Far, Far Away
A nostalgic virtual reality experience of a land far, far away
Inspired by our childhoods in Lithuania where Alena and I first met, and infused with the turmoil of the war in Ukraine, Far, Far Away is a virtual reality experience of a dreamlike world that explores feelings of alienation, intrusion, and distance. The world is heavily inspired by Lithuania, specifically the Vilnius and Neringa regions, the various public art that resides there, and Eastern European symbolism and iconography.
The piece explores the illusion of purpose as part of the gameplay, limiting the viewer's ability to interact with objects directly, as if it were forcefully forbidden without their agency being taken away. The viewer roams in a space that is safe and peaceful yet unfamiliar. Exhibited at the New Wight Gallery, Los Angeles.
3D assets were built in Blender, Maya, and ZBrush, with surface materials created in Adobe Substance Painter. Environmental elements like trees and foliage were generated using SpeedTree.
