OP.VR at The Lisson Gallery

OP.VR at The Lisson Gallery | A Virtual Reality Dance Exhibition By Julian Opie

Julian Opie’s new exhibition at the Lisson Gallery is “the first time the gallery has presented a VR work in its 50+ year history”.

But you can pretty much give them a pass on those first 45-ish years.

Now the tech has finally caught up with the times, and the new show is truly quite a cutting edge experience, which blends traditional artworks with VR in interesting and remarkably effective ways. If you’ve even had a passing glance at pop culture over the past couple of decades, then you’re probably familiar with Opie’s distinctively playful, minimalist style. And as it happens, the thick, bold lines, and the vibrant, uniform colours make for the perfect translation to the tricky technological hurdles of virtual reality.

So how does it all work?

When you enter the show, you’ll get your headset (which you should make sure to pre-book here) and strap it on. That headset will create a virtual environment that you can move freely around, without fearing that you’ll accidentally bump into anything. But the artwork on the walls will be moving in unexpected and delightful ways. At this point, we shouldn’t really give any more away, as half the fun is in the discovery of the experience, but suffice to say you’ll want to explore every nook and cranny.

You will look foolish as you wander around, and the tech isn’t perfect, and you might find yourself having to reset a headset, but it’s a very minor quibble in an otherwise excellent experience. And the best bit? It’s completely free.

Which is a very welcome piece of reality.

NOTE: OP.VR at the Lisson Gallery is on from now until April 8th, and is completely free. You can find out more and book your time slot right here.

OP.VR at The Lisson Gallery | 27 Bell St, London NW1 5BY

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