Here I would like to introduce XaNaDu Watkin, an architect of the newest generation and the one who build the incredible building of the Bibliotheque Francophone in Second Life. As an architecture student in real life in Paris, France, he will graduate this year. In short, the thesis that he wrote for graduation, is about the question how architects can use Second Life for creating and designing a new way to build.
But that is not all that is new. The other reason that we talk is, that on 19th March, XaNaDu has held his lecture in the Bibliotheque Francophone, both wit voice and stream. A very innovative way to inform people and possible the new way of sharing information.
XaNaDu Watkin: Architects work with autocad and other programs, all design work is done on computer now. You have a modelisation, but with the same program you can draw plans, move or create walls, doors … And work in real life is a switch between 2D and 3D modelisation. There is a big difference between real life architects working on 3D modelisations and Second Life works. In real life we are using 3D-programs to imagine the reality. But in Second Life we work directly into 3D. The design in real life is only a “document” you cannot visit it or interact with it, only the architect who is working on it, can. But in Second Life it’s different. Here a slide of a Zaha Hadid project.
There are some famous architects who affirm that it is the program who really creates the project. Architect imagine, but programs can do a lot of work by itself.
MD: Still, the execution of the modellisation is human, isn’t it?
XaNaDu Watkin: That is true, but not always :p
Here I ‘m talking about virtual architects. Markos Novak is an architect who is skilled in virtual architecture. In real life he doesn’t build, but He has made a lot of researchs. He also has not build in Second Life yet, but only in other 3D-programs. His work is very interesting.
But as you have noticed, nobody can visit or use his architecture. And that is the problem.
MD: Markus Novak, who is he?
XaNaDu Watkin: People like Markus Novak create new theories about architecture but this architecture has no existence. It’s more than art, because his work is not only a picture, but the only thing for us that we can see is a picture.
Markos Novak designed an organic building, without concrete nor wood. He called it echinoderme, sea star. And this sort of architecture could be build in places like Second Life. It is the kind of thing that I would wish to build in the future. Not that I want to copy his work, but he sure is a source of my inspiration, and he was the first architect skilled on virtuality who I have met.
Another innovative architect is Kas Oosterhuis, from the Netherlands. Oosterhuis works about links between people and the building, and moreover: he imagines an evolutive and living architecture. He considers a building like an entity who can do more, or breathe, something very living. I like this architect, as it was the first who surprised me on his reflexions and his work. In French schools we have a problem I think, as a lot of teachers give a great consideration about the work by Le Corbusier. But damn It so old, he’s dead! We must give the place to other architectural orders. And Rem Koolhaas -also Dutch- has given a new order.
MD: What is the role of Second Life in the future of architecture?
XaNaDu Watkin: Second Life architecture could interact too on our world, as it ‘s a great program to diffuse and peer architecture visions.
MD: Yes it can, as long as it can be done technically…
XaNaDu Watkin: With domotic links you could interact on your own place directly on Second Life. Domotique is a science about home AI, Artificial Intelligence. For example the nabaztag, do you know it?
A nabaztag is a little object who can search informations on the web and can give some too, throught internet. For example: You are at your desk, but not online. The nabaztag can have a program on Second Life, that detects if somebody enters your shop. The nabaztag will speak to you or in a way inform you about who is waiting for you in your shop in Second Life.
MD: And this is really working? or in beta stage?
XaNaDu Watkin: This link already exist, you can buy a virtual Second Life nabaztag that makes the link between Second Life and real life.
MD: So if this is reallity now, what will be next?
XaNaDu Watkin: Maybe tomorow “domotic” could create a specific atmosphere in your room, like change the color of the light to create a “extended reality”. A “domotic” can read RFID. RFID are these little metal processors which are hidden in objects so that they won’t be stolen. Like in books, shoes… etcetera.
RFID processors can do much more tah be used as an alarm. They can inform about your shopping, for example. When you buy a book with an RFID, it informs the company that you have bought it.
