Navigating XR and Immersive Technologies

Utopia is an imagined place that cannot exist, yet it remains unforgettable. The 10th edition of the MUTEK Forum, titled “Utopia or Oblivion,” draws inspiration from R. Buckminster Fuller’s book Utopia or Oblivion: The Prospects for Humanity. Fuller envisioned spatial computing as a transformative tool for reshaping our understanding of space, offering new possibilities for creating interconnected, sustainable communities.

Today, computing has created a digital double of our physical world, transforming our relationship with our environments. In this context, how can we design and inhabit these new, living territories? How do we balance human presence with ecological, decolonial, and inclusive practices in this hybridized world?

Since 2015, the XR Salon at MUTEK Forum has showcased advancements in immersive technologies, including the Immersive Collection, a series of virtual reality works produced by MUTEK. This year, on August 21, the XR Salon, presented by the Canada Media Fund (FMC), will focus on "Convergent Realities: Creation of Hybrid Utopias in Immersive Technologies," offering a unique opportunity to reimagine community, art, and collaboration. Additionally, MUTEK and the Society for Arts and Technology will co-host the ix Symposium, presented with NAD-UQAC, SYNTHÈSE, and Hexagram, exploring the future of immersive technologies.

Explore the highlights of this year’s XR and Immersive Technologies programming below.

For tickets, head to the MUTEK Forum Box Office to purchase day passes or a full Forum Passport.

Immersive Roundtable | Hybrid Utopias: Territorial Acknowledgement in the Era of Spatial Computing

Date: August 21, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Satosphère (dôme), SAT
More information here

What type of territorial recognition would be appropriate to express a new alliance between humans, the living, and the entirety of nature? How can we conceive, realize, and inhabit new open, living territories? These questions open reflections especially relevant in the digital age. As the last few decades have witnessed the emergence of inhabitable digital spaces, the physical and digital realms are now merging.

The immersive round table will be held in the Satosphère, SAT’s large dome, on Wednesday, August 21 at 11am. It will bring together Scott Benesiinaabandan, Anishinaabe (Obishikokaang) intermedia artist; Giovanna Borasi, director of the Canadian Centre for Architecture and member of the Living Lands working group that coordinates decolonization initiatives at the CCA; and Catherine D'Amours, artist and professor at École de design UQAM; Bertrand Nepveu, co-founder of Triptyq Capital, founder of VRvana, and lead developer for the Apple Vision Pro headset

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Live immersive visuals, origin stories about the Apple Vision Pro, and unexpected intersections between architecture, design and spatial computing.

Demo | Connected Venues: Exploring The Future of Collaborative Performances

Date: August 21, 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Monument-National, Studio Hydro-Québec et Salle de Répétition
More information here.

The Society of Arts and Technology [SAT] and Moment Factory present a new format of connected performances aimed at transcending the limitations imposed by the physical world. This exclusive multi-site demonstration - taking place across two venues - will be unveiled exclusively at MUTEK Forum.

The first demonstration will feature a set by Montreal based producer Lunice, while the second will present a collaborative performance between composer and visual music artist-researcher Myriam Boucher and composer and artist-researcher Simon Chioini.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
An exclusive participatory demonstration of a new way to host and experience live music, split across multiple locations within the MUTEK Forum venue.

Panel | Indigenous Immersive Futures

Date: August 21, 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Location: Monument-National, Salle Ludger-Duvernay
More information here

The discussion will cover the projects and processes of Loretta Todd (Metis/Cree), Founder and Creative Director of the Indigenous Matriarchs 4 (IM4) media lab; Kayla Briët, VR filmmaker, storyteller and composer; and Skawennati, Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) multimedia artist and Co-Director of Aboriginal Territories in Cyberspace (AbTeC).

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Indigenous knowledge on XR from 4 incredibly dexterous women and gender non-confirming XR creators and experts.

Panel | Indigenous Storytelling and Distribution in XR, presented by the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO)

Date: August 21, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Location: Monument-National, Salle Ludger-Duvernay
More information here

As part of the XR Salon, the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO) will present a panel on Indigenous storytelling and the unique approaches to distributing XR projects. The activity will be followed by a workshop, inviting Forum participants to dive deeper into XR distribution methods presented in the panel.

Join Indigenous filmmakers, storytellers and producers as they discuss their best practices and case studies for disseminating XR works. Speakers include James Monkman (Cree), ; and Jason Brennan (Anishnaabe), highlighting the VR series “William,” and Kaitlynn Tomaselli (Anishinaabe/Odowa/Potawatomi), Program Manager at imagineNATIVE.

The Indigenous Screen Office is also presenting a masterclass on Thursday August 22 at 10:30am, continuing these discussions, titled Connecting Indigenous XR to Audiences: Distribution Insights from imagineNATIVE.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Best practices for XR distribution and strategies to Indigenize the ecosystem to better support Indigenous immersive works

Presentation | FORMATIONS by Ristband and Venice Bleach, as part of Utopian Visions: Digital Experiences and XR Presentations

Date: August 21, 4:45 PM - 5:45 PM
Location: Monument-National, Salle Ludger Duvernay
More information here

As part of the Village Numérique exhibition presented by MUTEK, digital studio Ristband and electronic artist Venice Bleach, present their immersive experience FORMATIONS on the Forum stage.

FORMATIONS is an interactive installation and VR concert that employs artificial intelligence, game engines, and virtual reality to create a new form of collective human experience. Participants, equipped with VR headsets, are immersed in a dynamic virtual environment that reacts in real-time to the live musical performance, offering a unique blend of concert and interactive digital art.

In addition to FORMATIONS, Village Numérique works including Black Hole Experience (BHX), by Dax Dasilva and Kelly Nunes; Voices in Your Head, by Iregular (Daniel Iregui); Duetti: Mobili musicali by Daily tous les jours, and Cycles, by Martin Messier (14 lieux) will also be presented at this time.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
A series of bold XR and immersive works, each pushing the boundaries of technology and entertainment

Panel | Storytelling For All: Using Technology To Place Humans At The Core of Experiences, Presented by TAIT

Date: August 22, 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM
Location: Monument-National, Salle Ludger Duvernay
More information here

This panel, presented by TAIT, will explore how technological advancements are revolutionizing the way we experience physical and digital spaces.

TAIT’s visionary approach develops elevated live events, from theme parks and concert venues to large scale immersive installations. In this session, TAIT brings together long-term collaborators, including Google, from the fields of design, science, digital technologies, and philosophy. This diverse range of perspectives will highlight the rich, multi-industry exchanges at the core of TAIT's creations.

Attendees will gain valuable perspectives on emerging technologies, and how the TAIT Experience Platform (TXP) amongst other innovations are enhancing audience engagement and creating more interactive, personalized experiences, all the whilst referencing this year’s core theme: Utopia or Oblivion.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
A behind-the-scenes glimpse into crafting technology-powered entertainment from world renowned storytellers, technologists, and strategists.