Illusionaries, a relatively recent video arts venue situated in Canary Wharf, has inaugurated its second exhibition, featuring computer-generated art showcased across four distinct rooms.
Created Aartist Markos Kay, this exhibition primarily comprises brief video clips featuring fantastical AI-generated creatures that pulsate on the screen, reminiscent of the mesmerizing patterns found in a Mandelbrot set video.
Video art often elicits either awe or indifference, and truthfully, this presentation tends toward the latter. While the visuals are undeniably striking, the content itself leaves little to comment on.
The plethora of alien creatures, despite their distinctiveness, starts to exude a subtle sense of uniformity after encountering a few. Each creature makes a brief appearance, exhibits some movement, and swiftly transitions to the next.
A notable exception is a mirrored room, where the same conceptual approach takes on a more intriguing form as the AI-generated animals resemble jellyfish and other marine entities—all masterfully rendered by the artist.
Epilogue - Enveloped in a 360-degree wraparound projection, visitors are immersed in the introduction of the titular character. Born in an unknown environment marked by captivating visuals, the protagonist navigates a series of struggles and conflicts within his surroundings, compelling the audience to ponder themes of greed, jealousy, fear, and competition. This section of the story unfolds through a meticulously crafted fifteen-minute sequence of unique two-dimensional animations, creating a visually captivating experience.
Before the meaning comes - where a multidimensional world unfolds, bringing questions of life and death to the forefront. Mirrors serve as the gateway to the protagonist's profound voyage of rebirth, delving into themes of memory, connection, and relationships in this pivotal part of the story.
Primordial Gardeners - Concluding Memories of a Dead Poet, the final segment unfolds within an intimate sound escape room seamlessly blending calming acoustics, mist, and visual projections. In this tranquil atmosphere, audiences are invited to decompress and contemplate the narrative, offering a space to introspect and construct their unique interpretation of the entire 40-minute sequence.
