What is
Virtual Photography Showcase?
The Virtual Photography Showcase (commonly known as VPS) is a project that exhibits virtual photos taken in social VR in a physical (real-world) setting.
Social VR, which began gaining popularity around 2017, is now used by a large number of users worldwide. In Japan, the user base is projected to double by 2024, showcasing significant growth in the field (according to Similarweb).
The Virtual Photography Showcase is a project aimed at capturing and sharing the creative and cultural activities born within social VR with a broader audience through photography.
Please click here to see past exhibitions.
What is Virtual Photography?
Photo by AmaNeko
Virtual photography is a new form of photography
Since the invention of photosensitive materials in the 19th century, the scenery and daily life around us has been recorded in photographs in various forms, such as roll film, Polaroid film, and image sensors.
Virtual photos are photographs taken in a virtual space, like a game (or even a game itself), without the use of any photosensitive material.
You can create a composition or story in a virtual space, or even arrange the buttons yourself and release the shutter. The buttons may be completely different in shape, but they are sure to convey the photographer's intentions and reasons in the form of a photograph.
Its history is still short, and it involves a completely different process from anything we've seen before, so there's still a lot we don't know about whether it can be called a photograph . However, we hope that those who view the virtual photos at VPS2025 will enjoy them and think, "I've never seen anything like it before, so this is what virtual photos are like."
You can see the printed virtual photo!
Provider by BIS
Given that the photographs were taken in a virtual space, a cutting-edge environment, it is hard to imagine the appeal they would have when printed.
However, when you actually print it out, you will discover many things.
The depth of color is difficult to reproduce on a monitor and can only be achieved with pigments and dyes.
The depth of the work is created by printing on glossy paper, Japanese paper, photographic paper, etc.
This finish is created when light from a spotlight or similar hits it.
The face of the photograph that cannot be seen through the monitor emerges when it is printed. You might think that the printing that were essential for conventional photography are no longer necessary with virtual photos, but in fact printing makes the photograph even more appealing.
We feel that there is so much appeal and potential in this technology that we feel it is essential to exhibit at VPS2025 in print rather than on a monitor.
VPS2025 allows you to experience a new and fascinating world of virtual photography and printing.
The exhibition will be held at the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art!
Photo by AmaNeko
In Japan, only two art museums have annual visitor numbers exceeding 2 million: the National Art Center, Tokyo and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa recorded approximately 2.23 million visitors (as of 2023).
This museum specializes in contemporary art and is divided into two types of exhibitions: sponsored exhibitions and public gallery exhibitions. In the past, the public gallery exhibitions have been used as a venue for exhibitions of graduation projects from local schools, as well as popular exhibitions such as "WHO AM I -SHINGO KATORI ART JAPAN TOUR-" and "Hirohiko Araki Original Art Exhibition JOJO Ripples of Adventure. "
I believe that the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a museum that is familiar to contemporary artists.
VPS2025 will be the first virtual photography exhibition to be shown in a museum!
Lots of fun awaits!
At VPS2025, we are preparing to hold a variety of events in addition to the photo exhibition.
More details will be released at a later date, so please wait for a while.