In recent years Virtual Reality (VR) has become one of the most exciting trends emerging within the world of art. With the exhibition CC LAB, Copenhagen Contemporary took VR into the laboratory exploring the new and seemingly boundless reality of VR. VR can take you to exotic and strange places and off into dreamlike worlds while you yourself remain firmly rooted in the exhibition rooms. While this new technology has inspired game developers for years, artists and storytellers have only just begun to explore the possibilities offered by VR. In autumn 2017 CC introduced a range of Danish and international artists who experiment with Virtual Reality in order to push boundaries and open up new spaces for art to inhabit – and explore.

CC LAB occupied two of CC’s huge halls. In Hall 1 the Danish studio Makropol presented the total installation, ANTHROPIA (2017): A VR performance in which visitors are sent on a voyage through the virtual worlds of five different artists.

In Hall 2 works by a number of internationally acclaimed contemporary artists were on show – each presenting their individual interpretation of how VR can be used in the arts. The artists normally work in a wide variety of media: painting, sculpture, installation and video. In the new VR works produced by Khora Contemporary these traditional media are integrated, and the exhibition provided visitors with an opportunity to explore virtual universes created by Christian Lemmerz (GE/DK), Paul McCarthy (US), Tony Oursler (US) and Erik Parker (GE/US). In Hall 2 it was also possible to experience the recognized VR drawing program Tilt Brush.

Makropol & Ali Abbasi
Rikke Benborg
Johan Knattrup Jensen
Julian Juhlin & Therese Willstedt
Christian Lemmerz
Paul McCarthy
Tony Oursler
Erik Parker

Bikubenfonden
Statens Kunstfond
Nordisk Film Fonden

Knud Højgaards Fond
Københavns Billedkunstudvalg