“Metamorphic” is a social VR experience where participants explore the ephemeral nature of the self. It creates opportunities to connect, opening up possibilities for participants to understand their bodies as vehicles for change. Movement and play shape appearances through a series of majestically drawn worlds. This project also aims to encourage dialogue around what it means to respect others in a space with less context than the real world or the Internet.

VR is a medium particularly suited to the exploration of embodiment and identity. The mechanics of “Metamorphic” are designed to create an environment where participants can interact with each other with no initial point of reference, then playfully amend their world through interactivity. The experience can instill a sense of wonder and possibility for how people might explore future virtual worlds and come to understand their visual identities as fluid. Collective virtual spaces are already becoming popular, but they should expand our sense of self rather than curtail it.

Aside from imagining “Metamorphic” as a location-based installation, the creators also hope to expand the project, so that avatars and the environments participants inhabit may be created by many artists with singular voices. The world premiere at Sundance New Frontier was an open call for collaborators who also work in digital mediums. “Metamorphic” explores new territory not only through its interactive design and experiential arc, but also establishes a unique platform for artistic interchange and personal exploration.

Created by Matthew Niederhauser, Wesley Allsbrook, Elie Zananiri, and John Fitzgerald