Psychological Portraits; The Avatar
AmautaLab
3820 Willat Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232
January 25, 2008 7:00pm on
Artist and author Mark Stephen Meadows presents a one-night event in Los Angeles that unveils "avatars" - the online representation of a person. The exhibit features one dozen portraits - both photographic and interactive - of avatars in Second Life, the online virtual world where people are building an alternative city that, like Los Angeles itself, is based on media and a life of leisure, automation, and wealth.
These photographs and installations each portray avatars as the inner hero of their real-life user. Psychological mirrors and self-portraits in their own right, the avatar is fast becoming as important to popular culture as mainstream celebrities. As of 2008 there are almost one billion registerd avatars, and over 30 million in virtual worlds. This exhibit explores why avatars are becoming so popular, and pokes at the reasons why they can be so dangerous.
In addition to the portraits, Meadows will also be releasing his new book, "I, Avatar; The Culture and Consequences of Having A Second Life" from which some of these portraits were taken.