And a nabaztag is using this link in the other way. You can buy some specifics books with RFID and when the nabaztag detect it. It could make a device reading the book, for a child for example. And these links could exist in Second Life too! Why not?
XaNaDu Watkin: Do you know Louis Khan? He has said: “If you can think it, you can build it.”
Markos Novak: http://www.artstechsymposium.utah.edu/novak.html
Kas Oosterhuis: http://www.oosterhuis.nl/quickstart/index.php
But that is not why we meet at his gallery in Soho (SoHo Island*, SoHo (209, 148, 25)), his art is. Before entering the gallery, six ‘free gift’ posters carry the name of ‘Gallery Maeght’, which is the Real Life gallery that is owned and run by his mother in Saint Paul de Vence, France. This gallery shows and sells paintings by artists like Kandinsky, Miró and Chagall. Each poster is illustrated and provided with a historical quote.
While Alberto shows me his first album with sea drawings he tells me his story of how the artist in him woke up. Being a physicist and working as such, it had never been into his mind to explore his talent in arts. By now 11 years ago he travelled to the Seychellen to spend a vacation of two weeks. Only just after arrival it turned out that his luggage had ‘travelled’ to Paris instead. So for two weeks his only possessions were the clothes he wore and a pencil and an empty album. That’s where it all started. He started drawing everything he saw and added stories to the drawings, like a diary. Beautiful, tropical fish, shells, corals… anything. He called it “Aldebra” (1997). Inspired by the discovery of his talent, this book had a follow up seven years later, with the title “Irian Jaya” (2004). Both books are still to be purchased (Real Life) in Alberto’s SoHo gallery.
At the moment, Alberto is working on a new book. This book is about the animals that are shown in the Egyptian Museum in Turin (Torino). The text will be in Italian first, but Alberto is working on a English version as well. This book should be ready about May this year. If it will ever be available in shops, still depends on finding a publisher.
Ange Zanetti: So one of the three versions of Project Gutenberg Library is here, but actually only this one is completly done. This is the Babel Tower. I don’t know the exact number of books that are in this one, to be honest, but something like 10,000 at least and in six languages till now. But the plan is to have 18 languages. At the moment you can choose between French, Spanish, English, German, Dutch and Finnish. The script can do it allready, we just have to modify the language selector.
MD: I think it can be revolutionary as everyone can read all books, no restrictions from any government, no censorship. Was that your intention?
At this time when I write this, it’s not that far yet. A visit in the Bibliotheque Francophone, located in Second Life on the land of Ebeoplex feels like visiting a hive, where everyone is very excited to make all preparations for the event. Still, the man behind this project and in Second Life the manager of the Bibliotheque Francophone – Hugobiwan Zolnir – finds time to tell a lot about the project. Though the project in Second Life is developped by La Bibliothèque Francophone, the whole event is developped by Adreva and created by Carole Lipsyc. So are the texts used for both the exhibition in Paris and in Second Life.
It takes very talented and intelligent artists to create graphic art that is designed specially for Second Life. Or to say it differently: art within art. Daruma Picnic is one of the bright spirits who reinvented art for existence in Second Life. Art that is only meant for and can only exist in Second Life.
Triggered and excited as I felt by this remarkable artwork, I was very eager to meet the artist behind the creation and to learn more about his work. After some IM exchange, time zones are sometimes a pain, I finally met Daruma Picnic. Daruma works in an art-library in Chicago. Info island provides the location in Second Life. Daruma says: “I am part of a group “ArtsLib Group” that has agreed to curate and schedule shows at Info Island in a small parcel called Library Gallery, Info Island. Info Island has a small parcel which is used to showcase art. His avatar, that he designed himself, is as special as his work. He said about this creation: ”Yes the design is my own it is a felt tip drawing of a daruma.” A daruma is a Buddhist monk.
One sculpture reminds of a clock and sounds when the spectator clicks the yellow ball on top, that drops another ball onto the wheels below it, that start to sound like a symphony from an distance planet. Another was in shape of an orange cube and gave dark male voices.