects: What are the limits of virtual worlds? How can online exhibitions be curated? How are MR technologies transforming theater stages and performance spaces? These questions are complemented by numerous interviews with international artists—such as Tamiko Thiel, Banz&Bowinkel, and Achim Mohné—who work with mixed realities. So, let’s go phygital!

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